However, when it comes to choosing the best drive for personal or business use, both the home consumer and IT professional can make mistakes. New hpe ssd vary widely in profile, price, performance, technology, and even physical form factor, creating a maze of possibilities. Here are 5 points of attention that you should take into account to avoid losses and headaches after the purchase.

1. Know the ideal format and interface for your team

The biggest difficulty when buying an SSD is navigating through the variety of formats and interfaces available on the market: there are 2.5 ″ SATA SSDs, but there are also M2 type SSDs. There is also NVMe, which can fit in PCI slots or M2 connectors, which are also used by SATA. All this without taking into account the physical dimensions of M2 SSDs, which can vary widely and are a source of confusion, especially for first-time SSD buyers.

All this variety can lead the consumer to buy an SSD that does not work in their computer or that underuses the hardware: using a SATA SSD - which is slower - than an NVMe on a compatible interface, for example.

The same problem can occur when searching for SSDs for servers and data centers. In these scenarios there are EDS-type SSDs, in addition to cards, and there are also interfaces such as SAS, in addition to the aforementioned SATA and NVMe.

Find out what your computer supports and start your search from there. Some notebooks support both M2 and 2.5 ″ SATA formats at the same time and in some cases guarantee NVMe compatibility. However, the most common is that each manufacturer bets on one or the other: that is why it is very important to research the documentation and the data sheet of your laptop.

The same care applies to those who want an SSD inside a desktop. In the case of the desktop PC, the result is to find the technical data related to the motherboard on the manufacturer's website. This way, you find out what you can and cannot on your dashboard and then search for products on the market.

Anyone looking for server hardware should go the same way and have a clear idea of what is compatible with the machines available in the company. In the case of the data center, the selection process tends to be more complex than the simple matter of physical interfaces and adaptations.

2. Don't underestimate the storage capacity

A common mistake when buying SSDs is underestimating the storage capacity of the device. Because SSDs tend to be more expensive than conventional hard drives, it is common for the consumer to sacrifice space in the pursuit of cost savings to lower cost.

A 120 to 128GB SSD may be sufficient for the operating system and applications, but it can leave the user enjoying games and downloading many files at hand in no time. Consider investing in larger drives or combining the smaller SSD with a larger hard drive if your computer or laptop allows you to install more than one drive.

3. Avoid using SSD on devices with an older operating system

It's common for PC users with more runtime to go for the SSD for more performance. The idea is correct from a practical point of view. Switching the HDD to an SSD, even a SATA, represents significant performance gains, but this is only true for those running more current operating systems.

The reason for this is that older editions of Windows (XP, Vista and 7) were developed with a greater focus on HDDs. Using these systems can lead to performance losses and even compromise SSD life if indexing and other settings are not set correctly. To avoid headaches, consider investing in a newer system as well.

4. Take advantage of management tools

Some users buy OEM-type SSDs due to inattention and seeking savings. These drives are sold to manufacturers for inclusion in new computers. While there are no performance restrictions, these drives may be incompatible with management tools that make drive maintenance easier.

By investing in a generally cheaper OEM drive, the consumer forgoes end-user-centric software, which is a powerful drive configuration and management tool. These apps make it easy to update firmware, convey useful information about drive health and performance, and allow configuration of aspects of the SSD.

5. Know the types of NAND technology

Choosing any type of NAND technology in favor of another is not a mistake, but an uninformed choice can lead to expenses and headaches. Since SSDs vary greatly in profile and technologies, knowing a little about these differentials helps at the time of purchase.

Drives with SLC (single level cell) NAND type are those that store one bit per cell and usually have a very high speed and durability. Due to these characteristics, its use is more common in SSD versions for data centers and more specific applications. The MLC type allows more than one bit per cell, but they are not as common anymore. In an ideal scenario, where budget is not an issue, the best option will always be for SLC and MLC drives, which have great performance and long durability. 

For home computers, TLC, which allows three bits per cell, has taken up space as the most common reference, even on more expensive drives. Because this type of drive holds more information in less physical space, these SSDs are larger in capacity and still perform well in terms of speed and durability.