DRAM SSD vs DRAM Less SSD – A Comprehensive Guide
When it comes to computer hardware, there are a lot of choices to make. Do you want an HDD or an SSD? So you’re considering an upgrade to your PC and have decided that a solid-state drive (SSD) is the way to go. Great decision! But should you go for a standard dram drive or one that doesn’t use dram? Here’s a look at the pros and cons of each type to help you make your decision.
What Is a DRAM SSD?
The data mapping tables, which keep track of logical blocks and their physical locations in NAND, are stored on an SSD’s DRAM. This mapping table is saved in NAND on SSDs without DRAM. Because NAND is slower than DRAM, the performance of SSDs without a DRAM cache may be worse than that of SSDs with a RAM cache. To know more about how SSD store data refer How does SSD store data without power?
Additionally, because the mapping table is stored in DRAM, it can be quickly and easily accessed. This means that when data is read from or written to an SSD with a DRAM cache, the process is faster than it would be without the cache.
If you looking for DRAM SSDs you can go for SABRENT Rocket , SK hynix Gold S31 (SATA). Links will take you to amazon.
What Is a DRAM-Less SSD?
A DRAM-less SSD is a type of solid-state drive (SSD) that does not use dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) to store data. DRAM is typically used in SSDs to provide a high-speed cache that can be quickly accessed by the computer. However, DRAM is also more expensive than other types of memory, such as NAND flash. As a result, DRAM-less SSDs are often cheaper than traditional SSDs.
Dramless SSDs are keeping the track of data by storing the table inside the NAND chip, whereas regular SSDs have a separate DRAM chip to keep track of what is stored where on the NAND. This makes Dramless SSDs cheaper to manufacture but they will be slower in terms of speed.
If you are looking for a DRAM-less SSD go SAMSUNG 980 PRO, WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD. I personally used on one of my PC and it’s a good SSD
Recommended reading: What Are the Different Types of SSDs?
Is SSD With DRAM Better?
If you’re shopping for a new solid-state drive (SSD), you might be wondering whether you should pay extra for a model with DRAM or go with a cheaper, DRAM-less option.
However, I recommend you should always go for DRAM SSD. Without it, performance can vary significantly, even on an office computer. It will be faster than an HDD but If anything is written to the drive while multitasking performance decreases, particularly if it’s getting full or you just did a very large write (MB). Under certain circumstances, some DRAM-less SDDs may drop to HDD-like speeds.
When it comes to SSDs, the key thing to remember is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It all depends on your needs and preferences. So take the time to do your research and figure out what’s right for you. With so many different options on the market, you’re sure to find the perfect SSD for your needs.
Is DRAM SSD Good for Gaming?
DRAM on an SSD keeps track of where the data is located on the flash memory chips. This allows for faster data access because the DRAM chip can act as a cache. When it comes to gaming, this means that games will load faster from an SSD with a DRAM chip than one without.
When you play fast phase games it’s essential to have data quickly accessible so that the game can keep up with your inputs. otherwise, you will feel that game is lagging. That’s because when the game is loading from an HDD it has to search through a lot of data to find what it needs which takes time, and by the time it found what it needs you’ve already moved on in the game. So having an SSD with DRAM can help reduce gaming load times and improve your gaming experience.
Is DRAM a Cache?
When the system requests data from the SSD, it must first know wherein the memory cells the data is stored. As a result, the drive maintains a sort of “map” that actively tracks where all of the data is physically located.
This “map” is saved on a drive’s DRAM Cache. The DRAM Cache within an SSD is used to quickly and easily find the location of requested data so that it can be read from the NAND chips and transferred to the system.
Is Dram-Less SSD Bad?
DRAM-less SSDs are OK to use and are significantly quicker than an HDD, and will provide fast boot times, but writing to them could be slower than DRAM SSDs. DRAM-less SSDs don’t have a DRAM cache, so they can only write as fast as the NAND flash will allow. This is usually not an issue for most users as the NAND flash speed is more than adequate for general use. If you’re looking for the absolute fastest possible write speeds, then a DRAM SSD is the way to go. However, if you’re just looking for a quick and easy upgrade from an HDD, then a DRAM-less SSD will suffice.
References
- Dynamic random-access memory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_random-access_memory
