The increasing number of DRAM-free SSD drives are considered by users to be low-performing. SSD drives with DRAM, which offer higher read/write speeds, are preferred despite their higher prices.
DRAM-free SSDs are storage solutions that offer sufficient performance for many users. They are also products that can be preferred due to their more affordable costs. In fact, there is not much difference between a DRAM-free SSD and an SSD with DRAM. It is true that DRAM offers higher speed. However, using an SSD without DRAM does not mean a huge loss of speed or performance. Continue reading our article to understand the difference between the two solutions.
Technology
First, it would be right to start with the basic features of SSD. SSD drives store data in flash memory cells, not magnetic spinning platters. Therefore, they do not wear out as quickly as hard disk drives. In order to prevent cell wear, data is recorded by distributing it to all cells, not to specific cells. The locations of the data are also kept on a virtual map on the DRAM. Thus, data location changes made to prevent cell wear can be easily tracked.
Users think that SSDs without DRAM do not have a data map and therefore will perform very poorly. However, SSDs without DRAM also have a data map and are kept on NAND memory instead of DRAM. They use the CPU’s DRAM instead of DRAM cache.
Speed ​​and Functions
SSDs with DRAM can deliver faster speeds, in some cases much faster than SSDs without DRAM, making SSDs with DRAM a go-to choice for gamers, those working with large files, and anyone who needs low latency and fast read/write speeds.
However, PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 DRAM-free SSD drives such as the Samsung 980 or 990 EVO have similar sequential read/write or random read/write performance to SSDs with DRAM in different reviews. For example, the Samsung 980 SSD offers 3500MB/s read/3000MB/s write speeds, which is very close to the 3500MB/s read/3300MB/s write speeds offered by the 970 EVO Plus with DRAM.
Manufacturers use various methods to ensure that DRAM-less drives provide high performance. The most well-known is HMB (Host Memory Buffer) technology. The SSD uses a portion of the system memory as its own. Thus, it can provide similar performance to an SSD with DRAM. In addition, Samsung’s TurboWrite function increases drive write performance, while the Full Power Mode function ensures that the drive always operates at maximum performance when working with large files or playing graphics-intensive games.
Cost
SSDs with DRAM are more costly solutions due to their high speed and performance features. Manufacturers such as Samsung and Kingston offer similar performance to SSDs with DRAM at a lower cost using the technologies mentioned above. On the other hand, drives such as the Kingston NV2 or Samsung 990 EVO offer speeds 6 to 10 times faster than SATA drives, allowing users to have much higher-performance SSD drives at a similar cost to SATA drives.
Lifespan
SSD lifespan is dependent on the number of times data is written to the memory cell. This causes a significant difference in lifespan between SSDs with DRAM and SSDs without DRAM, because the CPU must constantly rotate to the NAND memory instead of the DRAM when processing data. Writing and accessing data repeatedly to the drive causes the NAND cells to wear out more quickly than normal.
Rapidly worn cells also shorten the lifespan of an SSD drive. For this reason, some manufacturers offer a 5-year warranty on SSDs with DRAM, but a 3-year warranty on SSDs without DRAM.
In the new generation of DRAM-free SSD drives, manufacturers have managed to slow down cell wear and extend the life of the SSD with different technologies and functions. Thus, manufacturers such as Samsung have started to offer a 5-year warranty period for DRAM-free SSD drives. In addition, components such as the Dynamic Thermal Guard function, nickel-plated controller and heat dissipation sticker found in high-end SSD drives are also offered in DRAM-free drives such as the Samsung 990 EVO .
This prevents situations such as overheating or performance degradation. Samsung 990 EVO models have the same TBW – 600 and 1200 TB and warranty period – 5 years as the 990 PRO models.
Thanks to developing SSD technologies and manufacturers such as Samsung, users can access high-performance, long-lasting solutions at affordable costs with DRAM-less SSD drives.