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The Pros and Cons of DRAMless SSDs – Should You Use SSDs with HMB?

Par : Rob Andrews
29 janvier 2024 à 18:00

Are DRAM free SSDs Worth Your Money and Your Data?

Solid-State Drives (SSDs) have revolutionized data storage with their speed and reliability. Among these, DRAMless SSDs have carved a niche, offering unique advantages and disadvantages. With the emergence of models like the Samsung 990 EVO, the Phison E31T controller-based SSDs, and the WD Black SN770, the landscape of DRAMless SSDs is expanding. This assessment delves into the pros and cons of DRAMless SSDs, offering an unbiased perspective on their place in the storage market.

What Are the Advantages of DRAMless SSDs?

Choosing to opt for an SSD inside your client desktop or portable system that does not feature it’s own on-board DRAM/Memory actually opens the door to a lot of benefits that extend way beyond just buying an SSD that has a lower price per TB/GB. Here are a whole bunch of benefits to using DRAMless SSDs, like the Samsung 990 EVO, WD Black SN770 and more in 2024 onwards:

Cost-Effectiveness

The absence of DRAM chips in SSDs like the Samsung 990 EVO and WD Black SN770 makes them more affordable, offering solid-state speed at a lower price point. This is due to reduced manufacturing costs, making these drives a budget-friendly option for consumers.

Energy Efficiency

DRAMless SSDs, including those with the Phison E31T controller, are known for lower power consumption compared to DRAM SSDs. This feature is particularly beneficial in battery-powered devices, extending their battery life.

Compact and Lightweight Design

The elimination of DRAM chips allows for a more compact form factor. This design aspect is crucial in devices where space is limited, such as ultra-thin laptops or compact embedded systems.

Simplicity and Increased Reliability

Fewer components mean a simpler design, which could lead to increased reliability. DRAMless SSDs, by virtue of their simplicity, might have fewer points of failure compared to their DRAM counterparts.

Security Advantages

The volatile nature of DRAM means it can retain data temporarily. In DRAMless SSDs, like the Samsung 990 EVO, the lack of this component might reduce the risk of data recovery after power loss, enhancing data security.

Suitability for Certain Workloads

For applications that are read-intensive and don’t require high write performance, a DRAMless SSD can be a suitable choice. These drives can handle basic tasks and typical consumer workloads effectively. However, it’s important to note that DRAMless SSDs may have limitations in terms of performance, particularly in write speeds and handling large or intensive workloads, compared to SSDs with dedicated DRAM. As such, their benefits are most realized in specific use cases where the cost and power efficiency are prioritized over peak performance.

What Are the Disadvantages of DRAMless SSDs?

Commonly recognized negatives/disadvantages of SSDs that lack onboard DRAM/Memory are:

Compromised Performance

A major drawback, seen in models like the WD Black SN770, is slower write speeds and increased latency due to the absence of a DRAM cache. This impacts performance, especially in write-intensive tasks.

Limited Multitasking Efficiency

Without a high-speed buffer, DRAMless SSDs struggle with multitasking. This limitation affects their ability to handle multiple simultaneous read/write operations effectively.

Dependency on System Memory

Some DRAMless SSDs, including those using the Phison E31T controller, rely on the system’s RAM (Host Memory Buffer) for data management, which could impact overall system performance, especially in RAM-constrained environments.

Reduced Endurance and Longevity

Continuous write operations directly to NAND can accelerate wear, potentially reducing the SSD’s lifespan. This is a concern in DRAMless SSDs where direct NAND writes are more frequent.

Inadequacy for High-End Tasks

High-performance tasks like gaming or video editing may not be ideally suited for DRAMless SSDs due to their limited speed and multitasking capabilities.

DRAMless SSDs – The Verdict?

In conclusion, DRAMless SSDs like the Samsung 990 EVO, Phison E31T-based drives, and the WD Black SN770 offer a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for basic storage needs. They are particularly well-suited for devices where space and power consumption are key considerations. However, their reduced performance and endurance make them less ideal for high-performance computing or heavy workloads. These SSDs represent a compromise, balancing affordability and efficiency against top-tier performance, making them a viable option for certain consumer segments but not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Here are Three of the leading DRAMless m.2 NVMes in the SSD market right now:

Samsung 990 EVO Gen 5 SSD – $89 / $159 WD Black SN770 Gen 4 SSD $64 / $129
 
Samsung 990 EVO SSD Review and Benchmark Video WD Black SN770 SSD Review and Benchmark Video

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If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a ☕ Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  
 
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The Samsung 990 EVO Gen5 SSD Revealed

Par : Rob Andrews
12 janvier 2024 à 18:00

Samsung Finally Releasing a Consumer Gen5 SSD – The 990 EVO M.2 NVMe SSD

With so many Gen 5 SSDs being revealed during CES 2024, it probably won’t come as a tremendous surprise that Samsung (a big [player in both the consumer and business SSD market) is on the verge of rolling out its very first consumer-focused PCIe Gen 5M.2 NVMe SSD – The Samsung 990 EVO.

