Choosing an SSD drive for a laptop. Form factor M.2. Recommendations for choosing an SSD for a laptop

These days, SSD drives are becoming increasingly popular. They work much faster than the usual traditional HDDs, and their reliability and price are optimal for ordinary users. SSDs are used to store data in personal computers, laptops and even tablets.

But there are various manufacturers and various devices. It may be difficult for a novice user to choose required device. In this article, we have collected some tips on which SSD drive to choose in 2018, as well as an overview of the best devices.

Flash memory replaces fragile and bulky traditional disc everywhere. It's much easier to use a silent SSD that looks like a regular chip instead of one that spins at 100 revolutions per second hard drive. The second reason to replace is the high speed of the SSD. Data will be read or written at speeds hundreds of times faster than on a magnetic hard drive.

SSD drives store data in non-volatile flash memory cells. We can say that this is RAM that retains its contents after a reboot. Thanks to high speed, the computer will respond to clicks much faster.

How to buy SSD?

As for the price, now SSD drives have become much more affordable. But when choosing, you need to pay attention not only to price, but also to speed and reliability. Three flash memory technologies are used to produce SSDs: SLC, MLC and TLC. SLT disks are more expensive, but the most reliable, one bit of information is written to one memory cell, MLC technology allows you to write two bits, it is cheaper, but does not last so long.

The next technology, TLC, is even cheaper and allows three bits of information to be written into one cell, but has an even shorter service life and even lower performance. The ideal solution would be MLC. You need to find a compromise between price, reliability and speed.

There are also several options SSD connections disks. Flash memory has a very high operating speed, and increasingly the bottleneck is not the speed of working with the memory, but the speed of the connection interface. Now M.2 PCIe type drives are gaining popularity, they provide maximum speed, but are still very expensive, so for most users the best solution There will be an SSD connection via a SATA III interface, which is capable of delivering speeds of up to 6 Gbit/s (or 750 MB/s).

In this article we will look at the best SSD drives of 2018 SATA type, since PCIe will still be very expensive for most users. If you are a laptop user, then you will also need to pay attention to the size of the SSD. All SSDs reviewed have a 2.5-inch form factor and a size of 69.9x100.1x7mm. Now let's move on to the list of the best SSD drives of 2018.

Best SSD drives 2018

1. Samsung 850 Evo

This SSD drive is available in capacities of 120, 250, 500 GB. This is not a new solution on the market, but it can compete with many budget drives. The 500 GB version can be found for $150.

It uses the cheapest data storage technology - TLC, three bits per cell. But in addition to it, the original Samsung-V technology, which provides greater reliability and speed. The carrier performs well in tests and outperforms many competitors.

2. Toshiba Q300 480GB

The new Toshiba Q300 SSD is cheaper than other competitors, but provides excellent data processing speed. It also uses Toshiba's own technology, which combines TLC storage cells and SLC cache to improve performance.

You can choose a volume of 120, 240, 480 and 960 GB. You can find a 480GB version for $100. Other drives offering the same speed are slightly more expensive. The manufacturer provides a three-year guarantee of normal operation. Read/write speed in tests: 563.9 MB/sec.

3. Samsung 960 Pro

Samsung 960 Pro M.2 gives maximum performance, but is quite expensive. To connect it, you will need a modern motherboard with PCIe support. You can purchase SAMSUNG 960 PRO 512 GB in M2 version for $329 and $149 for SATA version.

For data storage, Samsung's V-NAND technology is used along with MLC cell packaging technology, which ensures high reliability and performance. In tests, this media is capable of delivering up to 1984.1 MB/sec.

4. Samsung 960 Evo

This M2 form factor drive provides very high read and write speeds, even faster than Pro versions and it is more affordable than its counterpart. The same technology, Samsung-V-NAND and MLC cells are used to store information.

From additional features supported here AES encryption 256 and TCG-Opal 2.0. You can purchase the Samsung 960 Evo 1GB for $400. Read/write speed reaches 2457.4 MB/sec. This is the best ssd 2018.

