FAQs

What is the difference between SLC and MLC flash memory chips?

Most SSDs on the market utilize NAND flash memory which can be sub-divided into two categories, SLC and MLC.

SLC (Single Level Cell) SSDs store only one data bit per NAND flash cell which leads to faster transfer speeds, higher cell endurance and a lower power consumption. The only downside to SLC chips used in SSDs is the manufacturing cost per Megabyte and the total capacity, which is less per NAND cell than MLC. SLCs are intended for the high-end consumer and server market and they have approximately 10 times more endurance compared to MLCs.

MLC (Multi Level Cell) SSDs store two or more bits per NAND flash cell. Storing more bits per cell achieves a higher capacity and lower manufacturing cost per Megabyte. MLC SSDs are designed for the mainstream consumer market and are much faster compared to standard hard disk drives. MLC SSDs are improving with faster and more efficient technologies and are being adopted into the high-end consumer and server markets.

What difference does a DRAM cache make when integrated in an SSD?

The DRAM cache operates like a buffer in between the controller and the NAND FLASH inside the P Series Integral internal SSD and creates the following benefits:

1. Accelerates the SMALL FILE write speed.

2. Faster updates of the FMT (Flash Management Table), to minimize the frequent write operation into NAND flash.

Why is a SSD better than a HDD (hard disk)?

A SSD works differently than a typical hard disk drive; firstly it does not use a spinning disk to store its data. Instead, the data is stored on flash memory chips which are proven to be faster, having close to zero access time as it doesn't require a spinning disk to "spin up" (turn faster) before access.

-SSDs have no moving parts, resulting in many benefits over older HDD technology:
-More durable and shock resistant - one heavy drop of a hard drive can damage its write head permanently and cause your computer to stop operating as a result
-Require less power to operate
-Produce less heat and zero noise

Additionally, wear-leveling technology ensures the Integral SSD will outlive a typical HDD.

Will a disk defragmentation benefit my SSD?

There is no benefit from defragmenting your SSD. Traditional hard disks fragment data, which reduces storage capacity and in most cases, performance. Fragmentation occurs when allocated space is either insufficient to fill or over allocated and goes to waste. Accessing 64KB of data is quicker than accessing eight 8KB of data on a hard disk, but this is not the case with SSDs; due to their near zero seek times. Fragmented SSD drives do not see a drop in performance. In fact fragmenting SSDs causes unnecessary wear to the device.