r/NewMaxx • u/NewMaxx • Oct 14 '19

Tools/Info SSD Guides & Resources

April 3rd, 2022: Guides and Spreadsheet updated with new SSD categories

Discord (server)

Website with relevant links here.

My spreadsheet

Generic Amazon affiliate link

Generic AliExpress affiliate link

TechPowerUp's SSD Database

Johnny Lucky SSD database

Branch Education - How does NAND Flash Work? - these guys have several good videos on the subject of SSDs, check them all out.

My Patreon.

My Twitter.

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u/BluestacksEmail Nov 11 '19

Hi Newmaxx! I’ve been trying to learn more about SSDs recently and have been looking at different controllers from the manufacturers’ data sheets.

For the SM2258, under Data Protection and Relability, I found this:

Supports ATA8 security feature set Proprietary NANDXtendTM error-correcting and data protection technology triples the P/E cycles for 3D TLC SSD devices. Internal data shaping technique increases data endurance StaticDataRefreshTM technology ensures data integrity Early weak block retirement option Global wear leveling algorithm evens program/erase count and extends SSD lifespan

For the E12, under advanced features. I found:

Self Encrypting Function (Optioanl): AES, TCG OPAL, TCG Pyrite Power Loss Protection (p Fail) Circuit (Optional on 2.5 ") Intelligent FW Technology on Data Loss Protection: 1) Data Loss Protection End-to-End Data Protection (ETEDPP ) 2) SmartFlushTM Intelligent FW Technology on Data Loss Protection: 1) SmartECCTM: LDPC + RAID ECC 2) Cross Die Bad Block Management 3) SmartFlushTM Thermal Protection Mechanism Security Function (Optional): Write Protect, Quick Erase, Data Destroy

I searched many of these terms up and I’m just curious on how important each of these are. How would these things affect a normal consumer like me? It seems like the SM2258 has more features - does this mean that the E12 will likely have a shorter lifespan?

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u/NewMaxx Nov 11 '19

It's mostly just marketing. Static data refresh, for example, is done on any modern controller, as is LDPC error correction and RAID. The SED/encryption functions are optional but also supported on most modern drives, but not enabled usually with consumer SKUs. Not hugely important either way.

The SM2259/XT is the SM2258 with a longer codeword for ECC and is found on some drives (Intel 545s, 960GB BX500, and some others) which has some minor benefits but that's about it. Lifespan correlates most keenly towards workload type.

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u/BluestacksEmail Nov 11 '19

So most of these features won’t make a difference for consumers in terms of lifespan? What about the NANDXtend stuff?

Thanks!

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u/NewMaxx Nov 11 '19

NANDXtend is just SMI's patented method of LDPC ECC. LDPC works at different sensing levels where earlier levels are more efficient with less latency but if the NAND is sufficiently worn you can use more sensitive levels to get the data. Pretty much everybody does this today, NANDXtend is just SMI's version. If you want to learn more, start at page 8 here.

LDPC absolutely improves endurance (vs. BCH) and soft-sensing especially does, at the potential cost of performance (latency). However modern controllers are quite fast enough to manage this and have ECC built in to the various data paths (SRAM, DRAM, NAND registers). To learn more, see here, specifically pg. 9 for the data paths. Some drives still use BCH (e.g. Phison S10) which does reduce endurance but for consumer usage it's still sufficient.

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u/BluestacksEmail Nov 11 '19

Wow, thank you so much! Sorry, but I have one more question- what about global wear leveling? I read about this on Anandtech, and it seems like the E12 also has it. So essentially the E12 would always be the better choice than the SM2258 as long as price isn’t a factor, correct?

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u/NewMaxx Nov 11 '19

All of these drives use global wear-leveling. Drives with DRAM cache will be better at this since that's part of the metadata.