Do Most Server Farms Use HDDs or SSDs?

Server farms power the digital world, handling so much of the data we see every day. But when it comes to storage, are they sticking with old-school hard drives or switching to fast,Server farms power the digital world, handling so much of the data we see every day. But when it comes to storage, are they sticking with old-school hard drives or switching to fast, modern SSDs¹⁵²?

Most server farms still use a mix of HDDs and SSDs. SSDs dominate in high-performance workloads like databases and virtualization, while HDDs offer lower costs and large capacity for archival and bulk storage needs.

I still remember the first time I visited a server farm; the rows of spinning hard drives reminded me how much storage choices matter. As demands shifted, SSDs appeared more often beside these older drives. Whether you go with HDDs or SSDs depends on speed, reliability, and budget. My experience shows it’s almost never a one-size-fits-all decision.

Do most servers use HDD or SSD?

Most servers in production environments use both, depending on their main task.

Today’s servers often run SSDs for boot volumes and applications needing fast data access. For bulk data or backups,Today’s servers often run SSDs¹⁵² for boot volumes and applications needing fast data access. For bulk data or backups, HDDs stay common due to their cost-effectiveness and larger capacities.

When I upgraded a client’s infrastructure, we chose SSDs for the main database, then spun up large HDDs for daily backups and logs. SSDs speed up everything from system boots to database queries. But for cold storage, nothing beats the capacity-per-dollar of HDDs.

Here’s a table to clarify:

Mixing these lets you balance performance with budget. I always recommend thinking about what your servers do most often before choosing.

Why aren’t SSDs used in servers?

Not every server workload needs blazing speed—and sometimes price or durability concerns hold SSD adoption back.

SSDs aren’t everywhere in servers because they cost more per terabyte and can wear out quicker with constant heavy writes. For SSDs aren’t everywhere in servers because they cost more per terabyte¹⁵² and can wear out quicker with constant heavy writes. For long-term, rarely accessed data, HDDs provide unbeatable value. This is why many organizations reserve SSDs for critical workloads, not bulk storage.

One of my clients hesitated to switch to all-SSD because of upfront costs and limited SSD sizes compared to bulk HDDs. Another worry was SSD write endurance—though enterprise-grade SSDs are far better than home ones, they still have a lifespan measured in drive writes.

Breakdown:

My advice: weigh how often you need fast access versus how much budget you have for storage hardware.

What type of drives do servers use?

Servers use a range of drives: SATA HDDs, SATA SSDs, and even faster NVMe SSDs, each picked for specific jobs.

Enterprise servers favor SATA or SAS HDDs for huge, sequential storage tasks. For performance, you’ll see Enterprise servers favor SATA or SAS HDDs for huge, sequential storage tasks. For performance, you’ll see SATA SSDs and increasingly NVMe SSDs¹⁵² because they’re many times faster than even the best HDDs. Hybrids and caching drives layer these together for best results.

When I deploy new servers, I weigh capacity, endurance, and speed. Boot and database drives go NVMe SSD now for maximum speed. Cheap, high-volume storage? That’s still HDD territory.

Here’s a breakdown:

Pick the right tool for each job. Server farms optimize workloads by combining drive types, not picking just one.

Conclusion

Most server farms use both HDDs and SSDs—HDDs for cheaper bulk storage, SSDs for top-speed performance. The right mix depends on your workload and budget.