5. SanDisk Extreme Pro 480 GB

This is one of the most reliable SSDs. SanDisk Extreme Pro comes with a 10-year warranty and delivers excellent performance.

The device memory is divided into two parts, one of them is a high-performance dynamic cache based on SLC cells and persistent storage type MLC. This ensures maximum speed. The drives are available in three sizes: 120, 240 and 960 GB, all in the traditional SATA form factor. The price of SanDisk Extreme Pro 480 GB is about $200, and the operating speed is 525 MB/sec.

6. Kingston KC400 SSDNow

This is an excellent SSD that allows you to get maximum speed. It is available in 128, 256, 512 GB and 1 TB variants. You can find SSD size 512 GB for $153.

It uses a Phison 3110 controller with read/write error protection, as well as additional technologies to extend service life. The drive is capable of reading/writing speeds of up to 557 MB/sec.

7.WD Blue SSD 1TB

Very fast but expensive SSD. Available in 250GB, 500GB and 1TB capacity options. A 1 TB disk costs $320. You can also choose the SATA III or M2 form factor.

The TLC cell type is used to store data, recording three bits per cell. But in addition to TLC, a high-speed cache of SLC cells is used here. This combination gives high reliability and speed. The read/write speed for the disk fluctuates around 508.3 Mbit/sec.

8. PNY CS2211 240GB

PNY CS2211 is more available SSD for those who want to replace old hard disk. A 240GB device can be purchased for $69. The manufacturer provides a four-year warranty.

MLC technology is used to store data, allowing two bits to be written into one cell. This is an ideal solution for SSD drives. The read/write speed of this disk is 526.7 MB/sec.

9. OCZ ARC 100 240 GB

SSD disk from OCZ is available in capacities of 100, 120, 240 and 480 GB. You can purchase the 240GB version for $80. Initially the company made very bad SSD drives, but then it was acquired by Thoshiba and things got much better. The media comes with a three-year warranty.

It uses an Indilinx Barefoot 3 controller, which has 512 MB of DDR3 memory for fast cache and gives excellent performance. The device can deliver read speeds of 489 MB/s and write speeds of up to 447 MB/s.

10. Kingston HyperX Savage 480 GB

SSD drives from Kingston are capable of delivering excellent performance at relatively affordable price. It uses a Savage controller, which uses a quad-core processor with eight data channels. The manufacturing process for one memory cell is 19 nm. Read speed is 358 MB/s and write speed is 370 MB/s.

Conclusions

In this article, we looked at the best ssd drives of 2018. There are cheaper, budget options, as well as expensive, but high-performance ones. Now you know which ssd is better to choose 2018 and if you were going to upgrade your equipment, now you know what to do.

Before choosing an SSD drive for a laptop, the buyer should find out their main features that they should pay attention to.

First of all, this is the disk capacity and its price - facts that influence the choice of any drive.

However, SSDs have their own characteristics that require taking into account other factors, approaching the purchase more responsibly than purchasing other computer elements. Moreover, the price of such a device will be perhaps the most expensive among all laptop components.

Benefits of purchasing

Buying an SSD drive for a laptop is one of the most important steps to increase system performance and data processing speed. On such a drive, access to information occurs much faster.

Replacement outdated disk A more modern HDD will bring a greater increase in power than even increasing the memory or installing a new processor.

Advantages of a solid state drive for a laptop:

• increasing the speed of data access, which will speed up the launch of programs several times;
• compact sizes of most devices (except for portable options), making it easy to select an SSD for both a large 17-inch laptop and a small netbook with a 10-inch display;
• light weight, especially important when used on a laptop computer;
• reduced energy consumption, which should increase the average battery life of your laptop;
• high level of reliability of SSD operation.

Among the shortcomings that are noted in solid-state drives, attention is paid to its relatively small resource: 3000–5000 cycles.

For normal home use, this time is roughly equivalent to 7-8 years of work, more than the average user works with the same drive. The comparative fragility of the SSD in this case does not matter much - it is also undesirable to drop the laptop itself. At the same time, the relatively high price of the device is compensated by increased operating speed.

