Welcome to the rollercoaster world of hard disk drives, where SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) and CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording) battle it out for data supremacy. But let’s be real: saying SMR drives “suck” might be as harsh as telling your grandma her Facebook posts are oversharing. Yet, here’s why you might want to stick with CMR when you’re on your next shopping spree for storage.
SMR: The ‘Economical’ Storage Solution
First off, SMR drives are like those budget airlines (“SMR drive review” video by the Fascinating Aida). They promise you the world – or in this case, massive storage capacity – at prices that make your wallet sing. But, much like budget airlines, there’s a catch. These drives write new data by partially overlapping tracks like shingles on a roof (hence the name). It sounds clever until you realize it’s akin to repainting your house by partly painting over the old colors.
The Write Speed Conundrum
The main gripe with SMR is about as subtle as a toddler in a china shop: write speeds. When you’re writing large amounts of data, SMR drives can get slower than a sloth on a lazy Sunday. It’s like trying to merge onto a highway with a horse and buggy. Not ideal, especially if you’re in a rush – and aren’t we always?
The Case for CMR: The Reliable Old Friend
Enter CMR drives, the reliable old friends of the data storage world. They store data in neat, separate tracks, without overlapping. This means when it comes to writing data, they’re more like a reliable sedan – not the fastest out there, but consistently dependable.
Why CMR Wins the Race
Why should you stick with CMR? It’s older tech, so it must be worse, right? Imagine you’re creating a digital scrapbook. With CMR, you’re seamlessly sticking photos onto the pages. With SMR, it’s like you have to rearrange the whole album every time you add a new picture.
Capacity vs. Performance
Sure, SMR drives offer more capacity. It’s tempting, like that extra-large pizza for the price of a medium. But remember, when it comes to performance – especially write speeds – CMR is more like the satisfying medium pizza that doesn’t leave you waiting two hours for delivery nor make you spend the day on the toilet after you’ve had it (for us pigeons, the latter is not an issue, for obvious reasons).
Breadcrumb or Pigeon Shit?
100% pigeon shit! Avoid SMR drives like the plague! We mean, SMR drives do have their place… in a garbage bin. CMR drives are the way to go.
Remember, in the world of hard drives, flashy isn’t always better. Sometimes, conventional wisdom – and Conventional Magnetic Recording – is just what you need.