Since NAND flash is weakened by erase/write cycles then it would make sense to try to reduce those cycles to prolong the life of an SSD right? That’s what external data buffers are designed to do.
There are many ways to use RAM (either a RAM internal to the SSD controller chip or a discrete DRAM chip on the SSD’s printed circuit card) to stage data in a way that will reduce erase/write cycles.
One is to perform a function called “Write Coalescing.” This involves Continue reading “How Controllers Maximize SSD Life – External Data Buffering”