Best 2.5” SSHD drives for Laptops

What are SSHD Drives and The List of Best 2.5” SSHD drives for Laptops

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If you are looking forward to upgrading your laptop’s storage drive, there are many options rather than just the capacity. There are multiple types of storage available out there for your PC and laptops. The most popular being Hard disk drives and solid-state drives.

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Related: Barracuda Pro vs. Firecuda – Specs Comparison

The former is known for its massive storage capacity and the latter for its impressive sequential and random read/write speed. How many of you are aware of the term SSHD? To know more, read along to find out the best 2.5” SSHD drives for Laptops currently available.

Also Read: Best Surveillance Hard Drives are DVR’s

SSD vs. SSHD:

SSD: If you are assembling dissembling computer components, you might know that SSD stands for solid-state drive, which is similar to a massive USB flash drive with comparatively impressive memory speed. Unlike mechanical hard disk drives, it does not have moving parts. Instead of magnetic platters, it uses memory chips (NAND).

SSHD: SSHD stands for a solid-state hybrid drive. It is merely a traditional hard disk drive with solid-state storage built-in. It is usually 8 GB, more or less. Windows recognize the drive as single storage, and a controller chip is there to decide if the data is on SSD or HDD.

Why SSHD for your Laptops?

You can use multiple drives; some of them can be SSD and other spindle-based HDDs. Most people install the operating system and massive programs on SSD’s where HDD is used for media personal data storage. This cannot be done on laptops, and you need to choose either one or the other type of storage for your notebook. The better option for laptops varies according to your priorities. For example:

  • For the highest overall performance, go with Solid State Drive.
  • For optimal performance, go with Solid State Hybrid Drive.
  • For saving money (and large capacity), go with a traditional hard disk drive.

As you can see, SSHD delivers better performance compared to conventional hard drives and saves a lot of money compared to solid-state drives. Thus, when you are unsure which one to choose, you can always go with SSHD storage for your laptop.

Following is a list of some of the best 2.5-inch SSHD drives available for laptops. Here we go:

Best 2.5” SSHD drives for Laptops:

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WD WD10S12X

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Seagate FireCuda SSHD

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WD Blue SSHD 40E31X:

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WD WD10S12X

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In case you are a gamer, this SSHD should be one of the excellent choices that would achieve exceptional performance. The software does provide you access to enhanced service quality with the remarkable SSD storage of 16 GB and a hard disk drive of 1 TB. It has been rated to be an excellent option for your needs in a significant 2.5 segment.

It can be one of the excellent choices if you are looking ahead to the demand for high-speed performance and sizable storage. The 2.5” buffer size, interface type SATA 6.0 GB/s, and a straightforward installation process are a few of the factors that would make it one of the premium options that would take you ahead in terms of a great degree of performance.

Capacity1 TB
InterfaceSerial ATA Storage Interface

SATA 6 GB/s

Performance5400 RPM rotational speed
Dimension7 x 100 x 69 mm
Weight0.5 pounds
OtherUltra-fast performance storage

A professional level of performance

All in one PC performance and storage capacity

1. Seagate FireCuda SSHD:

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Within its high range and 2.5-inch criteria, it is one of the fastest hybrid storage available in the market. It is available in handy 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB variations. The maximum one is quite enough for storing up to 80x games in 25GB size. It uses flash acceleration technology that pumps uploading performance up to five times compared to traditional hard drive storage. Adaptive memory technology frequently identifies accessed data and allows quicker operations to be made. In addition, MTC or multi-tier caching technology is used that helps various applications load files and directory trees faster. The following table summarizes some basic specs:

Capacity2 TB
InterfaceSerial ATA Storage Interface

SATA 6 GB/s

Buffer Size &

BPS

4096 Hz Bytes per sector
Performance140 MB/s internal data transfer rate

600 MB/s external drive transfer rate

5400 RPM rotational speed

Dimension3.95 x 2.75 x 0.28 inches
Weight3.2 ounces
OtherThree options: 1TB, 2TB, 500 GB

Five years of limited manufacturer’s warranty

Adaptive memory technology, Halogen Free technology, Quiet Step technology

Built for gaming systems, performance laptops, workstations, and creative professional system

2. WD Blue SSHD 40E31X:

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It comes with a massive 4 TB of storage and delivers standard Solid State Drive [SSD] like performance with blazing-fast NAND flash storage of 8 GB. It claims to be up to 5 times faster compared to traditional 5400 RPM hard disk drives. It is suitable and compatible with various applications such as gaming, system builders, creative professionals, and power PC users who require a massive amount of storage and fast performance equally. These hybrid drives reduce game loading time and loading between levels and the time necessary for autosave when gaming. The amount of NAND storage is sufficient to maintain performance. Here are some essential specifications:

Capacity1 TB
Interface7 pin Serial ATA 600

SATA 6 GB/s

Buffer Size &

BPS

64 MB buffer size

8 GB flash memory capacity

Performance600 MB/s external data transfer rate

150 MB/s internal data transfer rate

5400 RPM rotational speed

Dimension5.8 x 4 x 1 inches
Weight1.6 pounds
OtherMulti-level cell MLC technology

Advanced Format technology

SMART compliant standards

Three years limited manufacturer’s warranty

8 GB NAND flash memory

3. Toshiba MQ02ABD100H:

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It is a multi-purpose SSHD compatible with various devices, including laptops, Macbook, PS3, PS4, gaming consoles, etc. It is specifically designed for high-capacity laptops. It has 8GB of NAND flash memory capacity and an MTTF of 600,000 hours. Like an SSHD is supposed to do, it delivers the performance of an SSD and the storage capacity of an HDD. It is equipped with various algorithms that help it learning the access patterns of users. The disk automatically decides which data to keep on the SSD portion and the HDD portion of the disk with the data acquired. It supports USB 3.0 and eSATA for external enclosures. You get three years of manufacturer’s warranty with the purchase.

