MLC, TLC, or 3D vertical pros and cons?

[Nogan32]

I have been looking at SSDs specifically Samsungs and I was trying to find out the differance between MLC, TLC, and 3D? Please help and if there is anything else i should be looking out for let me know. I know that one of the drives has a switch on it that I haven't a clue what it does? Thanks all!!

 

[JohnnyLucky]

AnandTech is a well respected web site that publishes technical reviews of solid state drives. Each time a new ssd with a new type of flash memory is introduced the site spends a little extra time explaining the new flash memory. I maintain the ssd database listed in a sticky at the very top of this forum section. Here is the link:

http://www.johnnylucky.org/data-storage/ssd-database.html

Scroll down to the Samsung section. Click on the link to AnandTech's review of the Samsung 850 Pro for an explanation of the new 3D V-NAND flash memory. Click on the link to Anadtech's review of the Samsung 840 EVO for an explanation of Toggle Mode TLC flash memory. Samsung no longer manufactures a consumer ssd with MLC flash memory so there aren't any listings for it in the database.

Essentially Samsung has developed new variations of flash memory to reduce manufacturing costs which help reduce the price consumers pay for solid state drives. In the process two things happened:

1. Less expensive flash memory may be a bit slower than the older MLC memory. Samsung has overcome that by improving other ssd components and developing some unique firmware features. The end effect is an ssd with improved performance. Unfortunately a few individuals will focus on the slower memory and feel it is a con. They do not seem to see the bigger picture.

2. Less expensive flash memory may not last as long as MLC flash memory. Initially there was some concern expressed in the very first reviews. The authors of the reviews did not have sufficient data at the time those early reviews were published. However, we now have results of several long term torture tests that clearly indicate ssd endurance and longevity is not a concern for consumers, home office use, and casual gaming. The most famous of all is still being conducted by the "The Tech Report". They are simultaneously testing 6 different models including the Samsung 840 Pro and the 840 EVO. In addition the ssd's used several different types of flash memory. All of the ssd's exceeded 700 Terabytes of data written to them. A few eventually died and a few have already exceeded 1 Petabyte. The test is still ongoing and updates are published every couple of months. 700 TB is an incredibly huge number. I simply cannot imagine a consumer writing and then erasing 700TB of data to a 128 GB or 256 GB ssd. It would be different at the business enterprise level. To this day we still have posters who are entirely too concerned about endurance and longevity despite the overwhelming evidence.