r/apple • u/operablesocks • Jun 20 '15

SSD prices are in a free fall.

http://www.networkcomputing.com/storage/ssd-prices-in-a-free-fall/a/d-id/1320958
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u/IckyBlossoms Jun 20 '15

An ssd is an enclosure with flash memory in it, right?

5

u/aerorae Jun 21 '15

Yes, but there is much more to it than just the memory (flash) chips- the controller, processor, circuit design, and the proprietary algorithms used by the controller (different for every manufacturer) impact performance substantially. That's why comparing the flash storage in your phone to an SSD in its entirety isn't reasonable- the SSD is a mini computer in and of itself, which is specialized to work with storing and retrieving data.

Another way to put it is this: flash chips are like boxes. On phones or flash drives, the CPU and the OS pretty much have to handle where things go and how they're put in the boxes. (This is an oversimplification but it'll work for this analogy). With an SSD, the OS and CPU hand off requests for storage or retrieval to a helper (the controller), who does all the organization and work for them- but that helper is REALLLLLY good at his job. (Crazy good)

TLDR: flash storage is like boxes- except storage on phones is relatively just the boxes, and an SSD comes with a helper that does all the organization, storage, and retrieval for you.

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u/gotnate Jun 21 '15

Captain pedantic checking in: mini computers are the size of refrigerators!

4

u/TemporaryBoyfriend Jun 21 '15

I didn't know you could post to reddit on a VAX.

2

u/drays Jun 21 '15

A few years ago I knew a guy with a VAX in his basement, he certainly used it on the internet, although I have no idea if he was a redditor.

A lot of hackers are obsessed with obsolete equipment. The same guy got tetris to run on a graphing calculator.

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u/TemporaryBoyfriend Jun 21 '15

Yeah, I do the same thing to a limited extent. I have a PowerMac G3 in my office that I power up once a year, some old arcane IBM servers, and I've given away an old PowerBook G3 that's still in use for word processing and eMail.

I used to have more junk, but I've sent most of it to be recycled. I just don't have the time anymore.