What is SSD?

What if I asked you what SSD is? The large percentage of us will be unable to respond to this question. So, Solid-State Drive or SSD is a type of storage device that is much faster and has low power consumption compared to other storage devices available in the market.

In this article, we will explore what SSD is in great detail. But before we do that, let’s quickly go through the topics listed under the table of contents (TOC) that we will cover in this blog.

Table of contents (TOC)

• What is SSD?
• Type of SSDs
• How do SSD works?
• Advantages of using SSD
• Disadvantages of using SSD
• How to choose the right SSD?
• Difference between SSD and HDD
• Why is SSD better than HDD?

What is SSD?

SSD definition: SSD, or Solid-Storage Drive, is a non-volatile storage device used in place of a hard disc due to its much faster performance.

You must have read the term non-volatile storage in the definition mentioned above. Do you know what it means? Concerning computers, non-volatile storage is a type of storage that retains data even without power. Without a constant power source, SSDs can continue to perform various functions such as reading, writing, and storing data. This is one of the essential points that differentiates SSDs from HDDs.

Solid-State drives represent a new generation of computer storage devices. Solid-State drive use flash-based memory, which is significantly faster than mechanical hard discs. An SSD is one of the most effective ways to speed up your computer. You can decide which solid-state drive to choose based on SSDs form factors. Solid-State Drives are classified into three types based on their form factors:

• Physical dimensions of the drive 
• The type of connection interface it employs
• The amount of space that the SSD takes up in the device.

You can also explore: Difference between RAM and ROM

Types of SSDs

There are several types of solid-state drives available in the market. Let’s explore some of the most popular ones, such as:

• 2.5: This is the most commonly used type of solid-state drive on the market, and it fits inside the drive bay of the majority of laptop or desktop computers. They offer the most cost-effective per GB and, despite being the slowest among the other SSD types, they are still quite fast compared to HDD.
• mSATA: mSATA drives are slightly faster than 2.5-inch drive SSD, and these storage drives are used in ultra-thin and mini devices and devices where space is limited.
• M.2: M.2: Previously known as the Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF), M.2 provides faster data throughput than the older mSATA. These SSDs are small and slim, making them ideal for lightweight and portable computers such as laptops, notebooks, NUCs, and ultrabooks. These SSDs take up less space than 2.5-inch SSDs.
• PCIe: This SSD is the fastest and most expensive SSD available, with speeds four times faster than a standard SATA drive. The main advantage of these SSDs is that they have significantly lower latency. The disadvantage is that most of these solutions require a specially-made driver and have restricted built-in data protection.

You can also explore: Difference Between Primary Memory and Secondary Memory

How do SSD works? 

An SSD reads and writes data to an underlying collection of interlinked flash memory chips, such as NOR and NAND. These flash memory chips use floating gate transistors (FGTs) to store an electrical charge, allowing solid-state drivers to store data even when it is not powered on. 

Most SSDs use NAND flash memory, a type of non-volatile flash memory, to write data because it is much faster and smaller in dimensions than NOR. An SSD reads and writes data using a controller or processor, and that controller is also responsible for various other activities, such as restoring, caching, cleaning up data, etc.

An SSD makes use of three types of memory:

• Single-level cells: These memories are the fastest and most durable type of SSD memory, but they are expensive. Each cell in this type of memory can hold one bit of data.
• Multi-level cells: These memory types are the same size as single-level cells but have more storage space and can hold two bits of data per cell.
• Triple-level cells: These types of memory are less durable than the previously mentioned memories but are also the least expensive. These memory types have slower write speeds and can store three bits of data per cell.

Advantages of using SSD 

There are various advantages of using an solid-state driver, and some of those advantages are:

• An SSD requires less power to operate because it has no moving parts.
• An SSD improves computer boot times, data transfer speeds, and bandwidth.
• SSDs are available in various sizes, ranging from the size of a stick of gum to 2.5′′ form factors.
• As no heating component is involved, an SSD can operate at a lower temperature while providing significantly higher performance.
• Because of their smaller size, SSDs are lighter, and their compact and lightweight design makes them perfect for laptops, tablet devices, and other tiny electronic devices.

Disadvantages of using an SSD

Using an SSD has some disadvantages as well. Let’s go through some of those disadvantages.

• SSDs are typically sold in smaller sizes due to cost.
• An SSD does not have the ability to recover lost data
• SSDs that use DRAM technology requires more power than traditional HDDs.
• SSDs can access data quickly, but they typically take longer to save data.
• The most significant disadvantage of a solid state drive is the cost, as an SSD is more expensive than a traditional hard disc drive.
• Some SSDs, particularly those that use NAND memory-flash chips, can only be written for a limited time.

How to choose the right SSD? 

There are various factors that you should consider while choosing an SSD. Let’s explore some of those factors.

• Is it compatible with your device: Determine which SSD form factors are compatible with your device. For example, if you intend to use an M.2 SSD, ensure your motherboard has M.2 drive slots. If not, you may require a 2.5-inch drive instead.
• Storage capacity: You should determine the storage capacity needed based on your needs and work. I would not recommend purchasing a drive with less than 256GB of storage. Instead, opt for 500GB of storage capacity, which provides a good balance of price and capacity.
• Price: Examine the prices, as a solid-state driver prices vary depending on capacity and performance. Choose one that meets your requirements and is within your price range.
• Performance: Performance is important to consider if you are switching or considering purchasing a new laptop or computer. Laptops boot up in seconds, programs launch almost instantly, and files transfer up to ten times faster with a high-performance solid-state driver. As a result, select the one that provides the best performance.
• How long the SSD will last: An solid-state driver have a limited amount of writes. As a result, if you’re constantly writing data to the SSD (say, gigabytes per day), the drive may eventually lose its ability to write data. Take into account the lifespan factor as well.

You can also explore: CPU vs GPU? What’s the Difference?

Difference between SSD and HDD 

There are differences between SSD and HDD; let’s explore those differences in a tabular format for better understanding.

Parameters	SSD	HDD
Full form	Solid State Drive	Hard Disk Drive
Data writing speed	Faster	Slower
Lifespan	Shorter	Longer
Shock resistant	Yes	No
Fragile	No	Yes
Cost	Expensive	Cheap
Read and Write time	Shorter	Longer
Latency	Low	High
Fragmentation occurs	No	Yes
Weight	Less	More
Contain mechanical parts	No	Yes
Produce noise	No	Yes

For more information, you can also explore: Difference Between SSD And HDD

Why is SSD better than HDD? 

Many of you need clarification when deciding between SDD and HDD. However, after reading this article till now, you should understand what solid-state drivers is and its benefits, so let’s summarise everything in this section about why solid-state drive is better than HDD. Here is a summary of the information:

• Speed: Solid-state driver is significantly faster than HDD in terms of speed. Users using solid-state drivers can benefit from faster read and write speeds. A solid-state drive can read and write data at 550 and 520 Megabytes per second.
• Low energy consumption: Solid-state drivers require less energy to operate, approximately 4 watts, significantly less than other storage devices or HDDs, which require at least 18 watts.
• Prevent overheating: Because solid-state drivers have much higher heat resistance, these storage devices do not compromise system performance when overheating due to various activities.
• Increased durability: As previously stated, solid-state drivers do not have moving parts, allowing them to withstand shocks, vibrations, etc.
• Lightweight: When compared to high-performance HDDs, the size and weight of an solid-state driver are pretty small. This is also one reason why most high-performance laptops on the market use solid-state drivers rather than HDDs.

Conclusion

Now that you understand what SSD is. You will comprehend its significance and operation. You can also learn about your computer’s or laptop’s solid-state drive after reading this article.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.