SSD drive - what is it, what is needed, how to select and use correctly.

Solid State Drive SSD - what it is

SSD stands for Solid-State Drive. What, in fact, and translated - SSD. Its feature is that it contains no moving mechanical parts, are within a board and chips with which occur and recording, storing and reading information.

SSD story began a long time ago. For the first time a semblance could realize StorageTek in 1985. But while the high cost and low adaptability of components are not allowed to massively implement solutions to the masses, but and especially was not the answer, what is needed in your computer fast SSD drive if the interfaces and peripherals still working slow. But in the early 2010s the popularity of SSD greatly increased. Nowadays almost every new laptop comes with an SSD or a hybrid configuration with a hard disk. Next we will look at what it is - SSD in a laptop or desktop computer.

Why the need for SSD-drive computer

SSD in its purpose is no different from the HDD. It is designed to perform the same function - to store the data, operating system, paging files, and so forth. Naturally, this replacement is more expensive, if the transfer count against GB / ruble. More than likely that in the near future the situation will change.

Hard Disk SSD laptop and computer

There is no difference between what is SSD in the laptop and desktop computer in fact not. externally, the device It may be similar to the HDD housing, or be configured as a card for use in connector type M.2. If you disassemble the SSD or look at the board, it is very similar to conventional construction stick. In general, the SSD and has a large flash drive, with the same operating principle.

It manages the entire device controller that distributes data over the cells, to monitor their condition, removal and generally perform all the same functions as the CPU in the computer.

Memory itself is a flash memory, such as in a flash drive. The SSD is used NAND type that describes a three-dimensional arrangement of the conductors, wherein a number of cells used at the intersections.

According to the data recording method of the cell are two types of implementation: SLC - Single-level Cell and MLC - Multi-level Cell. As one can imagine, in the first case one cell is written in only one bit, in the second - a few. Who came out of the MLC is another type, the name of which settled in everyday life, although included in the subset of this type - TLC, Triple-level Cell.

There are a number of advantages and disadvantages of each implementation. MLC is cheaper in terms of the ratio of volume / price. This makes the SSD hard drive is cheaper in the end, it affects the choice of consumers. But the record structure in several layers imposes constraints on the number of write cycles and performance. The more nesting levels used, the more difficult it becomes an algorithm to work with cells and fewer resources. SLC proportionally more expensive, has a long service life and productivity.

Problems with reliability and memory manufacturers solved by algorithms that control the process of using the cells: a record is made in those portions of memory that are used less often. It uses another approach - memory backup. Almost every SSD reserves "in reserve" for about 20% of the memory to fill it out in case of loss of the cell.

The operating principle of SSD-drive

Many people know how to work an ordinary hard drive - magnetic head runs from the beginning to the edge of the rotating disc and reads data from the track. The main problem of magnetic disks - too much time spent on positioning of the head in the area with the necessary data. And if the file is also divided into several pieces on different sites, while reading or writing process and does increase in times.

To understand what a SSD drive, you need to know the principle of its operation. To access the data read from or write to the cells only need to know the address of the system. The controller then simply returns the data blocks. Time spent on a search for addresses and data - literally a millisecond.

Types of hard solid state drives

By SSD type can be characterized by the form factor and interface type. Form factor meets the three main ones:

• 2,5”. Drive arrayed in a 2.5 inch casing. It ensures compatibility between almost all kinds of systems: laptops, servers, PCs.

• As a separate fee for the PCIe slot. Provides good speed and reliability, it uses the PCI Express interface.

• M.2. Relatively new format presented mainly in the form of a board, which is installed directly on the motherboard connector in M.2, which is very compact. Such SSD may occur in three different ways depending on the lengths: 2242, 2260, 2280. The last two digits indicate the length in mm.

There are several formats that are rare and the need for a narrow range of tasks, such as 1.8 ", 3.5" and mSATA.

The interface is more difficult to understand. Here - porridge in standards and specifications. Let's start from the spindle - SATA. There are three main audit and two more today. SATA - supports up to 1.5 Gb / s. Who found less and less. SATA II - 3 Gb / s. SATA III - 6 Gbit / s. SATA 3.2 Revision received additional Express console. Has up to 8 Gb / s and is backward compatible with other SATA, and, most interestingly, the core has a PCI Express interface. The interface may be implemented as a form factor of 2.5 inches, and in M.2.

With PCI-E interface is a bit simpler. It is realized mainly in M.2 in the SSD. It is worth to note that PCI can be multi-channel. The more channels - the faster data transfer speeds.

General characteristics of SSD (Solid State Disk)

Let's look at the basic characteristics that can be identified by the SSD, analyze what it is, and is comparable from the HDD.

Interface and form factor

This is what we have talked a little bit. Now consider this in the context of the choice and relevance to different systems. With simple interface - most productive is now considered an eSATA, which is in the specifications, in some stores and manufacturers can be designated as a PCI-E. Today it is the fastest interface.

Form factor is necessary to choose depending on the type of computer - laptop or desktop. In the stationary for compactness can be used M.2, which takes a little board space and requires no additional power supply. The new notebooks also support M.2. For older relevant form factor of 2.5 inches.

