The popularity of SSDs is due to their numerous advantages. These are exceptionally efficient and long-lasting devices. Unlike HDD drives, they do not have moving platters. As a result, they work silently and do not generate much heat. They are characterized by high resistance to mechanical damage. In addition, they distinguish themselves from HDDs by greater energy efficiency. When idle, they draw 10% less electricity than conventional magnetic disks. We will notice the biggest difference in the operation of our carriers. They can use two to seven times less energy. The actual value depends on the type of task being performed and the differences between SSD models. In the long term, the investment in such a drive will allow us to drastically reduce the energy cost generated by our computer.
An economic option for people interested in SSD disks
When choosing SSD drives, we must carefully define our requirements. Then we look for models that meet them and at the same time fit into the budget we set. The price of an SSD drive, which will allow us to significantly accelerate the performance of a laptop or desktop computer, is not too high. Just choose a model with a capacity of 120 GB or 128 GB. It is used only to install our operating system and possibly a few key programs, the operation of which we want to improve. We do not need to get rid of the existing HDD. It will work well as an additional medium on which we store files and software that does not require fast data processing. The best choice will be SSDs with MLC modules that support 3D-NAND technology. We can buy such a device for as much as PLN 150.
What model will work in a laptop?
In the case of mobile computers, unfortunately we cannot use this combination of SSD and HDD. We have to decide on one of them. The next step should be to verify what types of connectors are available. If we have a SATA input, it is best to buy a drive with a capacity around 500 GB. When browsing the offers in computer hardware stores, we follow the same rules as when choosing economic models. If possible, it is worth choosing SSDs with NAND MLC or 3D-NAND modules. Such a purchase will cost us from 300 to 500 PLN depending on the manufacturer.
PCIe and M.2 SSDs – alternative solutions
In the case of desktop computers, we have more solutions. One of them are SSDs adapted to be attached to PCIe rails . However, such models are associated with higher costs. In the case of 128 GB drives, the PCIe model will cost us at least PLN 150 more than its equivalent using SATA III connectors. The cheapest units should be able to offer us a write of 570 MB / s and a reading of 1,850 MB / s. Enthusiasts of computer games will surely be interested in such parameters.
Basic models of SSD drives with M.2 connector are available at a similar price as drives using SATA connectors. This modern standard was created in response to the desire of manufacturers to gradually miniaturize memory cards, such as SSDs. It is an improved version of the earlier mSATA standard, which struggled with many limitations. It was too expensive to create drives using this standard and offering 1 TB capacity at the same time. The introduction of the M.2 specification has made it much easier for manufacturers to standardize.
What protocols do SSD drives use?
Traditional hard drives use the AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) protocol. It works best when transferring data via SATA connectors. With the advent of M.2 SSD and PCIe SSDs, there has been an increased need for more effective standards for managing information transfer between motherboard and drive. That is why the NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) protocol was also created, designed for the PCI Express bus. It does not have the same limitations as AHCI, thanks to which the latest SSD drives offer much faster data transfer speeds. Of course, the better technical parameters are not solely due to the NVMe protocol. It was necessary to switch from Serial ATA, which has a maximum bandwidth of 600 MB / s. For this reason, PCI Express x4 began to be used, which enables data transfer speeds of 4 GB / s, i.e. 32 Gb / s. However, it was necessary to properly design new SSDs to be able to use these types of connectors. The first SSD drives compatible with these buses were in the form of HHHL expansion cards. They were connected to the computer’s motherboard using PCI Express ports. Not every motherboard is suitable for mounting SSD NVMe media. Before we decide to buy such a drive, we must check whether our motherboard has the Z97 or X99 chipsets. Other models are not compatible with SSDs using NVMe protocols. They were connected to the computer’s motherboard using PCI Express ports. Not every motherboard is suitable for mounting SSD NVMe media. Before we decide to buy such a drive, we must check whether our motherboard has the Z97 or X99 chipsets. Other models are not compatible with SSDs using NVMe protocols. They were connected to the computer’s motherboard using PCI Express ports. Not every motherboard is suitable for mounting SSD NVMe media. Before we decide to buy such a drive, we must check whether our motherboard has the Z97 or X99 chipsets. Other models are not compatible with SSDs using NVMe protocols.
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