Solid State Drives (SSDs) are becoming increasingly popular for PC builds due to their fast speeds and reliability compared to traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). When purchasing an SSD, it is important to understand the different types available so you can choose the right one for your needs.
Check the SSD Model Number
The easiest way to identify your SSD type is to check the model number printed on the drive itself. SSD manufacturers assign model numbers that indicate the interface type, form factor, and capacity of the drive. Here are some examples:
- Samsung 850 EVO 250GB – This is a 250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD with a SATA interface.
- WD Blue SN550 500GB NVMe SSD – This is a 500GB Western Digital Blue SN550 SSD with an M.2 form factor and NVMe interface.
- Crucial P5 1TB PCIe – This is a 1TB Crucial P5 SSD with a PCIe interface.
If you cannot physically view the SSD to read the model number, you can use disk management or disk utility software on your computer to look up details on connected drives. The model number should be displayed there.
Identify the SSD Interface
SSDs come in several interface types, with the most common being SATA, NVMe, and PCIe. Here are some tips for identifying which interface your SSD uses:
SATA SSDs
- Connect via the standard SATA ports on your motherboard or with a SATA cable.
- Maximum sequential read speeds around 550MB/s.
- Common 2.5″ form factor fits in laptops and desktops.
- Examples: Samsung 870 EVO, Crucial MX500, WD Blue 3D NAND.
NVMe SSDs
- Connect directly to the PCIe slot via an M.2 slot or PCIe adapter card.
- Much faster sequential read speeds over 3000MB/s.
- M.2 2280 is the most common form factor.
- Examples: Samsung 970 EVO Plus, WD Black SN750, Seagate FireCuda 520.
PCIe SSDs
- Connect via a PCIe slot with an adapter card, like NVMe SSDs.
- Highest possible sequential speeds up to 5000MB/s.
- Larger form factors available including half-height, half-length (HHHL) and add-in card (AIC).
- Examples: Intel Optane SSD DC P4800X, Seagate Nytro 5000.
If you are still unsure of the interface, check the motherboard manual for details on M.2 slot and PCIe slot types. This can provide clues on whether it supports SATA, NVMe or PCIe SSDs.
Identify the SSD Form Factor
SSD form factors indicate the physical size and shape of the drive. The form factor also impacts which interfaces the SSD can support. Here are some of the most common SSD form factors:
2.5″ SATA SSD
- The same size as 2.5″ hard disk drives.
- Requires 2.5″ drive bays or mounts.
- Works in most laptops and desktops with 2.5″ bays.
- Only supports the SATA interface.
M.2 SATA and NVMe SSD
- Compact, fingernail-sized card form factor.
- Inserts directly into an M.2 slot on the motherboard.
- Comes in lengths up to 110mm.
- Supports SATA or NVMe depending on M.2 slot compatibility.
Add-in Card (AIC) NVMe SSD
- PCIe card form factor that inserts into a standard PCIe slot.
- Much larger than an M.2 drive.
- Only supports the NVMe interface over PCIe.
- Used for ultra high-speed storage.
Most consumer SSDs are either 2.5″ SATA or M.2 form factors. But enterprise/server SSDs may use larger AIC or HHHL designs to provide massive storage capabilities and extreme speeds.
Check Temperature Ranges
One way to determine if an SSD is an enterprise/industrial model or a standard consumer model is by looking at its operating temperature range:
- Consumer SSDs: Typically 0°C to 70°C temperature rating.
- Enterprise/Industrial SSDs: Rated for -40°C to 85°C or wider.
Enterprise and industrial SSDs are engineered for 24/7 operation in harsh environments like data centers and industrial machinery. They require enhanced temperature tolerance.
If you see an ultra-wide temperature range on the SSD specification sheet, it’s a sign it’s a heavy duty enterprise or industrial model. Standard consumer drives can’t withstand such extreme conditions.
Check Controller and NAND Type
For those familiar with SSD components, the controller and NAND flash type can indicate whether it’s a consumer, enterprise, or industrial model:
- Consumer SSDs: Use more cost-effective controllers and TLC/QLC NAND flash memory.
- Enterprise SSDs: Reliable controllers designed for 24/7 operation and MLC NAND for better endurance.
- Industrial SSDs: Specialized controllers and higher grade MLC NAND engineered for extreme environments.
