So long hard drive! There’s a new(er) kid on the block in storage devices. It uses flash-based memory and has proven to be faster than traditional hard disks. It also has no moving parts so it’s less likely to break. Explore solid-state drives (SDDs) with us to learn how they work and what the potential benefits are, including how they can speed up your computer. Then help keep your entire system running at its best with a performance-enhancing tool like Avira System Speedup.
What are solid-state drives and what do they do?
What is an SSD exactly and where did it all start? Let’s take a quick wander down memory lane to 1976, when Dataram introduced a type of storage device that stored data on solid-state flash memory. It was the world’s first SSD and called the Bulk Core for a reason: It measured 48 cm wide and approximately 40 cm tall and provided a ‘whopping’ 2MB of storage! At the time, the Bulk Core sold for $9.700, which is the equivalent to around $132,715.57 today…thankfully a lot has changed. Like all early SSDs, the Bulk Core was designed for consumer devices, and it was only in 1991 that the first commercial flash-based SSD was released by SanDisk.
It wasn’t until 2006 that flash SSDs were mass-marketed by Samsung with 32 GB and really became of interest to normal humans like you and me. So, although this storage technology is not that new, it’s still younger than its hard disk cousin (which made its debut in the early 1950’s. Thank you IBM). The next time you moan about your laptop being a little bulky, remember that the first hard disk drive was as large as a refrigerator.
Where are we now with SSDs? Like hard drives, SSDs are a type of data storage technology and perform the same function. So why the evolution and why does it matter? Both types of storage media are completely different inside—let’s take a look. Conventional hard drives read to and write from spinning platters with a thin magnetic coating. An SSD has no mechanical parts at all. This might sound impossible, and you may well be asking “So what am I paying for?”. Bear with us. Moving mechanical parts are fragile, which is why the hard drive is often the first thing to break on a computer. A solid-state drive, on the other hand, uses memory technology that works more like RAM (the computer’s internal memory). In RAM, data is only stored temporarily and disappears as soon as the computer is switched off. An SSD provides long-term storage, so it retains the data even when the system is powered down. That’s why the data stored in SSDs is referred to as ‘persistent data’ or ‘non-volatile’ data.
Yet if it’s not using the same decades-old magnetic technology we find in hard drives, and there are no moving parts, what do SSDs deploy? The answer is…Flash, which allows data to be written, transferred, and erased electronically, quickly, and silently inside the closed circuit that is the SSD. There are no loud noises and no whirring parts. You’re probably already familiar with Flash from the memory cards in your camera and smartphones but how SSDs work with Flash is a little more complex. Unless you’re unusually interested in storage, you won’t want to go into complicated details, so we’ll briefly dip a toe into the waters of Flash technology for SSDs. There are two types.
What are the types of SSD Flash memory?
Meet NAND and NOR, with NAND being the flash memory that’s most commonly used in SSDs. (NOR is usually used for code execution. So, a smart phone typically has a NOR memory chip to boot up the operating system). NAND flash memory chips consist of an array of blocks and within each block there are a number of memory cells. There are several types of NAND flash memory, including Single Level Cells (SLC), Multi-Level Cells (MLC), Triple-Level Cells (TLC), and Quad-Level Cells (QLC). The difference is the number of bits per memory cell, and together these offer varying performance, endurance, and reliability. How do they stack up?
SLC generally offers superior performance, endurance, and reliability but comes at a higher price, so it’s most often used in commercial applications. MLC and TLC are cheaper and denser. QLC SSDs provide more storage space but tend to be slower and less durable than TLC SSDs so it’s a question of carefully measuring up the pros and cons.
Let’s sum up what we know so far: SSDs use flash memory to store data within a built-in circuit. The data is stored persistently, so it’s called non-volatile data and is still there when the device is turned off (unlike RAM). The absence of moving mechanical parts makes this type of storage a faster, quieter, and more resilient choice than traditional hard drives, but it’s typically more expensive too. Where are SSDs typically found today and do you probably have one?
The rise and rise of SSDs: What are they commonly used for now?
If your computer or laptop is new(ish) it’s very likely to use solid-state drives. There’s been no stopping the growing popularity of flash-based data storage after Samsung commercialized SSDs in 2006. Once SSDs were favored only by technology enthusiasts or users working in fields that demanded high computing power fields. Then they leapt into premium consumer laptops. Since 2011 they’ve rapidly expanded into a range of devices to suit many different users.
Here’s where you’re most likely to find this type of storage working its flash magic today. SSDs offer a range of benefits:
- Portable devices: SSDs have low power requirements and are smaller and lighter than hard disks so they’re beautifully suited to laptops. Who doesn’t love a longer battery life? SSDs are also shock resistant, so there’s less chance of a broken laptop and lost data even if you drop it.