As surprising as it might sound, although home/consumer Gen 5 SSDs have been rolling out for the better part of 2 years, Samsung held off rolling out their own till now. That isn’t to say that they have ignored this area of the market, though all attention from them towards Gen5 storage has been exclusively enterprise-focused (eg the PM1743 Flash), but many were surprised how long it was taking them to enter the growing Gen5 SSD marketplace. Rewind back to the Samsung 980 Pro Gen 4 launch in Nov 2020, wiping practically every other Gen4 drive off the map at that time in terms of performance, and you can see why users have been rather perplexed on Samsung’s reluctance this time around. However, better late than never, right? Thank you numerous leaks online spotted by ComputerBase.de, which ranged from the Samsung Magician tool leaking the 990 EVO product name, and to references on the PCISiG here.

Source – ComputerBase

Then there was an appearance (albeit briefly) of the official product being listed on official UA Samsung pages, although now largely just resulting in a blank search result (see below). Finally, it appeared on Amazon Germany, at €115 and €190 for the 1TB and 2TB models respectively (both now taken offline) which listed delivery as the 25th of Jan and 24th of February – so clearly we are looking at drives that are pretty much imminent for official launch!

So, now we know the Samsung 990 EVO exists – should you care? With so, so many Gen5 SSDs being released or revealed in Q1 2024, have Samsung left this a little too late? Let’s discuss the specifications we know about.

The Samsung 990 EVO SSD Hardware Specifications

I think it would be an understatement to say that Samsung have “gone their own way” when it comes to the Samsung 990 EVO SSD. As mentioned earlier, they have certainly approached it differently to the Gen4 generation of SSDs where they took a early massive lead across the whole market with the (still popular) Samsung 980 PRO.The hardware specifications of the Samsung 990 EVO are…unusual, in a conventional sense. Samsung has clearly decided that the Samsung 990 EVO is a drive targeting the bridging between Gen4 and Gen5 users, as well as low power use and economical SSD buyers. In short, this drive is not designed with performance in mind – which is going to sound rather unusual, given that is the focus of 99% of the rest of Gen5 SSDs launched in the last 18 months. The Samsung 990 EVO is a Dramless (i.e no onboard memory/DRAM) that can be used on a Gen 4 connection to 4×4 bandwidth or a Gen5 connection at 5×2. The result is that this more economical and efficiency-focused drive peaks at 5,200MB/s (5.2GB/s) Sequential Read and 4,200MB/s (4.2GB/s) Sequential Write. This rather pales in comparison to the Gen 4×4 Samsung 990 PRO at 7,450MB/s and 6,900MB/s Seq Read/Write respectively. This lower peak performance also extends to the 4K Random IOPS at 700K/800K Read//Write respectively on the 990 EVO vs the 1.5Million and 1.6Million 4K R/W IOPS of the 990 PRO. Alot of these shortfalls can be attributed to the lack of onboard memory (with the drive relying on using a portion of host client memory, aka HMB) and the PCIe Gen 5×2 architecture – but the drive hitting these numbers in a 4×4 environment is a little disappointing (even when you consider the efficiency focus that this drive has been built under). Here are the specs:

The following specifications are based on the above-leaked information from ComputerBase, cached pages that are now offline and using specifications of similar OEM PM9C1a SSD that shares many similarities with the Samsung 990 EVO SSD:

Model Samsung SSD 990 EVO
Interface PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2 NVMe 2.0
Capacity 1TB, 2TB (Possible 4TB)
Controller Samsung in-house Controller
NAND Flash Memory Samsung V-NAND TLC (176-layer TLC V-NAND V7 ? TBC
Memory HMB (Host Memory Buffer)
Form Factor M.2 (2280)
Sequential Read Up to 5,000MB/s
Sequential Write Up to 4,200MB/s 
4K IOPS Random Read 680KIOPS (1TB), 700KIOPS (2TB) (TBC)
4K IOPS Random Write 800KIOPS (TBC)
MTBF 1.5 million hours
Warranty 5 years limited, TBW: 600TB (1TB), 1,200TB (2TB) (TBC)
Supporting Features TRIM, Garbage Collection, S.M.A.R.T
Data Security AES 256-bit Full Disk Encryption, TCG/Opal V2.0, Encrypted Drive (IEEE1667)

The Samsung 990 EVO is PCIe Gen 5×2 – Wait, What?

So, let’s drill into that 5×2 / 4×4 architecture a little and look at the positives. On the face of it, technically ALL Gen5  SSDs can work at 4×4 if placed in a 4×4 M.2 slot – that is the nature of PCIe backwards compatibility. However, if you place a Gen4 drive in a Gen5 m.2 slot, you will be downgraded to Gen4 speeds (no different than a USB 2.0 device in a USB 3.2 connector). The Samsung 990 EVO allows this 4×4 drive to enjoy 5×2 speeds in devices with carefully curated PCIe lane layouts or PCIe cards that have to be very selective about the allocation (i.e RAID cards of combo storage/network cards). Additionally, in devices such as ultra-thin laptops and compact mini PCs, heat is a real concern and 5×4 architecture will noticeably reduce power consumption and lessen the need for comprehensive heat dissipation.