Controller model numbers starting with “SM” like SM2258XT are common on enterprise SSDs. While Triple-Level Cell (TLC) and Quad-Level Cell (QLC) NAND flash indicates a consumer SSD focused on affordability.
Check for Power Loss Protection
Enterprise and industrial SSDs often come with power loss protection to prevent data loss in case of sudden power failure. This is critical for mission-critical applications.
Consumer SSDs generally lack power loss protection due to the added complexity and cost. But enterprise drives like the Intel SSD DC P3100 include capacitors to flush cached data to NAND in the event of power loss.
So if power loss protection is mentioned on the SSD spec sheet or feature list, that confirms it’s a high-end model designed for enterprise or industrial applications.
Identify Extended Temperature Range
As mentioned earlier, extended operating temperature ranges beyond the standard 0°C to 70°C are a key indicator of an enterprise or industrial SSD.
While temperature ratings vary across models, here are some examples:
- Intel SSD D5-P5316 – Rated for -40°C to 85°C.
- Samsung PM1735 – Rated for 0°C to 70°C standard, -40°C to 85°C extended.
- Western Digital Ultrastar DC SN340 – Rated for -40°C to 85°C
So if you see temperature ratings dipping far below freezing or exceeding 70°C, that drive is built for non-standard environments and intense 24/7 workloads.
Check Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD)
Drive writes per day (DWPD) measures an SSD’s expected endurance – or how much data can be written to it per day over its warranty period.
Typical DWPD ratings:
- Consumer SSDs: 0.1 – 0.3 DWPD
- Enterprise SSDs: 1 – 3 DWPD
- Industrial SSDs: 3 – 10+ DWPD
So if you see a DWPD rating of 1 or higher, it indicates enhanced endurance for enterprise/industrial applications.
Compare Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
Mean time between failures (MTBF) measures SSD reliability – or how long it’s expected to operate before failure.
Typical MTBF ratings:
- Consumer SSDs: 1 to 2 million hours
- Enterprise SSDs: 2 to 3 million hours
- Industrial SSDs: 3 to 5 million hours
While not a definitive indicator, higher MTBF values often correspond to enterprise and industrial SSDs engineered for extreme reliability.
Check Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating
An SSD’s terabytes written (TBW) rating measures how much total data can be written over its lifespan. It relates to overall endurance.
Typical TBW ratings:
- Consumer SSDs: 100 – 300 TBW
- Enterprise SSDs: 500 – 3000 TBW
- Industrial SSDs: 8000+ TBW
Higher TBW ratings indicate enhanced write endurance on enterprise and industrial SSDs.
Identify Encryption Support
Enterprise and industrial SSDs often support advanced encryption and security features for enhanced data protection:
- TCG Opal – Hardware-based encryption compliant with TCG (Trusted Computing Group) standards.
- AES-256 Encryption – Military-grade hardware encryption cipher.
- Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) – SSD contains encryption key so no software required.
These are specialized features typically found on high-end, business-class SSDs but not on consumer models.
Check for Advanced Monitoring
Enterprise and industrial SSDs include monitoring and analytics capabilities to enable proactive maintenance and streamline manageability at scale:
- SMART Data Logging – Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology tracks usage metrics.
- Telemetry Streaming – Streams real-time usage data to enable predictive analytics.
- Management Tools – Vendor-provided monitoring and administration software.
Advanced monitoring and analytics allow data center administrators to optimize and scale SSD deployments efficiently.
Understand the Warranty Period
A longer warranty period also signals an enterprise or industrial SSD designed for sustained heavy workloads. Typical warranty periods:
- Consumer SSDs: 3 to 5 years
- Enterprise SSDs: 5 to 7 years
- Industrial SSDs: Up to 10 years
Industrial SSDs designed for critical applications often come with warranties covering up to 10 years due to their exceptional lifespans. Consumer drives have lower 1-2 year warranties.
Conclusion
By checking the model number, interfaces, form factors, components, features, ratings, and warranty of an SSD, you can get a good sense of whether it’s a standard consumer model or a high-end enterprise/industrial drive.
Enterprise and industrial SSDs are engineered for performance, reliability, and data protection – making them well-suited for mission-critical workloads and harsh environment operation even if they cost more than consumer drives.
So if you see indicators like PCIe interfaces, extended temperature ranges, advanced encryption, or long warranties, you can be confident you have a heavy duty SSD on your hands designed for the most demanding 24/7 applications.