Features of choice

You should start choosing the right solid-state drive for you with the main indicator that immediately catches your eye when viewing various options in online stores. This is the cost of the equipment, which today still exceeds the same parameter for conventional HDDs several times; it depends on the volume and manufacturer of the disk.

Price and volume

The cost of an SSD can seriously influence the choice of a user with limited financial resources.

The only available options today are 60–120 GB drives, the price of which is in the range of 2–4 thousand rubles, almost the same as a 500–1000 GB HDD costs.

However, if the laptop is used only for work and not for games, a 120 GB disk will be quite enough to accommodate the system and documents, and perhaps enough for backup.

When choosing an option for storing a large amount of information, it is worth considering budget SSD capacity 512 GB, the cost per gigabyte of which is lower than that of other devices - at the level of 20–30 rubles. instead of 40–80 rubles. for smaller or, conversely, new and larger drives.

It is worth paying attention to the 512 GB variants because of the increased data exchange speed. Drives of this size (it can be not only 512 GB, some manufacturers produce 480 and 525 GB drives) work twice as fast as their 128 GB counterparts.

Size

When looking at SSD drives, you will notice that their sizes differ from each other. And, if for a desktop PC it is acceptable to purchase a 3.5” drive, for a laptop it is worth choosing 2.5 and even 1.8” models.

Some of the most popular options today are the mSATA and M2 form factors, which are boards for SATA and PCI-E slots, respectively. The dimensions of such disks are even smaller - the width can reach only 12 mm, the length can range from 16 to 110 mm.

The only drawback of mSATA and M2 drives can appear if there are no corresponding slots on the laptop motherboard. But such outdated motherboards have not been produced for several years.

It is unlikely that you can significantly increase the performance of an old (before 2010-2011) laptop even with the help of an SSD drive.

Interface

Standard interfaces for connecting SSDs are PCI-E or SATA. In terms of price to quality ratio, the best options are drives connected via the SATA III connector. This interface will provide data transfer speeds of up to 6 Gb/s - more than any solid-state drive available today.

Speed

Reading and writing speed are parameters that will affect the speed of working with information. It is recommended to select their values ​​at the level of 480–600 MB/s for budget drive options and at least 1500 MB/s for more expensive drives.

Most SSDs read faster than write. When the cache is full, the actual speed of the drive may drop - although not as noticeably as with old-style hard drives.

However, even inexpensive SSD drives operate 3–4 times faster than high-performance HDDs. Therefore, when choosing a budget solid-state drive model (for example, a 512 GB option for 10 thousand rubles), you will still get a noticeable increase in performance.

Buying an analogue that costs 25–30 thousand rubles is not always justified for the average user, even with increased speed. A compromise solution is to choose an option with less capacity but greater data transfer capabilities.

Resource

For a conventional solid-state drive, the number of rewrite cycles reaches 5000–10000. The higher this value, the longer the disk will last.

It is worth paying attention to the volume of one-time rewriting recommended by the manufacturer. On average, it ranges from 20 to 30% of the disk volume. So, for example, for a frequently used small 60 GB SSD, the resource may decrease by 2-3 cycles during the workday.

A productive 512–1024 GB drive will last you approximately the same number of days as the number of cycles indicated in its technical specifications–3000 (over 8 years) or 5000 (13 years). Although improper handling of the disk can reduce the resource much faster.

Manufacturer

Many manufacturers produce SSD drives, from Intel to SanDisk. Choosing a drive by brand is quite difficult. But, if you need an inexpensive option, you should give preference to Crucial brands. Intel products provide high reliability. And the fastest, although most expensive, are SSDs from Samsung, Western Digital and Corsair.

Controller

The type of controller affects disk performance. Budget options use Phison models. Expensive and fast drives are equipped with Marvell controllers, which provide a noticeable increase in performance. Drives from the lower and middle price categories may have a SandForce SSD controller, which reduces data processing speed when the cache is full and disk space is reduced, but at the same time quickly records information.

