SSD Reliability Test: How Long Do SSDs Last?
Solid state drives, or SSDs, are becoming as ubiquitous now as hard disk drives, or HDDs, once were. Although many people originally considered them to be cost prohibitive, the pricing structure has changed, making it possible for engineers and OEMs to embrace SSDs for both commercial and industrial grade products. However, the lingering question many people have is not about cost, but longevity. If you’re considering an SSD, you will be relieved to know that these drives last for at least as long as HDDs, and oftentimes, they are more reliable. Because SSDs have been on the market for an extended period of time now, there is a significant body of data that backs this up. How does an SSD reliability test pan out? You may be surprised at just how reliable these drives can be.
Factors that Influence Drive Longevity
Although time can be a factor for an SSD, just as it can with any computer component, the reliability of SSDs usually comes down to its type of memory, how blocks of memory save data, and how often data is written and rewritten on the device. In terms of types of memory, SLC and MLC are the most common. SLC, or single-level cell, memory is usually used in industrial applications. With this kind of memory, one bit of data is stored per memory cell, which makes it the fastest and most reliable format for SSDs. MLC—or multi-level cell—memory stores two bits of data per cell. This additional storage per cell leads to slightly less speed and reliability. This kind of SSD is usually found in consumer products.
Blocks of memory are prone to inefficient use in SSDs. As a result, SSDs last longer when they have a wear-leveling algorithm to ensure balanced block usage. In terms of operations, SSD longevity is impacted only by write operations, and not by read operations. An SSD will wear out faster when it is used in an application that has a high level of write operations compared to applications that primarily involve read operations.
SSD Reliability Test Info
If you are interested in using an SSD in your application, you may want to consider custom reliability testing. Delkin can perform an SSD reliability test to help you evaluate which storage option will be most appropriate for your application’s needs.
Do you have questions about reliability and SSDs? Let Delkin explain what to expect and how we can assist with custom device testing. Reach out to our team today to discuss your application.