Both flash storage and solid state drives (SSDs) are high-performance storage technologies that offer faster read and write speeds compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). However, there are some key differences between the two that users should consider when deciding which option is better for their needs.
What is Flash Storage?
Flash storage refers to any data storage device that uses flash memory chips to store data. This includes:
- USB flash drives
- Memory cards (e.g. SD cards)
- Solid state drives (SSDs)
The major benefit of flash storage is speed. Reading and writing data to flash memory is much faster than reading/writing data to mechanical HDDs. This makes flash storage well-suited for applications where speed and responsiveness are critical.
What is an SSD?
A solid state drive (SSD) is a type of flash storage device that uses NAND flash memory chips to store data. SSDs were designed to replace traditional HDDs in computers and other devices.
Like other flash storage, SSDs have no moving parts and data is stored in microchips rather than on magnetic platters like HDDs. This allows SSDs to access data much faster than HDDs.
Flash Storage vs SSD: Key Differences
While SSDs are a type of flash storage, there are some key differences between SSDs and other flash storage devices like USB drives and memory cards:
Storage Capacity
SSDs typically have much higher storage capacities compared to other flash storage devices:
- USB flash drives: up to 2TB
- SD cards: up to 2TB
- SSDs: up to 16TB
Speed
SSDs are faster than USB drives and memory cards because they use higher quality NAND chips with advanced controllers to manage reads/writes. Consumer flash storage uses lower-cost, lower speed chips.
Interface
USB drives and SD cards use simple interfaces like USB and UHS-I. SSDs typically use faster interfaces like SATA, PCIe NVMe, and Thunderbolt.
Use Cases
USB drives and memory cards are designed for transferring and storing files temporarily. SSDs are designed as internal storage in computers or external storage devices.
Price
Due to higher speeds, capacities, and more advanced technology, SSDs are generally more expensive per gigabyte compared to basic flash drives and memory cards.
Comparing Flash Storage and SSD Performance
The major performance difference between basic flash storage devices like USB drives and SSDs comes down to read/write speeds. Here’s a comparison:
| Storage Type | Max Read Speed | Max Write Speed |
|---|---|---|
| USB 2.0 Flash Drive | 35 MB/s | 10 MB/s |
| USB 3.0 Flash Drive | 625 MB/s | 175 MB/s |
| UHS-I microSD Card | 104 MB/s | 20 MB/s |
| SATA SSD | 600 MB/s | 550 MB/s |
| NVMe PCIe SSD | 3,500 MB/s | 3,000 MB/s |
As you can see, while the fastest flash drives and memory cards can reach speeds of 100-600 MB/s, high-end SSDs using NVMe and PCIe deliver speeds of up to 3,500 MB/s – nearly 6x faster.
SSD vs. Flash Drive: Cost Comparison
In terms of cost, SSDs are generally more expensive than basic flash drives with the same storage capacity. However, the price gap has narrowed over time as SSD prices have declined. Here’s a rough comparison of price-per-gigabyte costs:
| Storage Type | Price Per GB |
|---|---|
| 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive | $0.20 |
| 250GB SATA SSD | $0.25 |
| 500GB NVMe PCIe SSD | $0.40 |
While flash storage can be found for around $0.20 per GB, SSDs currently cost between $0.25-0.40 per GB, or about 1.5-2 times more expensive than flash drives. However, the extra speed and performance SSDs provide makes them well worth the premium cost for many users.
SSD vs. Flash Storage: Use Cases
Due to their differences, flash storage and SSDs each work best for certain use cases:
Flash Storage Use Cases
- Transferring files between devices like cameras, phones, and computers
- Expanding storage capacity of devices like laptops and games consoles
- Storing files and data temporarily
- Serving as removable storage for non-critical files
SSD Use Cases
- Improving laptop/desktop system performance as primary internal storage
- Storing large collections of music, photos, videos
- Gaming systems and other applications requiring fast access to large files
- External direct-attached storage for quick backups and file transfers
Advantages of Flash Storage
Here are some of the main advantages of basic flash storage devices:
- Lower cost per GB – Flash drives provide cheaper storage per gigabyte compared to SSDs
- Simplicity – Easy to use plug-and-play storage requiring no configuration
- Small sizes – Tiny, portable form factors from 4GB up to 2TB
- No noise or moving parts – Completely silent operation
Disadvantages of Flash Storage
The limitations of basic flash storage include:
- Slower speeds – Much lower read/write speeds than SSDs
- More prone to damage – Not as durable or reliable as SSDs
- Limited capacities – Maximum sizes of 64GB for USB drives and 2TB for SD cards
- Not suited for large file storage – Performance declines as device fills up
Advantages of SSD Storage
SSD benefits include:
- Faster performance – Up to 6x higher read/write speeds than flash drives
- Better durability and reliability – More reliable with lower failure rates
- Higher capacities available – Up to 16TB for consumer SSDs currently
- Lower latency – Much faster random access times for small files
Disadvantages of SSD Storage
The downsides of SSDs include:
- Higher cost per gigabyte – Roughly 1.5-2x more expensive than flash drives
- Limited rewrite cycles – Cells wear out after thousands of writes
- Power loss issues – Unwritten cache data can be lost in power failure
- Drive wears over time – Performance and storage capacity degrades over years
Conclusion
In summary, SSDs are better than basic flash storage for applications where speed, capacity, and reliability are critical – such as running an operating system, intensive applications, gaming, and external direct-attached storage. The downside is the higher cost per gigabyte.
Flash drives and memory cards are most cost-effective for transferring and temporarily storing files, expanding capacity of other devices, and other uses where maximum performance is not essential. They provide convenience and portability at a low cost per GB.
For most home and business users requiring storage in a PC or high-performance external storage device, SSDs provide substantial benefits over flash drives worth the premium price. But flash storage still serves an important role for conveniently moving files between systems and adding semi-permanent secondary storage affordably.
