Storage Devices Lesson 002: Solid State Drive

Solid State Drive / Solid State

Uses flash memory technology to implement persistent mass storage instead of using rotating and spinning platters.

What is the main advantage of using SSDs over HDDs?

SSDs provide much better performance, due to the fact that they don't use moving parts in order to read/write data.

What are the secondary reasons of using SSDs over HDDs?

They are a lot more compact and a lot more durable.

Where were SSDs first used?

Inside of tablets and smartphones.

What three main formats do SSDs come in?

2.5-inch, 1.8-inch, and M.2.

Where would one most commonly find 2.5-inch SSDs?

Used when replacing a traditional HDD inside of a laptop or one of the smaller form factor desktops.

Where would one most commonly find 1.8-inch SSDs?

In older smaller laptops.

M.2 Form Factor

Very small, sleek, and light SSD form factor, used in most laptops.

What connectors and what form factor do internal SSDs use?

SATA connectors, for both the 1.8-inch and 2.5-inch SSD form factors.

mSATA

Smaller form factor that allows an SSD to be packaged as an adapter card that can be plugged into a combined data and power port on a motherboard.

How fast is an mSATA SSD?

The same speed as regular SATA connections.

Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) Protocol

Used with M.2 form factor SATA drives, always plugging directly into the motherboard.

What issue does using NVMe solve?

Data bottlenecks on a STA connection.

What kind of bus does a NVMe use?

The PCIe bus, giving a direct connection to the motherboard.

Where else can you install a SSD on a motherboard?

Onto a PCIe, but only if the SSD if form factored as an adapter card.

Why would someone want both HDD and a SSD?

To store their OS and applications on one and files on another due to storage and cost restraints that come with using an SSD.

Hybrid Drive

A drive that has both a HDD and a SSD, that learns where to store data based on what data is frequently used.

How does a hybrid drive decide where to store data?

By learning what data is accessed more frequently, which is stored in the SSD. Data rarely used goes on the HDD.

Are hybrid drives still in use?

Not much anymore.