- Gaming: Modern games are resource-intensive and often push the performance limits of the technology they’re played on. Gamers appreciate that SSDs may save them a few minutes of loading time in every play session, which can amount to hours of waiting in the long term. SSDs can help games play more smoothly too, which is one of the reasons that new gaming consoles like the Xbox Series X use SSDs instead of hard disks.
- Business computing: Many companies process vast data volumes, whether it’s when managing customer details or for programming and data analysis. Data-access and file-transfer times are critical, and SSDs can better meet today’s need for speed.
- Enterprise servers: The SSDs in enterprise servers offer faster read and write times so the client PCs are better served. In addition to offering higher and more consistent performance, SSDs are more likely to protect data in the event of a power loss.
To make matters more confusing, there are different types of SSDs so don’t get a fright if you encounter mysterious bundles of letters like “mSATA” or “PCIe”. Not all SSDs were created equal and various kinds offer slightly different benefits—we’ll explore this below. SSDs also come in a variety of storage capacities, starting at around 120 GB, and ranging to a whopping 30 TB! Most SSDs today offer between 250 GB and 500 GB of storage, which is more than adequate for a mid-range user’s operating system, programs, games, and personal files like photos.
Different SSDs: Meet the family!
How do SSDs vary? It’s all about the form factor and connection interface (so how they connect to the system or motherboard). Let’s start with the interfaces, of which there are two common types: SATA and PCIe NVMe.
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) is the older interface. It’s more affordable and offers speeds of up to 6 Gbps. SATA is being phased out in favor of Nonvolatile Memory Express (NVMe), which is much faster because it provides more bandwidth. SSDs that are based on NVMe use a PCI Express (PCIe) interface, which usually connects graphics cards and other high-performance hardware. So, if you regularly edit videos or transfer very large files, then PCIe NVMe would be a better choice for you.
Now let’s delve into SSD form factors where you’ll be confronted with more seemingly random letter and number combinations: 2.5”, U.2, M.2, and mSATA. Form factors are important, as you’ll need to know which type of SSD fits into your computer.
- 2.5” is the most common SSD and fits into most laptops or desktop PCs. It has a similar shape to a traditional hard disk drive (HDD).
- U.2 looks like a 2.5” drive but is a bit thicker and sends data through a PCIe interface. It copes with high operating temperatures and is usually found where there’s a need for greater storage, like in high-end workstations, servers, and enterprise applications.
- M.2 has become standard in slim laptops and notebooks due to its tiny form factor that’s often compared to a stick of gum. It’s easily interchangeable and you can choose from various lengths to enable different SSD capacities.
- mSATA or mini-SATA is basically a smaller version of the SATA SSD. Although it’s as compact as the M.2, it’s not interchangeable and can only support a SATA interface. M.2 drives can support both SATA and PCIe interface options.
Should you upgrade to an SSD?
Did you know that the old-style hard-disk drive is considered a major weakness in a modern computer? It’s surrounded by fast processors, RAM memory, and other slick components. So, if there’s a bottleneck slowing things down when you start your computer or load a game, chances are that it’s your hard-drive dinosaur. When your computer needs data, the solid-state drive serves it up in a flash (literally), while the HDD must spin up and find the files. There’s no contest: SDDs are faster and more efficient, so it comes as no surprise that tech experts consider an SSD the single best upgrade for your computer if you’re looking to boost speed.
Here some of the things you could notice with a solid-state drive:
- It’s faster to boot up your computer and overall performance will feel more responsive.
- Applications may launch nearly instantly.
- Saving and opening documents won’t lag.
- It’s much faster to copy and move files.
If that sounds good, don’t celebrate just yet. There’s one drawback: SSDs are much more expensive compared to conventional hard drives and you’ll end up paying more for less storage space. As SSD technology matures and becomes even more mainstream, prices will continue to drop. For now, is the extra speed worth the cost? That’s between you, the daily computer tasks you need to perform, and your budget.
On a side note, even an SSD won’t help you overcome the performance problems caused by an overly cluttered machine. Regular clean-outs are essential, and not just in spring! Tools like Avira System Speedup can help reduce digital junk.
So, you’ve decided to choose an SSD…but which one?
With so many brands and choices on the market today, it can be overwhelming to decide which SSD is right for you, so we’ll offer a few recommendations. SDDs all have two things in common over HDDs: Greater speed and higher cost. Here are the differentiating details to look out for:
Multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory: We mentioned multi-level cells and single-level cells earlier. MLC memory can store more information on each cell so it’s denser and cheaper. The downside is a higher rate of error, but you can help overcome this by choosing an SSD with error-correcting code.
ECC memory: EEC stands for error-correcting code so it’s pretty self-explanatory and helps your SSD detect and correct common types of data corruption. The great news is you’re then less likely to end up with unusable data on your drive.