Installing the disc

After the SSD drive has already been selected and purchased, all that remains is to install it correctly in the laptop. To do this, it is recommended to disassemble the computer and find a place inside for installation. If there is not enough space, you can replace the SSD already installed on laptop HDD(which can then be inserted instead of the drive using a special adapter).

Another option suitable when choosing a solid-state drive with the M2 form factor is installing the drive together with the HDD; There is enough space inside the laptop for this. In this case, overpaying for a drive with smaller dimensions becomes justified.

The third option is to buy a special case to make the SSD external. Although you can buy such a drive in a design that is already suitable for connecting via a USB connector. True, the second option will be more expensive and will not allow, if the opportunity arises, to install the disk inside the laptop.

Advice: External SSD should only be connected via USB ports 3.0 or 3.1. The outdated interface 2.0 will not only not provide any increase in speed compared to the HDD, but may even reduce it.

After connecting the drive, you need to optimize it by setting software from the official manufacturer or other suitable applications. For example, Intel program SSD Toolbox will ensure constant updating of the disk firmware and alignment of its partitions. The AS SSD utility performs approximately the same task.

The interface of such optimization programs does not require much time to master - it is quite intuitive.

Green means the SSD is working normally.

Red warns about possible problems and you need to download the utility not to check, but to correct errors.

One of these applications is Parted Magic, whose task is to restore lost SSD settings and return their values ​​to factory settings.

SSD Operation

Immediately after SSD installation it is advisable to split it into several sections (as well as regular HDD). One partition will be used for operating system and system files, the rest are for storing other information.

Another option is to store the bulk of the files on a regular hard drive, and give the solid-state drive to the OS and most frequently launched programs. This optimization of SSD space will extend its service life.

If the drive is small (an economical purchase option), within 60–128 GB, it is recommended to periodically empty it of unused files. The disk should not be allowed to operate at the limit of its capacity - this affects both the speed of operation and the service life. To remove unnecessary information, you should use the CCleaner program.

When using solid-state drives, it is worth knowing about the features of deleting information from it. It is advisable not only to delete an unnecessary file using the system’s built-in tools, but also to additionally clean the disk special utility– for example, Eraser, which after installation can be called from context menu Windows.

Another way to extend the life of an SSD, preventing premature failure of expensive equipment and loss of information, is to ensure uninterruptible power supply.

To do this, you need to ensure that your laptop battery has a sufficient charge level.

When connecting the device to the mains (for charging or in case of problems with the battery), it is advisable to use a UPS.

An unexpected power outage can erase information on an SSD, and a short circuit in the electrical network in 80% of cases damages the drive itself.

Increase the service life and effective cooling of the SSD - using special laptop stands and periodically cleaning the case.

And finally, the last recommendation for increasing the resource is not to defragment the drive. Firstly, it will not increase the speed, unlike HDD. Secondly, by defragmenting the disk, you reduce the number of remaining rewrite cycles.

Conclusions

Summarizing the recommendations for selecting and maintaining solid-state drives, we can draw the following conclusion. Best choice For the user who wants to improve performance while saving money, today's 2.5-inch SSD with a capacity of 60-128 GB is suitable for most workloads.

If you have financial capabilities best option for your laptop – a disk with an M2 form factor and a capacity of 512 GB.

If you are building a powerful computer or want to speed up an old one, then an SSD will come in handy. Finally, the cost of these drives has dropped enough that they can be considered as a reasonable alternative hard drives(HDD).

The following SSD features will help you choose best drive compatible with your computer and meeting your needs.

1. Which form factor to choose: SSD 2.5″, SSD M.2 or another

SSD 2.5″

This form factor is the most common. The SSD looks like a small box, reminiscent of an ordinary hard drive. 2.5″ SSDs are the cheapest, but their speed is sufficient for most users.

Compatibility of 2.5″ SSD with computers

SSD of this form factor can be installed in any desktop computer or a laptop with a free compartment for 2.5-inch drives. If your system only has room for an old 3.5" hard drive, you can fit a 2.5" SSD into it too. But in this case, look for an SSD model that comes with a special lock.

