SSD solid state drive is a major advancement in storage technology these years, it brings disruptive change the computer's main memory. SSD upgrade is not only a small margin on the performance, SSD will use a revolutionary random access speed, superior multitasking capabilities, outstanding reliability and durability to change your computing experience, without a doubt, the SSD the protagonist is the future of storage. Hong Wang Semiconductor will take you to understand the basic composition of the main components of the SSD, controller chips, NAND flash memory chips and firmware algorithms!
SSD far aside on mechanical hard disk speed
Traditional mechanical hard drives (HDD) run mainly by mechanical drive head, the necessary mechanical member comprising a motor, a disk, a magnetic head rocker arms, which must be moved in rapidly rotating disk to the access position, at least 95% of the time consumed in the operation of mechanical parts. SSD is different mechanical construction without moving parts, mainly by the main flash memory chips may be an SSD accuracy and faster access to any drive position. Traditional mechanical hard drives have to rely on the host spindle, head, and to find the position of the head arm, the SSD with the integrated circuit instead of the physical disk rotation, and a delay time to access data far exceeds the mechanical hard disk. We found Hong Wang semiconductor SSD have such "rapidly", entirely due to the internal components: Master - Flash - firmware algorithms.
Relations master, and three flash firmware algorithms
The three most important component is the NAND flash memory SSD controller and firmware. NAND flash memory is responsible for important tasks, controller and firmware need to collaborate to complete the complex and equally important task of managing data storage, maintenance SSD performance and service life.
Master
The controller is an embedded microchip, which functions as a command center, all operation requests sent from the SSD ---- actual read and write data to the garbage collection and wear leveling algorithms, to ensure that the speed of the SSD and cleanliness, SSD can be said to be a master of brain centers.
Firmware algorithms
SSD的固件是确保SSD性能的最重要组件，用于驱动控制器。主控将使用SSD中固件算法中的控制程序，去执行自动信号处理，耗损平衡，错误校正码（ECC），坏块管理、垃圾回收算法、与主机设备（如电脑）通信，以及执行数据加密等任务。由于固件冗余存储至NAND闪存中，因此当SSD制造商发布一个更新时，需要手动更新固件来改进和扩大SSD的功能。开发高品质的固件不仅需要精密的工程技术，而且需要在NAND闪存、控制器和其他SSD组件间实现完美整合。此外，还必须掌握NADN特征、半导体工艺和控制器特征等领域的最先进的技术。ICMAX发现固件的品质越好，整个SSD就越精确，越高效，目前具备独立固件研发的SSD厂商并不多，仅有Intel/三星等厂商。
NAND闪存
ICMAX多年来与闪存原厂达成战略合作伙伴关系，所使用的NAND都是经过严格测试的good die，基于其优秀的Nand flash供应保障能力，有效保证ICMAX产品的稳定性，ICAMX闪存在保证质量优先的同时，更兼具价格、可定制化等竞争优势。
SSD用户的数据全部存储于NAND闪存里，它是SSD的存储媒介，SSD最主要的成本就集中在NAND闪存上。NAND闪存不仅决定了SSD的使用寿命，而且对SSD的性能影响也非常大。NAND闪存颗粒结构及工作原理都很复杂，接下来我们会继续推出系列文章来重点介绍闪存，这里主要来了解一下大家平常选购SSD经常接触到的SLC、MLC及TLC闪存。
SLC/MLC/TLC闪存
这几年NAND闪存的技术发展迅猛同，短短时间里，我们看到NAND技术显著进步，对SLC、MLC及TLC闪存怎么理解呢？简单来说，NAND闪存中存储的数据是以电荷的方式存储在每个NAND存储单元内的，SLC、MLC及TLC就是存储的位数不同。
The same number of transistors and the physical size of the SLC if made, is a 32Gb (4GB) particles made MLC is 64GB (8GB) particles is made TLC 96Gb (12GB) particles. For more difference, please look back to the period of the article [ICMAX difference between SLC and MLC flash and TLC particles of the three, which is good value for money ? ]
to sum up
By ICMAX today's article, I believe that has been the basis for understanding the results of an internal SSD, SSD brings speed experience on the premise that has a very sophisticated technology support, post-Hong Wang semiconductors will continue to take secret internal SSD technology.