Solid state drives (SSDs) have become increasingly popular in recent years as an alternative to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). M.2 SSDs are a form factor of SSDs that utilize the PCI Express bus, allowing for very fast data transfer speeds. But like any storage technology, M.2 SSDs are not infallible. In this article we’ll explore the question: do M.2 SSD drives fail?
What is an M.2 SSD?
An M.2 SSD is a solid state drive that utilizes the M.2 form factor and interface. M.2 SSDs are about the size of a stick of gum and connect directly to the motherboard via an M.2 slot. The key advantages of M.2 SSDs include:
- Small physical size – takes up very little space in a computer
- Direct connection to PCIe bus – avoids SATA bottleneck for faster speeds
- Versatile – can use PCIe or SATA interfaces
- Easily upgradeable – simplifies upgrading laptops and small form factor PCs
The M.2 interface supports both SATA 3.0 and PCIe interfaces, allowing M.2 SSDs to utilize the faster bandwidth of PCIe for blazing fast transfer speeds. The small physical size also makes M.2 drives ideal for thin, light and compact computing devices.
Do M.2 SSDs fail?
Like any storage technology, M.2 SSDs can and do fail occasionally. However, M.2 SSDs are generally quite reliable compared to traditional hard drives. Here are some key factors related to M.2 SSD failure rates:
- No moving parts – With no mechanical platters or read/write heads, solid state drives are far less prone to physical failure.
- Limited write cycles – M.2 SSDs can wear out after sustained writing of data. Consumer drives typically last for many years of average use.
- Overheating – M.2 drives in laptops can overheat due to inadequate cooling, leading to failure.
- Power loss – Unexpected power loss while writing data can corrupt an M.2 SSD.
- Controller failure – The SSD controller can fail, bricking the drive.
- Manufacturing defects – Like any hardware, a small percentage of M.2 SSDs ship with defects.
So while M.2 SSDs are not immune to failure and data loss, they are generally much more reliable than traditional hard drives. The lack of moving parts in particular gives M.2 SSDs a big advantage.
What causes M.2 SSDs to fail?
There are a handful of common factors that can lead to M.2 SSD failure or data corruption:
Wear from extensive writes
All SSDs have a limited number of write cycles before cells begin to wear out and die. However, most modern M.2 SSDs are rated for hundreds of terabytes written. Unless you are constantly writing enormous amounts of data, write wear is unlikely to cause failure during the typical lifecycle of a consumer M.2 SSD.
Overheating
Since M.2 SSDs are often used in hot-running laptops and small form factor PCs, overheating is a real concern. Without adequate airflow and cooling, an M.2 drive can overheat and throttle performance or even fail outright.
Sudden power loss
If power is suddenly interrupted while data is being written to an M.2 SSD, it can result in corruption. Using a UPS can mitigate this risk.
File system errors
File systems like NTFS and exFAT can sometimes become corrupted. Errors in the file system can make data on an M.2 SSD inaccessible.
Malware
Viruses and other malware can overwrite or encrypt data on an M.2 SSD, blocking access to files.
Controller failure
The SSD controller chip coordinates all operations on the drive. If it fails, the entire SSD will fail as well.
Manufacturing defects
Like any hardware, a small percentage of M.2 SSDs leave the factory with undetected flaws that can lead to premature failure.
M.2 SSD failure rates
Most studies have found M.2 and SATA SSDs to have significantly lower annualized failure rates (AFR) compared to HDDs. For example, Backblaze analyzed drive failure rates across over 100,000 consumer HDDs and SSDs. They found M.2/SATA SSDs to have an AFR of around 1.5%, while HDDs had an AFR of nearly 2%.
Other studies have found similar results. Google published research in 2007 indicating SATA SSDs had annual failure rates under 2%, while HDDs failed at 5-10x higher rates.
Overall, consumers can expect M.2 SSDs to be dramatically more reliable than hard drives. However, M.2 SSDs are not bulletproof and still require backups to protect against failure.
Signs your M.2 SSD is failing
How can you tell if your M.2 SSD is having issues or about to fail? Here are some key symptoms:
Frequent crashes/freezes
If your OS has become unstable with frequent crashes and freezes, the M.2 drive may be having issues.
Slow performance
An M.2 SSD that is normally very fast but has started lagging could indicate a problem.
Bad sectors
Check SMART drive diagnostics for an indicator of bad sectors or blocks.
