Ssd or solid state drive

Looking for a good SSD ? Do you need to know all the information to be able to choose one? We explain it to you in this article. And is that most of the people currently take advantage of a life full of privileges in terms of technology, with electronic devices that provide advantages and comfort in the quality of life of those who are always aware of the latest releases.

For this reason, a user generally approaches a store with the aim of obtaining the technological product that offers the appropriate functionalities and a construction quality that allows him to enjoy it for several years.

This large-scale search leads to new goals being generated in companies, for example, those that require hosting servers with the highest quality technical resources, and that can provide high performance for applications. Fortunately, increasingly demanding targets can be met by employing servers equipped with components that follow the path of continuous development across the technology sector.

All of these state-of-the-art and electronic devices provide a significant improvement in the performance of applications and systems as a whole, among which we can mention and which we will discuss at length in this article: the SSD disk.

The SSD appeared as an alternative device intended to replace the traditional hard disk drives that we knew until then. By using an SSD, the user will see a few advantages, such as faster reading speed and faster application loading, outperforming hard drives in several ways.

Through this guide we are going to know everything about solid state disks, to better understand what is the difference between the different storage technologies and why we should choose such a disk.

Index of contents

What is an SSD disk?

SSD is an acronym whose meaning in English is " Solid State Drive " or " solid state drive " in Spanish. The SSD storage is of the non-volatile type, and performs functions similar to those of a conventional hard drive. In order to have a more precise and clear concept about everything related to the SSD, you have to start with the basics, defining what non-volatile storage is.

Although this term seems to indicate that it is something rare and highly technical, it is a characteristic that can be understood in a simple way.

A unit that permanently stores files is any device intended for this use, which is capable of writing data to the disk so that they are permanently stored there in its memory, regardless of whether the computer is turned off or the power goes out.

Among the examples of non-volatile memory devices we can refer to SSDs, hard drives, flash drives, optical drives and even magnetic tapes. This type of memory is different from RAM memory, whose characteristic is that, being a volatile memory, it deletes all the saved data when it is turned off or disabled.

Non-volatile storage units are useful for keeping data that interests you, such as applications, songs, games, movies and digital books, among others. While the SSD performs the same functions as an HDD, there are many differences between the two, both in performance, service life, and price. Something that we will already begin to analyze.

Differences between SSD and HDD: flash memory

The SSD disk is structured in a very different way from the hard disk, and its construction is given by an integrated circuit in which several components of diminutive size are used to form this storage unit.

Likewise, the SSD uses Flash memory, the same memory used by USB flash drives, to save all files.

Operation of an SSD

The SSD does not work mechanically like HDDs and its small components do not require constant movements to read and write data. The SSD disk has many advantages over HDDs and the main ones are:

• High speed to read and write data Does not make noise because it does not work mechanically It is very efficient in managing electrical energy consumption Provides maximum charging speed for applications and systems Does not suffer from overheating as it happens on a hard disk and adapts to hot environments Offers more resistance to shocks and vibrations Supports more connection interfaces Ideal for advanced data management technologies Greater reliability and stability than hard drives

Perhaps the most obvious disadvantages are a higher cost per GB of storage and a shorter lifespan than the HDD.

Currently flash memory technology is used for the storage of an SSD, and this is done through NAND memory. One of the most striking features of a NAND logic gate (AND or inverted Y), is that it can retain the data inside even when the power supply has been cut, as if it were an SRAM, although obviously they are slower than these.

These NAND gates are made using floating gate transistors, which is an item where bits are stored. In the case of RAM memories, these transistors need a continuous power supply to maintain their state, and not in flash memories. When a floating gate transistor is loaded it has a 0 inside, and when it is unloaded it has a 1.

These memories are organized in matrix form, which in turn is formed by a series of consecutive NAND gates. We call the complete matrix block and the rows that make up the matrix are called pages. Each of these rows has a storage capacity of between 2 KB and 16 KB. If each block has 256 pages, we will have a size between 256 KB and 4 MB. In addition, we must add the layers of silicon, the more layers the more storage, this is called 3D NAND memory.

HDD Operation

For its part, the hard disk (HD or HDD) has a structure and fully mechanical operation, with the use of integrated metal disks.

The hard disk does the reading and writing of data by means of a head that moves mechanically, and which consists essentially of a high-precision electromagnet. The head makes a reorganization of the iron oxide molecules on the different plates that make up the HDD, constituting this the process of reading and recording data.

The disc works by giving constant turns at high speeds, between 5, 200 and 10, 000 RPM, while the magnetic head moves quickly and with great precision through the alternation of its magnetic polarity. With this dynamic, the hard disk is able to record the data on the platters using the binary system, with points that have positive and negative magnetism, writing the information with bits 0 and 1.