However, we also have to look at this objectively and as a new buyer considering a Gen 5 SSD in 2024, and in that context the Samsugn 990 EVO is a rather odd proposition. First, there is the fact that this drive seemingly under performs compared with the majority of Gen 4 SSDs released in the last 4 years (many of which carry at minimum 5,500MB/s Seq Read performance and most now surpassing 7,000MB/s). Even if you make a direct comparison with a DRAMless Gen4 SSD that relies on Host Memory Buffer released back in 2022, such as the WD Black SN700 (currently at $75 for 1TB and $119 for 2TB), that drive still hits 5,150MB/s and 4,850MB/s Seq R/W and 650/800K IOPS – which is VERY close to what the 2024 releasing Samsung 990 EVO is proposing here. It’s an odd choice to make their first consumer(ish?) focused M.2 SSD for the Gen5 tier a Gen 5×2 drive and DRAMless, as these are the sort of specifications I expect in a more specialized/OEM drive that likely goes directly in a laptop at production or in bulk in a more PCI curated RAID card. Gen 5×2 is by no means a common m.2 bandwidth allocation and although many system allow customization at BIOS/Chipset for efficiency, most Gen5 buyers are looking at this generation with performance as the driving motivator. We are still awaiting confirmation on details such as durability (DWPD/TBW), but one imagines that with such a focus on efficiency and power consumption savings, that durability on this drive will be welcomingly high! Lets drill down a little into the choice to go ‘RAM free’ on the Samsung 990 EVO Gen5 SSD.

The Samsung 990 EVO is DRAMless – Why?

Much like the choice by Samsung to opt for the Gen 5×2 architecture, there are pros and cons to this kind fo drive that are going to result in it being a much more specialized drive than many would like.  DRAMless SSDs, like the Samsung 990 EVO, represent a significant evolution in solid-state drive technology. The primary advantage of DRAMless SSDs is their cost-effectiveness. By eliminating the DRAM cache, these SSDs reduce manufacturing costs, making them more affordable for consumers. This is particularly beneficial for those who require high-capacity storage but are constrained by budget. Additionally, DRAMless SSDs tend to consume less power, as they don’t have to power a separate DRAM module. This lower power consumption makes them an ideal choice for use in laptops and mobile devices, where battery life is a crucial factor. The Samsung 990 EVO leverages Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which uses a portion of the system’s RAM instead of having its own dedicated DRAM. This approach can maintain a balance between performance and cost, offering decent speeds that are suitable for everyday use and mainstream applications.

However, the absence of a dedicated DRAM cache in DRAMless SSDs can also lead to certain drawbacks. The most significant of these is the potential reduction in performance, especially in write-intensive scenarios or when handling large files. DRAM in traditional SSDs acts as a high-speed buffer for the mapping table, which keeps track of where data is stored on the drive. Without this, the SSD has to rely on slower NAND or the system’s RAM (as in HMB technology) for these operations, which can result in slower write speeds and increased latency. For the Samsung 990 EVO, this might not be a significant issue for average users, but for professionals and enthusiasts who require high-performance storage for tasks like video editing, gaming, or heavy data processing, the difference could be noticeable. Additionally, depending on the implementation, relying on the system’s RAM (as in HMB) can affect the overall system performance, especially in RAM-constrained systems.

Samsung 990 EVO Release Date and Price

There is no avoiding that the Samsung 990 EVO SDD is not a drive that is going to please everyone. There is an ongoing discussion right now on whether client hardware (laptops, servers, PCs, etc) can actually fully take advantage of the performance of Gen 5 SSDs in a sustained fashion. Affording PCIe Gen5 lanes to the SSDs is only half the battle, as the drive still needs to be able to provide the throughput and response times from the onboard NAND flash to the host system. Gen5 SSDs have been promising 12-14GB/s speeds now for around 6-8 months, but how long they can sustain that speed before oversaturation and/or heat-related throttling is up for debate. The Samsung 990 EVO is clearly a drive with a different focus and one that, in the right circumstances, makes a lot of sense. However, as a first-release by the brand in the commercial sector for Gen5, it’s an odd choice and I sincerely hope it is one that is speedily followed up (and/or dual-released alongside) a more confident Prosumer version (Samsung 1000 PRO? Samsung 990 Pro Plus?), as this si quite a niche sounding drive. Expect it to formally launch later in Jan 2024 and pricing at $119 and $199 for the 1TB and 2TB models respectively.

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This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. [contact-form-7] TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions
If you like this service, please consider supporting us. We use affiliate links on the blog allowing NAScompares information and advice service to be free of charge to you.Anything you purchase on the day you click on our links will generate a small commission which isused to run the website. Here is a link for Amazon and B&H.You can also get me a ☕ Ko-fi or old school Paypal. Thanks!To find out more about how to support this advice service check HEREIf you need to fix or configure a NAS, check Fiver Have you thought about helping others with your knowledge? Find Instructions Here  
 
Or support us by using our affiliate links on Amazon UK and Amazon US
    
 
Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

☕ WE LOVE COFFEE ☕

 

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