An SSD is a modern storage device that helps store data using the NAND flash memory.
Unlike the traditional hard drives, SSD is way faster because of its low-read access times. SSDs don’t feature moving parts to move up and down.
On the contrary, HDDs have moving parts to facilitate the spin up and down.
How Does SSD Work
An SSD uses semiconductor chips instead of magnetic media to read and write data conversely. Computer manufacturers stack chips in a grid to come up with a variety of densities to make SSDs.
SSD experts make the devices using Floating Gate Transistors responsible for holding the electrical charge to minimize the chances of volatility.
This helps the Solid State Drive accommodate data even when it isn’t connected to a power source. The Floating Gate Transistors have one bit of data, delegated either as 1 (when charged cell) or 0 (when uncharged cell).
Solid State Drive Usage
As we mentioned earlier, Solid State Drives offer better performance than traditional Hard Drives in terms of speed. Analysts, programmers, and gamers with heavy computer science task requirements have shifted to Solid State Drives to help meet their daily needs.
And because SSDs have got lower latency than Hard Drives, expect them to handle random and heavy read tasks. The lower latency that SSDs possess results from the flash SSDs reading data immediately.
All-flash arrays only accept Solid State Drives for storage. Usually, a hybrid flash array will join Solid State Drives and disk storages with a flash, which should cache the data that’s later written to tape.
Solid State Drives are installed on x86 computers to accommodate specific workloads, sometimes with the addition of networked storage.
SSDs are used in many consumer devices, such as digital cameras, computer games, laptops, digital music players, thumb drives, personal computers, tablets, and smartphones.
However, you must note that the devices mentioned above will not offer you the same performance as you’d expect with an enterprise Solid State Drive.
Major Features
An SSD does not experience mechanical failures as you’d expect with hard drives because they don’t have any moving parts. Additionally, SSDs function quietly and consume less power than hard drives.
And bearing in mind that SSDs are less bulky, they are best suited for laptops and mobile computing devices.
The best of all is that SSD controller software has predictive analytics that can alert you in advance when there will be any potential drive failure. All-flash array suppliers can easily manipulate the amount of storage using data minimization techniques.
SSD Form Factors
Unlike hard drives, SSDs do not have as many constraints. Therefore, drive manufacturers can build SSDs in many forms.
One of the most popular form factors is the 2.5-inch that you can find in different heights supporting nonvolatile express protocols, serial-attached SCSI, and Serial Advanced Technology Attachment.
According to the Solid State Storage Initiative, there are three SSD form factors, which include:
- Solid State Drives that come in Hard Drive form factors and can fit well in SATA or SAS
- Solid-state cards that leverage add-in card form factors
- Solid-state modules residing in dual in-line memory modules.