Solid State Disk or solid state drive is a relatively new type of storage device based on the principles of conventional flash memory. This type of memory is non-volatile, works fast enough and is not cleared when the power is turned off. Unlike conventional hard drives, these devices are compact and lightweight, easy to operate, and operate without extraneous noise and overheating. SSD drives have found application in home computers and professional equipment. Features of choosing the best solid state drives, their technical characteristics, as well as advantages and disadvantages are described in this article.
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SSD drives have already become a familiar attribute of personal computers and laptops. There are several types of such devices. First of all, it is worth separating all the devices according to their purpose:
In addition, there are different options for solid state drives, depending on:
The most common connection types are SATA (older and slower) and PCIe (modern and faster). Devices with a SATA interface are typically 2.5" form factor or mSATA. Drives with a PCI connection are usually made in the form of a miniature board with soldered elements (M2 connector).
There are three types of solid state drive memory:
They differ in the number of bits per cell: SLC have one bit, MLC have two bits, TLC have three bits. This feature determines the maximum number of rewriting cycles, as well as the speed of the device. Increasing the number of bits negatively affects the performance and durability of the drive.
What to look for when choosing a solid state drive? The question is very complicated, so before buying, you need to decide on a set of certain characteristics of the new device. The selection criteria are quite diverse: from basic technical parameters to ergonomics and design. Let's try to analyze each of them:
Manufacturers offer various options - from 60 GB to 2 TB.The optimal size is determined by the purpose of the device: devices with a capacity of up to 256 GB are used to install the operating system and various programs, drives up to 512 GB are suitable for storing a large amount of media files, gamers, developers, etc. use more capacious drives. Low capacity SSDs are applicable when there is a base HDD in the assembly. Otherwise, you need to lay the volume of the solid state drive at least 1-2 TB.
Directly affects the performance of the device. The most common is the variant with TLC memory. They are not the most durable, but they are many times faster than standard hard drives in terms of performance. Multilevel MLC cells are characterized by high service life and high speed. This type of memory is most often used by fans of games and multimedia viewing. Devices with SLC-memory are characterized by unique durability and performance. Such discs are used for solving professional problems.
The dimensions of the device depend on the system in which it will be integrated. For ordinary personal computers and laptops, inexpensive options with a form factor of 2.5 are suitable. In the case of ultra-thin technology, it is necessary to use miniature solutions with dimensions similar to PCI cards.
SSD performance parameters are determined by the type of memory used. In this case, when choosing a device, you must be guided by the following: if you plan to use it only as a storage, then first of all you need to pay attention to the recording speed.If the disk is planned to be used to run software and games, the main thing is the read speed.
First of all, it is necessary to highlight the TRIM function - the so-called cleaning the disk of garbage. It will help improve performance and extend the life of your device. It will be very useful to have the SMART function - a system for analyzing and monitoring the state of the device. This technology will detect problems in a timely manner and prevent the loss of important data.
There are several ways to connect solid state drives to a computer. It is the type of interface that determines the optimal throughput of the device. For example, SATA provides a processing speed of 600 Mb / s, and the PCI 3.0 connection type provides 4-6 times more. The latter option is the most expensive, so it is suitable primarily for game lovers and professional developers.
Most SSD drives can easily handle writing up to 1 petabyte of information, and newer models are twice as large. In addition, there are a number of ways that can extend the life of the device: do not defragment the disk, leave at least 20-25% of the device's memory free, keep old files for a long time, etc.
One of the most important parameters. Durability and stability of work depends primarily on the manufacturer. You should not chase cheapness, giving preference to cheap Chinese goods from aliexpress. It is necessary to make a choice in favor of companies that have already proven themselves from the best side, developers of the most advanced technologies in the field of SSD.The ranking of the best manufacturers of quality SSDs, based on reviews from real customers, presented below, will help you decide on the purchase of the necessary device.
One of the top manufacturers, famous for its truly cool products. The company creates drives using the most modern technologies and is known for the highest level of quality.
The company offers SSD devices in several modifications of the three main series: A400, UV500 and A1000 with capacities from 120 gigabytes to 1.92 terabytes and read speeds up to 1500 Mb/s and write speeds up to 1000 Mb/s.
