Solid-State Drive Basics

Study Notes

SSDs are solid-state storage devices that use integrated circuits for persistent data storage.
Also known as semiconductor storage devices, solid-state devices, or solid-state disks.

Initial concept developed by Storage Technology Corporation in 1978 with a capacity of 45 MB.
First commercial SSD introduced by SanDisk in 1991, starting with a capacity of 20 MB.

SSDs utilize non-volatile memory, primarily NAND flash, stored in memory cells.
Performance and endurance depend on the number of bits stored per cell:
- Single-Level Cell (SLC): 1 bit, high performance and endurance.
- Multi-Level Cell (MLC): more than 1 bit, moderate performance.
- Triple-Level Cell (TLC): stores even more data, lower performance.
- Quad-Level Cell (QLC): stores up to 4 bits, the slowest and least durable.
Alternative technology: 3D XPoint, such as Intel's Optane, offers faster speeds by changing electrical resistance.

No moving parts lead to faster data access speeds and reduced latency.
Increased resistance to physical shocks, lower power consumption, and silent operation.
SSDs typically interface similarly to HDDs, making installation straightforward.
Frequently used in personal computers, enterprise servers, and mobile devices.

Hybrid storage solutions (e.g., Solid-State Hybrid Drives - SSHDs) combine SSD and HDD technologies for balanced performance and cost.
Occupy traditional interfaces (SATA, SAS) and various modern form factors (mSATA, M.2, U.2, NF1).

As of 2024, SSD capacities can expand up to 200 TB, signifying growth in storage potential and usage.
Increasing acceptance in performance-critical applications, leading to their predominance over HDDs in consumer devices.