Like modern HDDs, a 2.5″ SSD is connected to the motherboard using SATA interface 3. This connection provides a throughput of up to 600 MB/s. If you have an older motherboard with a SATA2 connector, you can still connect a 2.5″ SSD, but the drive's throughput will be limited by the old version of the interface.

SSD M.2

A more compact form factor, making it suitable even for particularly thin ones that do not have room for a 2.5″ SSD. It looks like an oblong stick and is installed not in a separate compartment of the case, but directly on the motherboard.

To connect to the board, each M.2 drive uses one of two interfaces: SATA3 or PCIe.

PCIe is several times faster than SATA3. If you choose the first, then there are a few more things to consider: the interface version and the number of lines connected to the connector for data transfer.

• How newer version PCIe, the higher the throughput (data transfer speed) of the interface. Two versions are common: PCIe 2.0 (up to 1.6 GB/s) and PCIe 3.0 (up to 3.2 GB/s).
• The more data lines connected to the SSD connector, the higher its throughput again. The maximum number of lines in an M.2 SSD is four; in this case, in the drive description its interface is designated as PCIe x4. If there are only two lines, then PCIe x2.

M.2 SSD compatibility with computers

Before purchasing an M.2 SSD, you should make sure that it will fit your motherboard. To do this, you need to first check the physical and then the software compatibility of the connector on the drive with the slot on the board. Then you need to find out the length of the drive and compare it with the allowable length of the slot allocated for M.2 in your system.

1. Physical compatibility of interfaces

Each connector on the motherboard intended for connecting M.2 format drives has a special cutout (key) of one of two types: B or M. At the same time, the connector on each M.2 drive has two cutouts B + M, less often only one of two keys: B or M.

The B-connector on the board can be connected with a B-connector. To the M-connector, respectively, a drive with an M-type connector. SSDs, the connectors of which have two M + B cutouts, are compatible with any M.2 slots, regardless of the keys in the latter.

Thus, first make sure that your motherboard has an M.2 SSD slot at all. Then find out the key for your connector and select a drive whose connector is compatible with this key. Key types are usually indicated on connectors and slots. In addition, all necessary information you can find it in the documents for the motherboard and drive.

2. Logical compatibility of interfaces

In order for an SSD to fit your motherboard, taking into account the physical compatibility of its connector with the connector is not enough. The fact is that the drive connector may not support the logical interface (protocol) that is used in the slot of your board.

Therefore, when you understand the keys, find out what protocol is implemented in the M.2 connector on your board. This could be SATA3, and/or PCIe x2, and/or PCIe x4. Then choose an M.2 SSD with the same interface. For information about supported protocols, see the device documentation.

3. Size compatibility

Another nuance on which the drive’s compatibility with motherboard, this is its length.

In the characteristics of most boards you can find the numbers 2260, 2280 and 22110. The first two digits in each of them indicate the supported drive width. It is the same for all M.2 SSDs and is 22 mm. The next two digits are the length. Thus, most boards are compatible with drives with lengths of 60, 80 and 110 mm.

Before purchasing M.2, be sure to find out the supported drive length, which is indicated in the documents for the motherboard. Then choose one that matches this length.

As you can see, the issue of M.2 compatibility is very confusing. Therefore, just in case, consult the sellers about this.

Less popular form factors

It’s possible that your computer case won’t have a bay for a 2.5” SSD, and your motherboard won’t have an M.2 connector. The owner of a thin laptop may encounter such an atypical situation. Then for your system you need to choose a 1.8″ or mSATA SSD - check the documents for your computer. These are rare form factors that are more compact than 2.5” SSDs, but inferior in data exchange speed to M.2 drives.

In addition, thin laptops from Apple may also not support traditional form factors. In them, the manufacturer installs an SSD of a proprietary format, the characteristics of which are comparable to M.2. So if you have a thin laptop with an apple on the lid, supported SSD type Check your computer's documentation for details.

External SSDs

In addition to internal ones, there are also external drives. They vary greatly in shape and size - choose the one that is most convenient for you.

