Choosing between various types of storage options can be tiresome. Thankfully, the latest MacBook Air, iMac, or Mac Pro only come with SSD storage, so you just need to choose the storage capacity.
However, users opting for a second-hand Mac still have to choose from the available types of storage. Before 2021, Apple offered an option between HDD and Fusion Drive – a hybrid storage solution with characteristics of both an SSD & HDD.
While this hybrid storage solution was ahead of its time, it was replaced by SSDs that offer better performance and enhanced reliability.
So, to understand this technology and how it stands against SSD, we have created a comparison between the two. Let’s read further.
What is a Fusion Drive?
Apple created the Fusion Drive hybrid storage technology in 2012 to offer users a mix of SSD’s performance and hard drive’s storage capabilities. It combines NAND flash storage with a hard disk drive and serves as a single logical volume.
Fusion Drive demonstrated two key advantages over conventional hard disk drives: speed and storage capacity. Using advanced algorithms, it tracks frequently used files and places them on the NAND flash for faster access. Meanwhile, lesser-used data is moved to the hard drive.
Moreover, Fusion Drive reacts to a user’s file access pattern. If you stop frequently accessing the files located on SSD, they are automatically moved to the HDD part of the drive and vice versa. This results in a faster boot-up time and overall faster performance than a regular HDD.
Why Was the Fusion Drive Discontinued?
Apple Fusion Drive was introduced in 2012 with the Mac Mini and remained until the late 2020 21.5 inch iMac. While this technology was ahead of its time, it was only available as a higher storage option (1TB), which skyrocketed the price of the Mac.
Its high price, underwhelming performance compared to an SSD, low SSD cache for storing frequently accessed items, less reliability, and poor optimization led to its demise.
What is an SSD?
Solid-State Drive (SSD) is a compact drive that does not carry any moving parts like in a hard drive. This makes it less prone to mechanical issues. They read and write data to a set of interconnected memory chips. SSDs are also lightweight, quiet, and energy-efficient, making them a great fit for portable devices like MacBooks.
Fusion Drive vs. SSD: A Comparison
The Fusion Drive is a technology of the past and is no longer available with the newer Macs. However, if you’re confused about whether to buy an older Mac with a Fusion drive or simply a new Mac with an SSD, look no further. Here are the parameters to consider when choosing between an SSD and Fusion Drive.
Speed
The key difference between Fusion Drive and SSD is the speed. Though Fusion Drive uses a NAND flash to load frequently accessed files faster than a traditional hard drive, it still cannot match the performance level of an SSD. Depending on the type, an SSD’s speed starts at 320MB/s, while for a Fusion Drive, it varies from 300MB/s for flash drive components and 80-120MB/s for the hard disk parts. Such a considerable speed difference makes SSD ideal for processes requiring quick data access, such as gaming or video editing.
Storage Capacity
Another thing to consider while comparing Fusion Drive vs. SSD is the storage capacity each drive offers. During the initial days of Fusion Drive, it had a noticeably larger storage capacity, offering a better cost per gigabyte ratio. A Fusion Drive’s maximum capacity was 3TB of a hard disk drive and 128GB of a solid-state drive. But in today’s scenario, SSDs have become quite cheaper. They offer a better cost per gigabyte ratio and are available in varied capacities like 240 GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, etc.
Reliability
Another characteristic worth attention is the absence of moving parts in an SSD. This makes the SSD more reliable and less likely to experience failure due to mechanical issues. SSDs are more shock-resistant and tolerate heat better. By contrast, Fusion Drive contains moving elements that can wear out and break over time. That means solid-state drives are a better option for critical situations where data loss is possible.
Noise
Even though Fusion Drive is much quieter than hard disk drives, they still generate some sound due to mechanical parts. SSDs, on the other hand, lack moving parts and thus don’t produce any audible noise.
Cost
When it comes to cost, SSDs have become quite cheaper. However, their prices are still higher when compared to traditional HDDs and Fusion Drives. However, as the fusion drive technology has become a thing of the past after Apple ceased its production, it is no longer available, thereby making them scarce and costlier than SSDs.
Conclusion
Mac Fusion Drive Vs. SSD – what is better? The future is already bleak for Apple’s retired Fusion Drive technology. However, for SSDs, there is no end in sight. With better performance, read/write speeds and low latency, SSDs are an intelligent choice.
However, if you still want to experience the advantages of Fusion Drives, you can find an older Mac with one installed. But make sure you do not store important files on it. An old and worn storage drive is prone to errors and issues. These could result in losing important data and files.
While there is a way to perform data recovery on a Mac, we would advise you to store important files on a newer Mac and back them up on iCloud or an external hard drive.
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