Corrupted files
Opening files only to find the contents garbled or corrupted points to SSD failure.
Failed initialization
If your BIOS/UEFI can no longer detect or initialize the M.2 SSD, it has likely failed or become corrupted.
Overheating
Excessive heat can cause M.2 SSD throttling or failure. Monitor your drive temps.
Preventing M.2 SSD failure
You can take proactive steps to minimize the chance of M.2 SSD failure:
- Use quality name brand SSDs – Avoid cheap no-name brands prone to issues.
- Monitor drive health – Keep an eye on SMART status and temperatures.
- Ensure adequate cooling – Add SSD heatsinks if needed.
- Prevent overwrites – Limit activities that result in enormous writes.
- Use a UPS – Protect against sudden power interruptions.
- Keep firmware updated – Firmware fixes bugs and improves reliability.
- Enable TRIM – Improves performance and SSD endurance.
Following best practices for M.2 SSD usage and maintenance will help avoid many common failure points.
Recovering data from a failed M.2 SSD
If your M.2 SSD has failed, you have a few options for attempting data recovery:
DIY recovery attempt
You can try using data recovery software to access the drive and copy your files to another drive. This has a low success rate if the SSD will not initialize or has severe physical damage.
Send to a data recovery service
For important data, you can ship the failed SSD to a professional recovery lab. They can physically repair drives and extract raw data using specialized tools.
Restore from backup
If you have a current backup of your important files on another drive, you can simply restore from backup after replacing the failed SSD.
Having a solid backup is the best way to protect against permanent data loss from a failed M.2 SSD.
SSD failure rates by brand
SSD reliability can vary significantly between brands and models. Backblaze analyzed annual failure rates by brand across over 100,000 drives.
Here are the M.2/SATA SSD failure rates by brand in their study:
| Brand | Annual Failure Rate |
|---|---|
| Intel | 0.9% |
| Samsung | 1.17% |
| Crucial | 1.39% |
| WD | 1.7% |
| Toshiba | 2.2% |
Intel and Samsung had the lowest failure rates, while Toshiba was the highest. There was significant variation even for different models under the same brand.
In general, the most popular SSD brands like Samsung and Crucial are good choices for reliability. But be sure to research failure rate data on specific model numbers before purchasing.
M.2 SSDs versus SATA SSDs
How does the failure rate of M.2 SSDs compare to traditional 2.5″ SATA SSDs? Let’s look at some key differences between the two interfaces:
Operating temperatures
M.2 SSDs tend to run hotter, especially in compact devices like laptops. Higher temperatures can accelerate failure rates.
Vibration resistance
The M.2 form factor lacks the physical chassis and mounting of a 2.5″ SSD. This makes M.2 drives more prone to damage from vibration.
Performance demands
The PCIe interface used by M.2 SSDs enables much faster speeds. This performance output increases strain on components.
Write amplification
M.2 SSDs tend to have higher write amplification, wearing out cells faster with the same number of writes.
Based on these factors, M.2 SSDs may have a slightly higher annual failure rate on average compared to 2.5″ SATA SSDs. However, both formats offer vastly improved reliability over hard drives.
M.2 SSD failure rate over time
Do M.2 SSD failure rates increase significantly over time? Studies have found SSDs exhibit a bathtub curve of failure rates.
Failure rates are higher early in life, decreasing after the first year of use. Rates then remain low and steady during years 2-5 before increasing again as the drive ages.
One study by CMU found enterprise M.2 SSDs had the following annual failure rates by year:
| Year | Annual Failure Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.5% |
| 2 | 0.5% |
| 3 | 0.7% |
| 4 | 0.9% |
| 5 | 1.1% |
Failure rates declined after year one and were lowest in years 2-4. In year 5, failure rates began increasing as wear took its toll.
Consumers can expect M.2 SSD longevity of 5 years or more in most cases. But heavier workloads and excessive writes can shorten usable lifespan.
Conclusion
M.2 SSDs deliver blazing fast performance and far better reliability than hard drives. However, M.2 SSDs are still susceptible to occasional failures and data loss like any storage medium.
To maximize M.2 SSD reliability:
- Choose quality brands with proven track records
- Monitor drive health and temperatures
- Ensure adequate airflow and cooling
- Avoid excessive writes when possible
- Keep firmware updated
- Use a UPS for clean power
With proper usage and maintenance, M.2 SSDs can provide years of reliable high-speed storage. But regular backups are still essential to guard against the potential for failure.