Feeling frustrated by slow page-loading times on your website? If so, then you’re probably not alone – your visitors are likely feeling that same frustration. To remedy this issue, the first step you’ll want to take is to inspect your current website hosting plan. If you’re not hosting your site on a dedicated server, there’s a good chance your page-loading speeds are suffering as a result.
When you make the switch to dedicated web hosting, you may be prompted to choose between solid state drive (SSD) and hard disk drive (HDD) storage. The choice you make here is important, as there are significant differences between each. Understanding each option’s inherent benefits and drawbacks can help you make the right choice for your site.
How Does SSD Storage Differ from HDD Storage?
When your server contains a hard disk drive, information is stored on magnetic disks. When a specific file needs to be retrieved (such as image files on your website), a disk physically rotates until the file is located and can be accessed. This can take a few milliseconds to do, which slows down your site due to the number of files being retrieved or processes happening at the same time.
SSD storage uses memory chips, where there is no need for moving parts because information is not stored on a disk drive. This allows for significantly faster data writing and retrieval, but is typically more expensive.
Many servers and computers use SSDs, but don’t write HDDs off just yet! They are perfect for when you need lots of storage, such as for data backups, and don’t need high performance.
Benefits of SSD Storage on Your Dedicated Server
There are countless benefits of using a solid state drive for your dedicated server storage, beginning with the fact that retrieval speeds are typically much faster. Since there is no drive spin-up time and no disk movement, there is significantly less delay in retrieving a file. The risk of data loss is also much lower than it is with a hard disk drive because SSDs are much more resilient. This is due in part to the lack of moving parts within a solid state drive.
Potential Drawbacks of Using SSD Storage
Of course, there are some potential disadvantages to consider when it comes to choosing a solid state drive for your dedicated server storage. The main drawback for many is the cost – you can buy significantly more disk space on a hard disk drive than you can with the same budget on an SSD.
It is also worth noting that while HDDs often give “warning signs” of failure, the same usually cannot be said of SSD storage. A damaged or compromised solid state drive may fail unexpectedly, which is why it’s always a good idea to have some sort of backup in place.
Need More Help Choosing a Storage Option?
Overall, solid state drives are a great choice when you need to store data and retrieve it as quickly as possible. Choosing SSD storage for your site can help to improve page-loading times while also boosting your company’s reputation. The right storage, combined with a great web hosting plan, can make all the difference in your site’s performance and your user experience.
ReliableSite offers both HDD and SSD storage options with our dedicated server hosting plans. If you need assistance in deciding which type of drive is best for you, don’t hesitate to contact us today.