How would you feel if we told you that changing one part of every laptop and PC in your school could extend their lifespans, save your budget and make them quicker to boot up?
Although it may sound unbelievable, it’s true, switching your devices from Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) to Solid State Drives (SSDs) will make your IT quicker and will help your existing devices to last longer. Plus, it costs significantly less than upgrading all your PCs and laptops.
What’s the difference between HDDs and SSDs?
Traditionally, most computers have used Hard Drives (HDDs). These rely on spinning disks which read and write data. Many professionals in the industry have argued that HDDs are increasingly likely to fail after 5 years because of the number of moving parts in them. The mechanical parts basically wear out, particularly if they are used regularly.
Additionally, they are heavier and are more prone to knocks and bumps, making them less than ideal for laptops and computers that are regularly moved (or maybe knocked in a school setting).
HDDs also use a lot of energy and throw out more heat, meaning that when you have a large number of them in one room, an IT lab for instance, the space can become hot very quickly (especially if there are students in there too).
On the other hand, Solid State Drives (SSDs) use flash memory, rather like the memory in your camera card or pen drive. They are more durable and far less likely to be affected by knocks and bumps, making them ideal for laptops.
Using flash memory has other benefits too. SSDs are more energy efficient and throw out less heat, meaning that you may not need air conditioning in computer rooms. They also have far faster load times, helping IT based lessons get off to a flying start and reducing log in and loading wait times. Their lack of moving parts also makes them far less likely to fail through a mechanical fault.
Installing faster loading drives to your existing IT estate can also help you plan for the future of IT within your school. With new software requiring faster processing and loading times, changing drives can ensure that your school still meets IT curriculum requirements and will help to maintain student focus.
If you’re thinking that your IT system is slowing down or you’re concerned that you may need to start updating your machines, contact NCS today for a no-obligation site visit and meeting.