History of Computers - Solid State Drive

A Solid State Drive(SSD) is a type of memory that can be used to store persistent data. Most SSD's utilize flash memory, but SRAM and DRAM can also be used in solid state drives. Initially the term referred to semi-conductors as opposed to vacuum tubes, but currently it also is used to contrast electromechanical devices such as hard disks.

Development

The first SSD were used in the supercomputers of the 70's and 80's created by IBM and Cray. Cheaper drum storage quickly put these initial expensive SSD out of use. From this period until the mid 90's SSD were out of use, as they were far more expensive than alternatives. In 1995, military computers began employing SSD's again as a more reliable alternative. These types of highly funded enterprises were able to absorb the steep price, and the increased mean time between failures(MTBF) is essential for the military. Recently, SSD use has spread greatly as prices have fallen. Initially they appeared in laptops because of their compact and light qualities, but they are also making their way into performance desktops because of their low latency and high R/W speed. Currently SSD are one of the areas of hardware that is revolutionizing the industry. The storage capacity of the SSD has vastly increased over time as the technology has developed; in 2016, Seagate announced the development of a 60 terabyte solid state drive.

Types of SSD

Flash Memory

Most SSD's fall under the category of Flash drives. Flash memory is a form of persistent data that can read and write very quickly and is also more rugged than traditional drives.

DRAM

SSD made using S or D RAM offer blistering speeds of data access and are sometimes known as Hyperdrives. This utilization of volatile memory requires two types of backup. First backup power in the form of a battery maintains data if power is cut off, then a backup storage system is used to copy data into a persistent state. These SSD are used to increase the performance of machines that already have the maximum amount of RAM installed.

Benefits of SSD

• Faster startup eliminating the need for spin-ups in HDD
• Faster random access, sometimes exceeding 250mb/s
• Higher reliability, the lack of moving parts almost eliminates risk of mechanical failure. SSD's can sustain extreme shocks, temperatures, and vibrations.
• No noise

Negative aspects of SSD

• SSD are far more expensive per unit of storage. The average price per unit of SSD are nearly 4 times that of HDD.
• SSD do not offer as much capacity as HDD

Significance

SSD have had limited significance in the past, but are quickly raising in importance in the computer industry. Due to their great benefits, SSD is posed to make great strides in improving the quality and speed of data storage. SSD has already had a significant impact in the military world, where the persistence of the memory provides great advantages. As the successor to HDD, SSD will play a role of great importance in the future of computing.