We can cite a series of disadvantages that HDDs have compared to SSDs:

• Lower recording and reading speed, becoming 40 times slower than certain SSDs. Higher energy consumption by using mechanical manipulation and friction. It emits noise in its operation. It suffers from overheating problems. It does not get along well with blows, and it is also quite delicate in terms of vibrations and electrical variations. Fewer functions to optimize performance, something that we do find in solid state drives. It has a greater weight than an SSD disk, which makes it more uncomfortable to move a computer with a disk of these characteristics. It has problems in its operation when These are hot environments, which can often affect their performance. It has a negative impact on the performance of systems and applications.

And consequently, the advantages they have compared to the SSD is that they are very cheap, with large storage capacity and greater memory durability because they are magnetic.

SSD Memory Manufacturing Technologies

Let's see below the most commonly used technologies for the manufacture of SSD drives. The type of memory will influence the read and write speed, the durability and of course the price.

SLC or individual level cell

Using this method it is possible to store one bit of data for each memory cell. Its construction is made of individual silicon wafers with which you obtain a thin memory chip and a single level of storage. These chips have the advantages of a higher data access speed, greater longevity and less energy consumption. On the other hand, they have a lower memory capacity, so it will be necessary to build a greater number of cells, thus increasing their construction cost.

MLC or multi-level cell

In this case, each memory chip is manufactured by stacking silicon wafers (NAND 3D) to form a single multi-level chip. As for its advantages are those of greater storage capacity per chip, it is possible to store two bits for each cell, which makes a total of 4 different states. Although Toshiba has already managed to expand this storage up to 3 bits, increasing the possibilities up to 8 states. Also cheaper manufacturing cost than SLCs and higher storage density. As disadvantages we quote just the opposite than in the previous case: slower access and chips with less durability.

TLC or triple level cell

In this case, the manufacturing process manages to implement 3 bits for each cell, also at levels of up to 96 layers, allowing up to 8 states to be stored. The manufacturing price is cheaper and access to content less efficient. They are, therefore, the cheapest units to acquire, but with a shorter life, we are talking about 1000 writes for each individual cell.

QLC or quad level cell

This technology has been implemented not too long ago, and what it allows is to further decrease the manufacturing cost of SSDs. In this case, we have up to 4 bits per cell, which allows for a high data density. Consequently, these memories have fewer writings than previous ones, and less useful life. In any case, the number of readings is never limited nor is the speed of the SSD that implements them, and can be as fast as the previous ones.

Physical components of an SSD

As for the components of an SSD drive, we can cite three fundamental elements when analyzing a drive and see its characteristics.

• Condenser Cache Controller Title

It is the processor in charge of administering and managing the operations performed on the NAND memory modules. The driver is essential in the read / write performance of an SSD, so having a quality one will make all the difference. In the market we have Samsung, Phison, Silicon Motion and Marvell as main manufacturers .

Also in this type of units there is a DRAM memory device to speed up the process of data transmission from the unit to RAM and the processor.

Capacitors have the function of maintaining data integrity when there are sudden power outages. If there is data in motion due to a cut, thanks to the capacitors it will be possible to store this data to avoid loss.

Connection interface

Nor can we forget the connection interface of an SSD, not only the slot, being the protocols that intervene in data transactions between the device and the rest of the system.

SATA

Common SSDs have the same connection technology as normal hard drives, that is, they use a SATA 3 port to connect these to the motherboard. The transfer speed given by this interface is 600 MB / s maximum.

They are generally 2.5-inch drives of up to 1000 or 2000 GB at a very affordable price today, although not yet at the HDD level.

PCI-Express

Through this interface, the units will be directly connected to the PCI-Express expansion slots on our motherboard. In this way, it is possible to achieve transfer speeds of up to 3940 MB / s in reading and writing using 4 lanes (x4) in version 3.0 and up to 7880 MB / s in version 4.0. Almost all PCIe SSDs are currently connected to the M.2 slot. The communication protocol is called NVMe, and it is in version 1.3 and 1.4.

As is normal, these hard drives do not have the typical 2.5-inch rectangular encapsulation format, but look like expansion cards like capturers or heatsinkless graphics cards.

M.2

This slot and its communication protocol is intended to replace the SATA type in the medium and short term. These units are directly connected to a specific port located on the motherboard called M.2. In this way we avoid occupying PCIe slots and we will have specific ports, up to 3 of them on the most powerful boards in x4 configuration under PCIe 3.0 or 4.0.

As with the previous interface, we have the NVMe protocol, since in essence they are the same PCIe lanes, only in a specific slot. However, the advantage it has is that it is limited by the bandwidth of the other slots on the board and many of them are also compatible with the AHCI protocol that SATA uses.

