A Solid State Drive (SSD) is a data storage device without any moving parts or reliance on magnetic fields. Most of them use NAND flash memory, which is a semiconductor memory that was developed by Toshiba in the late 1980s.
Today, SSDs are highly popular in the computer and electronics market, whether it be consumer electronics or industrial and enterprise level equipment. Because they do not depend on moving parts, they tend to be more reliable, durable, faster and rugged than magnetic hard disk drives (HDD).
Toshiba SSD drives comprise a set of NAND flash memory chips, a memory controller, a printed circuit board, an interface controller, a DRAM cache and an interface connector such as IDE, SATA or SAS. The memory is produced in varying quality grades using either single level cell (SLC) or multi level cell (MLC) technology. SLC lasts longer and has higher capacities, but costs more to make. MLC can handle the same high capacities, but will not last as long. It is also less expensive to make.
SSDs come with a number of features that make them desirable in today’s electronics market. Because they offer high data transfer and low power consumption, they’re perfect for mobile devices. Better yet, they are very quiet. When it comes to data transfer, seek time and Windows boot time, SSDs outperform HDDs at every turn. Speed is truly the most touted advantage here.
Beyond speed, SSDs are highly resistant to shock and vibration. This is due, at least in part, to the lack of moveable components. Like the data speed, this makes them ideal for use in mobile devices, which we know get bumped around quite a bit.
The absence of a motor means that SSDs eat up less power than HDDS, which can extend the life of a computer battery considerably. Larger servers benefit greatly from the replacement of numerous HDDs with just one SSD. Taking it a step further, SSDs produce less heat than other components, allowing for a reduction in cooling efforts and power use. It’s also a plus for the environment.
Toshiba SSD drives weigh about nine grams. Again, this is why they are so popular for mobile electronics. Couple this with design flexibility, and you’ve got a great HDD replacement, as well as technology that will continue to spur the creation of smaller electronics.
When you want to get the most out of your television, smartphone, computer and other electronics, consider a Toshiba SSD drive. You’ll be so glad that you did.