What is a primary distinction between SSDs and magnetic hard drives?

The primary distinction between SSDs (Solid State Drives) and magnetic hard drives lies in their speed and durability, with SSDs being faster and generally more resistant to physical damage. SSDs use flash memory to store data, which allows for quick data access and retrieval times, significantly outperforming traditional magnetic drives that rely on spinning disks and mechanical arms to read and write data.

In addition to speed, SSDs have no moving parts, making them less susceptible to mechanical failures caused by shocks or drops. This durability factor also contributes to their overall reliability, as SSDs can withstand harsher conditions compared to magnetic hard drives. The technological design of SSDs results in lower power consumption, which further enhances their efficiency in various devices.

The other options do not accurately reflect the distinguishing features of SSDs and magnetic hard drives. For instance, SSDs are not slower and cheaper than magnetic drives; rather, they are typically more expensive but offer superior performance. Additionally, magnetic drives do have moving parts, while SSDs do not. Finally, both types of drives support similar file formats, so the assertion that magnetic drives support more file formats is unfounded.