Specifications overview of the most popular Kingston SSD models
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SA400S37/120G | 120 | 2,5' | TLC | 320/500 | SATA 6Gb/s | 1400-5200 |
SA400S37/240G | 240 | 2,5' | TLC | 350/500 | SATA 6Gb/s | 2400-4500 |
SUV500/120G | 120 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 320/520 | SATA 6Gb/s | 1800-3700 |
SUV500/240G | 240 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 500/520 | SATA 6Gb/s | 3200-5200 |
SA1000M8/240G | 240 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 800/1500 | PCI-E 3.0x2 | 3800-5900 |
SA1000M8480G | 480 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 800/1500 | PCI-E 3.0x2 | 6300-10100 |
A true leader in the global solid state drive market. Focused not only on products for personal PCs and laptops, but also for professional servers. The company makes sure that everyone can choose a product according to their needs and price.The sensational models of the 960 and 970 series with the EVO and PRO indices have become real bestsellers in their class.
Description of the characteristics of the most popular and sought-after Samsung SSDs
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
850 120Gb | 120 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 520/540 | SATA 6Gb/s | 2800-5040 |
860 EVO MZ-76E250BW | 250 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 520/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 3950-6050 |
970 EVO MZ-V7E250BW | 250 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 1500/3400 | PCI-E 3.0x4 | 5500-7800 |
860 PRO MZ-76P512BW | 512 | 2,5' | MLC 3D NAND | 530/560 | SATA 6Gb/s | 11900-17800 |
One of the world's most popular manufacturers of computer electronics, specializing in the production of internal and external hard drives, as well as solid state and network drives. The American company offers three series of SSD drives up to 2 TB: Black, Blue and Green. Marvell's proprietary controller provides great performance, and the cache buffer using DDR-3 up to 2 GB provides speed. Western Digital devices are slightly cheaper than Samsung, while losing in read and write speeds.
Specifications of the Best Western Digital SSDs
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WD GreenPC SSD 120Gb | 120 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 520/545 | SATA 6Gb/s | 1600-2500 |
WD GreenPC SSD 240Gb | 240 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 520/545 | SATA 6Gb/s | 2300-4150 |
WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD 500Gb | 500 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 530/560 | SATA 6Gb/s | 5900-9900 |
WD Black NVMe SSD 500 Gb | 500 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 2500/3400 | PCI-E 3.0x4 | 8900-12900 |
WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD 1Tb | 1000 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 530/560 | SATA 6Gb/s | 10100-13700 |
The Taiwan Memory and Storage Device Corporation is still competitive. Attractive cost and sufficiently powerful performance allow the company to remain among the leaders among manufacturers of SSD devices. Transcend actively implements NVMe technology, which provides an effective increase in operating speed. A variety of drive form factors allows you to use them even for ultra-thin laptops. A nice bonus is a 5-year factory warranty for all Transcend devices.
Feature Overview of Popular Transcend SSD Models
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TS120GSSD220S | 120 | 2,5' | TLC | 420/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 1700-4200 |
TS120GMTS420S | 120 | 2242 | TLC 3D NAND | 500/560 | SATA 6Gb/s | 1800-2600 |
TS256GMTE110S | 256 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 800/1800 | PCI-E 3.0x4 | 3400-4600 |
TS480GSSD220S | 480 | 2,5' | TLC | 450/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 4600-8900 |
Another company from Taiwan. Particularly popular are models with a PCI 3.0 interface with increased performance. Part of the Silicon Power devices are equipped with a cooling radiator to extend the service life. The latest Silicon Power SSDs support Host Memory Buffer technology, which allows you to significantly increase performance.
Characteristics of the most popular Silicon Power SSDs
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SP120GBSS3S55S25 | 120 | 2,5' | TLC | 500/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 1400-3800 |
SP240GBSS3S55S25 | 240 | 2,5' | TLC | 500/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 2300-5400 |
ACE A55 512 Gb | 512 | 2,5' | TLC | 530/560 | SATA 6Gb/s | 5000-7200 |
P32A80 | 512 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 1000/1600 | PCI-E 3.0x2 | 4600-8900 |
The California company, recently taken over by Western Digital Corporation, has earned a reputation as a quality and reliable manufacturer. SSD - devices of this company are characterized by high speed, low power consumption and noise level. SanDisk offers a wide range of solid state drives that will appeal to both casual users and gamers, graphics editors and software developers. The main feature of the company is ultra-fast models with M.2 PCI 3.0×4 NVMe interface with playback speed up to 3400 Mb/s, which is several times higher than that of devices with SATA interface.