Capacity1 TB
Interface7 pin Serial ATA

Serial ATA 600 or SATA 6 GB/s

Buffer Size &

BPS

64 MB buffer size
Performance600 MB/s external drive transfer rate

5400 RPM rotational speed

Dimension8.5 x 6.5 x 5 inches
Weight1 pound
OtherHalogen Free, Antimony free

Advanced Format 512e

Compatible with gaming consoles, desktops, and laptops

3 years of manufacturer’s warranty

4. Seagate ST500LM000:

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It is a bare, brand new SSHD drive. It allows you to enjoy a performance of solid-state drive in your slim laptops without spending a whole lot of money. It extracts all the benefits of a traditional hard disk drive and a solid-state drive at an affordable cost. The booting and performance are very identical to a solid-state drive. The SATA interface delivers its best with the NCQ technology. No doubt, it is comparatively faster than a traditional hard disk drive. Since the drive is treated as a single entity by any system, the installation process is convenient; you can install and use it as you do with traditional hard disk drives. It is suitable for small factor systems, laptops, mobile workstations, and high-performance gaming systems.

Capacity500 GB
InterfaceSingle serial ATA 600 interface

1x SATA 6 GB/s

Buffer Size &

BPS

64 MB buffer size

4096 Hz Bytes Per Sector

Performance 5400 RPM rotational speed

140 MB/s internal data transfer rate

600 MB/s external drive transfer rate

Dimension0.28 x 2.76 x 3.94 inches
Weight3.4 ounces
OtherQuiet Step technology

NAND MLC 8 GB

Native command queuing technology

Multi-level cell flash memory

1 year of manufacturer’s warranty

Compact form factor

5. Western Digital WD10S21X:

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This drive comprises a significant amount of NAND flash storage and massive HDD storage in a single drive and helps the system take advantage of the best of both worlds. Using this drive will result in faster system boots, application loads, and enhanced responsiveness than traditional hard disk drives. It is compatible with most of the desktop, laptops, and PS3/PS4 gaming consoles. You can easily use it with Mac systems just as you do with windows one. When you cannot decide between an SSD and HDD due to several reasons, this is always an excellent middle option to go with. Following are some important specs:

Capacity1 TB of accessible space
Interface7 pin Serial ATA / SATA interface

SATA 6 GB/s or SATA III

Buffer Size &

BPS

64 MB buffer size

16 MB cache

8 GB of NAND flash memory for SSD level performance

Performance600 MB/s external data transfer rate

150 MB/s internal drive transfer rate

5400 RPM transfer rotational speed

Dimension4.9 x 3.8 x 1.2 inches
Weight4.2 ounces
Other7 mm slim body layout

Two years of warranty from the reseller

Compatible with desktops, slim notebooks, laptops, and some gaming consoles as well

6. Seagate SSHD ST1000LM014:

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This drive will bless your system with impressively enhanced booting time, application loading time, and improved and much faster performance like an SSD does. It is perfectly shaped for your notebook laptops, desktops, Mac, and gaming consoles as well. Compared to traditional 5400 RPM hard disk drives, it delivers up to 4 times the performance concerning speed and accessibility. The manufacturer recommends this model for gaming and performance laptops specifically. It is an easy way to upgrade your console up to 5 GB. The 8 GB of NAND storage with a 64 MB cache is sufficient for handling any performance laptop. They are giving five years of limited warranty. Here are some important specs:

Capacity1 TB of unbuffered accessible storage
Interface7 pin Serial ATA

Serial ATA / SATA 600 at 6 GB/s

Buffer Size &

BPS

4096 Hz bytes per sector

64 MB buffer size

8 GB of NAND flash memory

Performance600 MB/s external drive transfer rate

150 MB/s internal data transfer rate

5400 RPM spindle rotational speed

Dimension4 x 0.4 x 2.8 inches
Weight3.2 ounces
OtherMulti-level cell / MLC technology

Native command queuing technology

Quiet step technology, Ramp load technology

Five years of manufacturer’s warranty

WD WD10S12X

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If you are a gamer, this SSHD should be one of the excellent choices that would achieve exceptional performance. The software does provide you access to enhanced service quality with the remarkable SSD storage of 16 GB and a hard disk drive of 1 TB. It has been rated to be an excellent option for your needs in a significant 2.5 segment.

It can be one of the excellent choices if you are looking ahead to the demand for high-speed performance and sizable storage. The 2.5” buffer size, interface type SATA 6.0 GB/s, and a straightforward installation process are a few of the factors that would make it one of the premium options that would take you ahead in terms of a great degree of performance.

Capacity1 TB
InterfaceSerial ATA Storage Interface

SATA 6 GB/s

Performance5400 RPM rotational speed
Dimension7 x 100 x 69 mm
Weight0.5 pounds
OtherUltra-fast performance storage

A professional level of performance

All in one PC performance and storage capacity

Conclusion

SSHD’s are a great cost-effective solution to a faster hard drive, unlike SSD’s. Therefore, we feel that all mid-range laptops should come with SSHD’s right from the factory rather than an afterthought. Fingers crossed!

We hope you like our article on the best 2.5” SSHD drives for Laptops. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to use the comment box down below.

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