SATA III support: Most SSDs use the Serial ATA (SATA) interface. If you want to ensure that your SSD has enough bandwidth to transfer data as quickly as possible, then it must be compatible with SATA III. Please make sure that your computer is SATA III compatible!
High maximum and real-world speeds: Common speeds for an SSD typically range from 300-600MB/s for both read and write speeds. If you’ll be using your PC for more complicated tasks, consider getting SSDs with speeds ranging from 2.000 – 3.000 MB/s. Unfortunately, choosing the right speed isn’t entirely up to you. An M.2 NVMe SSD is much faster than an M.2 SATA SSD, for example, but it won’t fit in every device. Also look out for real-world test results and reviews, as these are often lower than the maximum speeds stated by the manufacturer.
Great price per gigabyte: When assessing an SSD, look at its price-per-gigabyte for its speed and format (e.g.: NVMe, SATA, etc.) and compare this to competing options. The lower the price-per-gigabyte, the better the value you’re getting.
Big brands: Be sure to choose a reputable brand that’s been around for a while as this is often an indication of quality and long-term reliability. Warranties are also an indication of the manufacturer’s confidence in their product! A lower-end SSD warranty will usually last for 2-3 years while high-end SSDs come with 5–10-year warranties.
Here are some of the current big SSD players to look out for: Samsung, SanDisk, Seagate Technology, Crucial, and Intel. They’re frequently rated by reputable review sites like Tom’s Hardware, so you can see how the various brands and their models stack up.
What is the lifespan of an SSD?
For a basic guide, you can use your warranty to see how long your solid-state drive is expected to last. How much data is written to the drive will also make an impact on lifespan. For example, an SSD with a five-year or 600TB TBW (total host writes) is expected to last longer than an SSD with a three-year or 200TB TBW warranty.
Another factor you can use to estimate the lifespan of your SSD is to see the MTBF (mean time between failures) hours provided by the manufacturer in the spec sheet, which gives you an idea of the probability of your SSD malfunctioning within the warranty period. If you’re using Windows, you can right-click on your local disk (C) and select Properties.
Then choose the Hardware tab to locate the manufacturer model number of your SSD.
Once you know the manufacturer model number of your SSD, you can simply Google it to find out the warranty and MTBF hours. The longer the warranty and MTBF hours, the longer the predicted lifespan of your SSD.
Already have an SSD? Here’s how to test its speed
They promise you greater speeds than an HDD, but if you want to see what’s truly happening in your computer you can take a manual look. Thankfully, testing hardware is quite easy on most operating systems even without third-party tools.
In Windows, open Command Prompt to test your SSD speed:
- Type CMD in the Start Menu search bar and then right-click Command Prompt.
- Select Run as Administrator.
- Type in the following command: winsat disk -ran -write -drive (name). Instead of “(name)”, type in just the letter of your drive (usually c) without the parentheses.
The laptop above has written speeds of just 189.75MB/s and really needs some speeding up to achieve the 300-600MB/s offered by most mid-range SSDs. The user should read on and try these tips for squeezing more performance out of their machine.
Improve the performance of your SSD
Just like HDDs, SSDs need regular TLC to keep performing at their best. The SSD flash controller and operating system will work hard to keep things running smoothly, but as a user you can also help increase the speed and lifespan of your solid-state drive.
- Free up SSD space: If you fill your SSD to near capacity, it will slow down. SSDs need some unused space to write to. Find out if or why your computer is experiencing 100% disk usage.
- Is TRIM enabled? As the name suggests, this helps clear out old data. Double-check that TRIM is turned on in your device.
- Delete Other Storage to free up disk space: If using a Mac, clear out Other Storage to help speed up flagging start times and overall performance.
- Update your software and drivers: Keep all apps, the operating system, and drivers updated to help fix bugs and help ensure that any security loopholes known to hackers are closed. Avira Software Updater can also update drivers and makes it easier to install regular, clean updates to help keep your entire system running optimally.
NEVER do this: Defragment your system if using an SSD
Hard-disk drives work by reading and writing data to a rotating disk. They can do this more quickly when the data is sequential—in other words, it’s located in a lovely row so that the driver head doesn’t need to move around too much to read the files. Collecting fragmented files and putting them in orderly rows as if they were a military unit on parade is called ‘defragmenting’ and HDDs love it.
Not so SSDs, which thrive when data is spread across various locations. In fact, reading data in parallel from various areas helps improve their performance. Defragmentation would mean extra wear and tear. Current operating systems will usually disable defragmentation if an SSD is installed. Older operating systems may not, so you’ll need to manually disable defragmentation.
Always do this: Use an automated performance booster
Dedicated cleaning apps like free Avira System Speedup can make it easier to stay on top of routine maintenance and help you cut digital clutter for faster start-up times and smoother performance. Avira System Speedup scans your PC for the stuff it no longer needs, like system cache, temp files, internet junk, and unnecessary user data. Then you can help banish what’s holding you back!