As for the interface, they connect to computers via USB port. To achieve full compatibility, make sure the port on your computer and the drive connector support the same USB standard. The highest data transfer speeds are provided by USB 3 and USB Type-C specifications.

2. Which memory is better: MLC or TLC

Based on the number of bits of information that can be stored in one flash memory cell, the latter is divided into three types: SLC (one bit), MLC (two bits) and TLC (three bits). The first type is relevant for servers, the other two are widely used in consumer drives, so you will have to choose from them.

MLC memory is faster and more durable, but more expensive. TLC is correspondingly slower and withstands fewer rewrite cycles, although the average user is unlikely to notice the difference.

TLC type memory is cheaper. Choose it if savings are more important to you than speed.

The drive description may also indicate the type of relative arrangement of memory cells: NAND or 3D V-NAND (or simply V-NAND). The first type implies that the cells are arranged in one layer, the second - in several layers, which allows you to create an SSD increased capacity. According to the developers, the reliability and performance of 3D V-NAND flash memory is higher than that of NAND.

3. Which SSD is faster

In addition to the type of memory, the performance of an SSD is also affected by other characteristics, such as the model of the controller installed in the drive and its firmware. But these details are often not even indicated in the description. Instead, the final indicators of read and write speed appear, which are easier for the buyer to navigate. So, when choosing between two SSDs, with all other parameters being equal, take the drive whose declared speeds are higher.

Remember that the manufacturer indicates only theoretically possible speeds. In practice, they are always lower than stated.

4. What storage capacity is right for you

Of course, one of the most important characteristics when choosing a drive is its capacity. If you are buying an SSD to use as a fast operating system, a 64 GB device is sufficient. If you are going to install games on the SSD or store large files on it, then choose a capacity that suits your needs.

But do not forget that the storage capacity greatly affects its cost.

Buyer's checklist

• If you need a drive for office tasks or watching movies, choose a 2.5″ or M.2 SSD with a SATA3 interface and TLC memory. Even such a budget SSD will work much faster than a regular hard drive.
• If you are engaged in other tasks for which high drive performance is critical, choose an M.2 SSD with a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface and MLC memory.
• Before purchasing, carefully check the compatibility of the drive with your computer. If in doubt, consult the sellers on this issue.

More and more users are purchasing SSD drives for installation in PCs. They are used in parallel with HDD or instead of them. Solid State Drives have many advantages over hard drives. Therefore, you need to know how to choose the right SSD drive for your computer.

What does it represent?

A solid state drive is a non-mechanical storage device. It is designed for installation on PCs, laptops, server equipment and is designed to replace HDD drives. An SSD is created based on memory chips that are controlled by a special controller.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

• high speed of reading/writing data and performance;
• low heat generation and electricity consumption;
• no noise due to the absence of moving parts;
• small dimensions;
• high resistance to mechanical damage (overload up to 1500g), magnetic fields, temperature changes;
• stability of data reading time regardless of memory fragmentation.

Flaws:

• limited number of rewrite cycles (1,000 – 100,000 times);
• high cost;
• vulnerability to electrical damage;
• risk total loss information without the possibility of its recovery.

Main characteristics

If you are buying an SSD to install on your computer, pay attention to its main characteristics.

At purchasing an SSD First of all, pay attention to the volume and purpose of use. If you are purchasing it just to install the OS, choose a device with 60 GB or more memory.

Modern gamers prefer to install games on SSDs to increase performance. If you are one of them, then you need an option with a memory capacity of 120 GB.

If you're purchasing a solid-state drive instead of a hard drive, base your calculations on how much information is stored on your computer. But in this case, the capacity of the SSD disk should not be less than 250 GB.

Important! The cost of a solid-state drive directly depends on the volume. Therefore, if your budget is limited, use an SSD to install the operating system and a HDD to store data.

Most modern models SSD drives are sold in a 2.5-inch form factor and are built into a protective box. Because of this they look like classic hard drives the same size.