Specifications for SanDisk's Most Popular Solid State Drives
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDSSDA-240G-G26 | 240 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 440/530 | SATA 6Gb/s | 2700-4050 |
SDSSDH3-500G-G25 | 500 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 530/560 | SATA 6Gb/s | 7000-11000 |
SDDSDHII-480G-G25 | 480 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 500/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 7300-9300 |
SDSSDXPM2-500G-G25 | 512 | 2280 | 3D V-NAND | 2500/3400 | PCI-E 3.0x4 | 11900-14600 |
The products of one of the most famous "computer" brands are rightfully among the best SSD devices. The company presents a huge selection of solid state drives for both home use and professional tasks. Buyers prefer Intel for versatility, ergonomics and variety of devices in terms of volume. In addition, the SSD drives of this company are distinguished by an increased resource of use, workmanship and reliability in use. True, the prices for such devices are not the smallest.
An overview of the technical specifications of the most popular Intel SSD models.
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SSDPEKKW128G8XT | 128 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 650/1640 | PCI-E 3.0x4 | 4000-5300 |
SSDSC2KW256G8 | 256 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 500/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 3900-5100 |
SSDSC2KW512G8X1 | 512 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 500/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 7200-11000 |
SSDPEKKW512G801 | 512 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 1625/3230 | PCI-E 3.0x4 | 10300-12300 |
The Taiwanese company offers a unique range of devices of various performance and volume, based on various hardware platforms. The most popular of the SSD-drives of this company are the SX8200 models - the fastest ones presented by this company of all time. The performance and other technical characteristics of these devices are on par with the top options from other companies, while ADATA products compare favorably in price.
Description of the characteristics of the most popular and sought-after ADATA SSDs
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate SU650 120 Gb | 120 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 320/520 | SATA 6Gb/s | 1750-2300 |
Ultimate SU650 240 Gb | 240 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 450/520 | SATA 6Gb/s | 2700-5400 |
XPG SX8200 480 Gb | 480 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 1700/3200 | PCI-E 3.0x4 | 7300-9300 |
XPG SX8200 Pro 512 Gb | 512 | 2280 | TLC 3D NAND | 2350/3350 | PCI-E 3.0x4 | 8400-9300 |
A high-quality and reliable Japanese brand has proven itself as a manufacturer of SSD drives. Toshiba is first of all quality and reliability. The company produces models for personal computers and laptops, as well as for servers. Toshiba devices, among other things, have good performance in terms of speed and performance, support TRIM optimization, have an increased TBW resource and energy efficiency. The manufacturer provides a three-year and five-year warranty for its models.
Description of the technical parameters of the best Toshiba SSD drives
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
THN-S101Z1200E8 | 120 | 2,5' | TLC | 480/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 2100-3000 |
THN-RC10Z2400G8 | 240 | 2242 | TLC 3D NAND | 1100/1600 | PCI-E | 5400-6600 |
KSG60ZSE1T02 | 1024 | 2,5' | TLC 3D NAND | 535/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 16100-17200 |
HDTSA1AEZSTA | 1024 | 2,5' | MLC | 520/550 | SATA 6Gb/s | 20700-30000 |
AMD introduces its popular line of budget Radeon R3 models to the SSD market. A wide choice of storage capacities (from 60 to 960 GB), a relatively high file reading speed (up to 520 MB / s), a very affordable price - a list of these advantages makes AMD devices an excellent option for upgrading a personal computer or laptop. The company uses reliable Silicon Motion processors and TLC memory from SK Hunix.
Overview of technical characteristics of popular AMD SSD drives
Model | Volume, GB | Form Factor | Memory type | Write/read speed, MB/s | Interface | average price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R3SL120G | 120 | 2,5' | TLC | 360/520 | SATA 6Gb/s | 2100-3700 |
R3SL240G | 240 | 2,5' | TLC | 470/520 | SATA 6Gb/s | 2900-5300 |
R3SL480G | 480 | 2,5' | TLC | 470/520 | SATA 6Gb/s | 7300-9600 |
R3SL960G | 960 | 2,5' | TLC | 470/520 | SATA 6Gb/s | 11300-13200 |
The presented rating includes only top companies specializing in the production of solid state drives and producing high-quality devices that can be used to upgrade both a home computer and large-scale servers. These devices are suitable for beginners, amateurs, and professionals: gamers, designers, developers and software optimizers, etc.
All devices are characterized by high operational reliability and durability, as well as the use of the most modern technologies in design and manufacture. When choosing a suitable device, you need to follow certain criteria described in this article. A mistake in choosing can lead to disappointment with the model, refusal to use it and the need to re-purchase.