Tips for buying an SSD

SSDs can have read and write speeds significantly higher than those offered by mechanical hard drives. With an SSD disk you can start your PC or laptop much faster, avoiding all that awkward delay when seeing how the operating system loads. That is why updating a computer with such a disk is one of the best decisions to increase performance.

Anyway, there are several suggestions that you should know in case you are thinking about buying an SSD.

Storage capacity

A limited number of recordings can be made on SSDs, in other words, the more writes to the NAND Flash chip, the more it will wear out. And so the end of its useful life will be reached faster.

Which means that a wise decision would be to have both types of storage. An SSD disk that will be in charge of storing the software and the operating system. While on the other hand, the hard disk will be used to store all other files of interest to the user and which will constantly be used and rewritten.

Disk performance

AORUS NVMe Gen4 1TB

Considering that SSDs have a much higher performance and speed than conventional HDDs, the read and write speeds correspond to extremely important specifications that must be taken into consideration. There are two types of read and write processes to an SSD: sequential and random.

Sequential speed is used for larger blocks of data, which is why it is faster than random speed, which is used for various reads and writes, although it is slower because it requires more operations.

Considering that manufacturers generally advertise only sequential rates, it is equally important to know the random access rate and the input / output per second or IOPs.

Flash memory

Just as hard drives employ a turntable system, SSDs use NAND Flash memory. The lifespan of SSDs will depend on the technology they use. To give us an idea, a unit with TLC technology is capable of storing more data in each cell in relation to the others, although consequently it has less useful life and speed.

As we have already seen, SSDs are usually recommended primarily for reads, but not for writes. Manufacturers have been maximizing their performance and life.

Reliability and security

The MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) is a measure used by manufacturers with which they inform users of the level of possibility of failure that a device may have.

In addition to error correction, the new hard drives also feature encryption using AES 256 bit hardware.

TRIM support

This is a function that tells the disk what data is being used and what data is available to be erased. This limits the number of writes and increases the performance of the SSD. All SSDs already incorporate it and we do not need to optimize it from our Windows 10 operating system.

ECC (Error Correction Code)

Error detection and correction codes are vitally important on an SSD, as they prevent data from being corrupted. This feature is vital in NAND chips, because they have a high effect on the longevity of an SSD.

Manufacturer's brand and warranty

It will always be advisable to choose a reputable brand that comes from a high-quality manufacturer, something important because this device will store important information. By making a good choice you will be ensuring that you will receive good support and constant updates from the manufacturer.

At this point we must attend precisely to the memories that are used, both type and brand, and to the controller. The most widespread memories are Toshiba, while the most common drivers outside of Samsung are the Phison.

These are several basic aspects that you should keep in mind when buying an SSD. Investing in this storage device is undoubtedly one of the best updates you can bring to your computer.

Entering the extraordinary technology that SSDs offer is a great choice when you are looking for higher speed and overall performance on a desktop or laptop computer.

Although it must be borne in mind that the prices of solid state drives are still considerably higher than those of their HDD predecessors, something that sometimes ends up being an obstacle depending on the available budget.

The factors that attract choosing an SSD are several, and there are less and less doubts in implementing this technology: less electrical energy is spent, higher system startup speeds are obtained (more than 30 s compared to an HDD) and the use of applications, lower storage unit noise, longer life and less weight.

Final words and conclusion about SSD drives

Mainly, an HDD disk continues to be recommended for the user who especially requires saving files without spending a lot of money, leaving aside the importance of the performance and weight of the device.

On the other hand, an SSD disk is geared towards the user who is looking for performance above all else, who is not thinking about managing too many bulky files and has no problem paying a higher price. Currently we consider it mandatory to have the operating system installed on an SSD.

As you can see, the SSD technology is better than that of classic HDDs, and is capable of providing multiple advantages to users. Both on a PC and on a high-level server, it is advisable to use an SSD in order to increase the performance and performance of the applications.

The few disadvantages that can be found in an SSD diminish over time, as technology advances and manufacturers improve the quality of these storage units year after year. Currently we have speeds that already exceed 5000 MB / s in reading under PCIe 4.0.

With this, new interfaces appear and further increase their reading speed, in addition to new functions such as the ECC (Error Correction Code) that appear to reduce the wear and tear of these devices. These superior features only confirm the superiority of SSDs over classic hard drives.

You may also be interested in reading the following guides:

In short, if you are looking to buy an SSD, look at the type of memory it uses (if it is MLC better than better), although the majority with better quality / price are the TLC. We must also take into account the interface (SATA or NVMe), the capacity you need and the read / write rates. Depending on the price you can find more warranty support and extra software for cloning your hard drive to an SSD.

Also, if you are looking to put yourself ahead of the competition, achieve better results and provide an increasingly better service to the users of your application, it is advisable to use an SSD hosting for applications and websites.

What type of storage do you have and what capacity?