Good to know! To install a 2.5-inch SSD drive into a standard 3.5-inch mount inside a PC case, special adapters are used. Some case models provide sockets for a 2.5-inch form factor.

There are 1.8-inch and smaller SSDs on the market that are used in compact devices.

Connection interface

Solid state drives have several connection interface options:

• SATA II;
• SATA III;
• PCIe;
• mSATA;
• PCIe + M.2.

The most common option is to connect using a SATA connector. There are still SATA II models on the market. They are no longer relevant, but even if you purchase such a device, thanks to the backward compatibility of the SATA interface, it will work with a motherboard that supports SATA III.

When using an SSD with a PCIe interface, you may need to install drivers, but the data transfer speed will be higher compared to a SATA connection.

mSATA models are used on compact devices, but work on the same principle as standard interface SATA.

M.2 or NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor) models are a continuation of the development of the mSATA line. They have smaller dimensions and greater flexibility for configuration by digital equipment manufacturers.

Read/write speed

The higher this value, the more productive the computer. Average speeds:

• reading 450-550 MB/s;
• recording 350-550 Mb/s.

Manufacturers may indicate the maximum read/write speed rather than the actual one. To find out the real numbers, look online for reviews of the model you are interested in.

In addition, pay attention to the access time. This is the time during which the disk finds the information required by the program or OS. The standard indicator is 10-19 ms. But because SSDs have no moving parts, they are significantly faster than HDDs.

Memory type and runtime to failure

There are several types of memory cells used in SSD drives:

• MLC (Multi Level Cell);
• SLC (Single Level Cell);
• TLC (Three Level Cell);
• 3D V-NAND.

MLC is the most common type, which allows you to store two bits of information in one cell. It has a relatively short resource of rewrite cycles (3,000 - 5,000), but lower cost, due to which this type of cells is used for mass production of solid-state drives.

The SLC type stores only one bit of data per cell. These microcircuits are characterized by a long lifetime (up to 100,000 rewrite cycles), high speed data transfer, and minimal access time. But due to the high cost and small data storage volumes, they are used for server and industrial solutions.

The TLC type stores three bits of data. The main advantage is low production cost. Among the disadvantages: the number of rewrite cycles is 1,000 - 5,000 repetitions, and the read/write speed is significantly lower than the first two types of chips.

Healthy! Recently, manufacturers have managed to increase the lifetime of TLC discs to 3,000 rewrite cycles.

3D V-NAND models use 32-layer flash memory instead of standard MLC or TLC chips. The microchip has a three-dimensional structure, due to which the volume of recorded data per unit area is much higher. At the same time, the reliability of information storage increases by 2-10 times.

The reliability of the solid-state drive depends on the manufacturer. Famous companies produce high-quality devices with subsequent technical and hardware support. Their factories have high requirements, which ensures excellent quality manufactured products.

Modern manufacturers of SSD drives: Samsung, OCZ (a division of Toshiba), Kingston, Crucial, Corsair, Plextor, GOODRAM, Silicon Power,Transcend.

TRIM function

Most important additional function for a solid-state drive, this is TRIM (garbage collection). It is as follows.

Information on the SSD is first written to free cells. If the disk writes data to a cell that was previously used, it first clears it (unlike an HDD, where data is written over existing information). If the model does not support TRIM, it clears the cell just before writing new information, causing the operation to slow down.

If the SSD supports TRIM, it receives a command from the OS to delete data in the cell and clears it not before overwriting, but during the “idle” of the disk. This is done in the background. This maintains the write speed at the level specified by the manufacturer.

Important! The TRIM function must be supported by the operating system.

Hidden area

This area is not accessible to the user and is used to replace failed cells. In quality solid state drives it accounts for up to 30% of the volume of the device. But some manufacturers, in order to reduce the cost of an SSD drive, reduce it to 10%, thereby increasing the amount of storage available to the user.

The other side of this trick is that the hidden area is used TRIM function. If its volume is small, it will not be enough for background data transfer, which is why when the SSD “load” level is 80-90%, the writing speed will drop sharply.

Model overview

Below is a list of several popular models.