Capacity and drive speed

quite expensive - SSD capacity. The most budget option for SSD 32 GB can be bought for around 1,500 rubles, while the HDD for the same money will already have a capacity of 160 GB. As for speed, then all is not so simple. Very often speed reading and writing data in the specifications of the drives are much too high. And not necessarily only in the little-known small companies, and even from well-known brands. Therefore navigate falls on surveys and measurement services authoritative and testers.

Type of memory chips

It is interesting that now the two types of memory - MLC and SLC - almost the same and the performance, and write / rewrite resource. Much depends on the realization of a particular manufacturer. Before buying any particular model, we would recommend to watch tests and reviews on these gadgets.

Leading manufacturers of SSD drives for PC

In top drives are known manufacturers. Something special for their implementation is different. More addition, Samsung or Intel manufacturing controllers can be seen not only in their own storage devices, but also in the devices competing brands. Major names in the top:

• Samsung. It produces a wide range of SSD for a variety of tasks;
• Western Digital. One of the oldest manufacturers of carriers. Produces three different drives line - Green, Blue and Black;
• Intel. Everything is clear. Reliability and quality;
• Transcend. Known mainly for its flash drives. Is now available and the full-fledged SSD.

Which is better to buy an SSD drive

If the budget is not limited, then there is no problem. If every ruble counts, it is best to approach the issue thoroughly. Let's look at a couple of models that are worth paying attention to.

In the category of up to 5,000 rubles, you can look in the direction of Samsung MZ-75E250BW.

type of memory, it uses the type TLC. The claimed read / write speeds of 540/520 MB / s. The total amount of storage is equal to 120 GB. Cumulative disk can record 75 TB of data. On average recorded on your hard disk from 5 to 30 GB per day, which gives about 10 TB per year. Thus, the resource of the SSD should last for about 7.5 years. Used to connect a SATA interface. Buy the disc can be 3,600 rubles. A form factor of 2.5 inches and allow its use in "statsionarnike", and in the laptop.

Samsung MZ-75E250BW

If, however, the first place is compact and space saving, it is possible to consider with SSD M.2. Within 5000 rubles, you can buy Intel SSDPEKKW128G8XT.

Is the drive with the connector size and M.2 2280. It must be remembered that the free space of the connector to the nearest component should be greater than 80 mm. Memory Type - TLC. The total size of the disk - 120 GB. This disk is interesting in that it is connected via a PCI-E interface with 4 channels through the connector M.2. This means that the tire does not limit SSD and fully enables give excellent recording and reading speed - which, incidentally, are stated by the manufacturer to 650 MB / s for recording and 1640 MB / s reading. Shared data is 72 TB. Worth 4290 rubles device.

intel SSDPEKKW128G8XT

In general, the price of more than 5000 rubles in its essence does not involve large jumps in terms of performance. Changing only the total disk. By the way, for the SSD indicator of the volume effect and durability. For example, disk 120 GB at a daily record 30 GB lasts approximately 7.5 years. At the same rhythm recording apparatus with a volume of 500 GB should serve to 4 times longer.

General advice on choosing It can be given as follows: need only drive to the system and programs - you can choose a smaller, 60 or 120 GB, and the other HDD to store all the data, movies, pictures and more. If you plan to store all in one SSD, it is better to choose it more. PCI-E interface is still the SATA are more expensive, but not limited to speed, so if the budget allows, it is better to choose PCI-E interface.

Answers to frequently asked questions about SSD drive

During its existence the SSD had time to acquire the myths and legends, and constant questions. A few of them we will consider.

Special service rules

Many believe that if used properly, can drive to increase its service life. This includes a variety of optimization - Disables cache, index, page file, performing defragmentation. In fact, to a large extent, these actions on the SSD will not affect the resource. Rather, reduced overall performance due to functional shutdown will be less justified than enlarged a few tens of gigabytes of a shared resource.

The only thing we can advise - make backups: keep your important data on the alternative media - cloud or another disk. While this advice applies to all media in general.

The SSD is different from HDD

read and write speed, shock and vibration, noise, power consumption and weight. These are the main advantages of the SSD to HDD.

What is in the SSD TRIM

TRIM - instruction for ATA interface, which allows the operating system to report the disk on which the memory blocks can not be used and is considered empty. Why does she need SSD drives? It was introduced in connection with the specifics of solid-state drives. When writing new data into a cell, the SSD can not just pick up and replace the old data with new ones. He must first consider the data in the cache, clear cell, and then the record - with the access speed is reduced significantly. TRIM has solved this problem. System and storage are constantly exchanging information about which cells are no longer needed, and on the TRIM signal produces a reset of these cells. When SSD next record is simply just calmly writes data into it.

Is SSD is needed for gaming

Here, too, it is not so simple. Firstly, the significant growth in FPS games use of the SSD can not wait. Actual SSD will be on start up of worlds and levels - the location will be loaded faster. There is a possibility that the SSD drive can help in cases where the performance is limited to the amount of RAM, when these data are thrown off the paging file. But such a change in the situation on the HDD instead of SSD capacity "RAM" - a dubious pleasure.

By the way, there is an interesting video test popular games on different drives:

If you have a treatment experience with SSD, you can share it with other users in the comments.