{"id":88083,"date":"2024-04-05T08:43:52","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T15:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/?p=88083"},"modified":"2024-04-05T08:43:54","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T15:43:54","slug":"how-reliable-are-ssds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/","title":{"rendered":"SSD 101: How Reliable are SSDs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"936\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/backblaze.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/bb_bh_How-Reliable-Are-SSDs.png\" alt=\"A decorative image showing an illustration of an SSD drive that exposes the interior. A headline reads How Reliable Are SSDs?\" class=\"wp-image-111073\" srcset=\"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/bb_bh_How-Reliable-Are-SSDs.png 936w, https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/bb_bh_How-Reliable-Are-SSDs-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/bb_bh_How-Reliable-Are-SSDs-768x438.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"abstract\" style=\"line-height: 1.8; margin: 24px 12px; padding: 24px 12px 10px 12px;\">This article has been updated since it was originally published in 2023.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Solid state drives (SSDs) continue to grow in popularity, and no wonder. Compared to hard disk drives (HDDs), they are faster, smaller, more power efficient, and sturdier since they have no moving parts to jostle around. And, they are becoming available in larger and larger capacities while their cost comes down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But are they really as dependable as they claim to be? SSDs still have vulnerabilities, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/storage-tech-of-the-future-ceramics-dna-and-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">storage tech that lasts thousands of years<\/a> isn\u2019t commercially viable (yet!).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post we\u2019re going to consider the issue of SSD reliability. We\u2019ll take a closer look at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SSD tech.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SSD storage memory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reliability factors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Signs of SSD failure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how reliable is an SSD? Let\u2019s dig in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">But First, Back It Up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">data storage and backup company<\/a>, you know what we\u2019re going to say right off: No matter how you store your data, you should always <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/cloud-storage\/solutions\/backup-and-archive\">back it up<\/a>. Even if your data is stored on a brand new SSD, it won\u2019t do you any good if your computer is stolen, destroyed by a flood, or lost in a fire or other act of nature. We recommend using a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/the-3-2-1-backup-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3-2-1 backup strategy<\/a> to safeguard your data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SSD Tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Almost all types of today\u2019s SSDs use NAND flash memory. NAND isn\u2019t an acronym like a lot of computer terms. Instead, it\u2019s a name that\u2019s derived from its logic gate, the basic building block of its memory cells, called \u201cNOT AND.\u201d (For the curious, a NAND gate is a logic gate that produces an output that is false only if all its inputs are true.)<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"936\" height=\"734\" src=\"https:\/\/backblaze.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Reliable-SSDs_1_Internal-Motherboard.png\" alt=\"A diagram of the interior motherboard of an SSD identifying the cache, controller, and NAND Flash Memory. \" class=\"wp-image-111074\" srcset=\"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Reliable-SSDs_1_Internal-Motherboard.png 936w, https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Reliable-SSDs_1_Internal-Motherboard-300x235.png 300w, https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Reliable-SSDs_1_Internal-Motherboard-768x602.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Flash (the term following NAND) refers to a non-volatile solid state memory that retains data even when the power source is removed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NAND storage has specific properties that affect how long it will last. NAND flash memory works by storing data in individual memory cells organized in a grid-like array. When data (a 1 or a 0) is written to a NAND cell (also known as programming), the data must be erased before new data can be written to that same cell. When writing and erasing a NAND cell, electrons are sent through an insulator and back, and the insulator starts to wear. Eventually, the insulator wears to the point where it may have difficulty keeping the electrons in their correct (programmed) location, which makes it increasingly more difficult to determine if the electrons are where they should be and to indicate the correct value (1 or 0) of the cell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that flash type memory cells can only be reliably programmed and erased a given number of times. This is measured in programmed\/erase cycles, more commonly known as P\/E cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>P\/E cycles are an important measurement of SSD reliability, but there are other factors that are important to consider as well including TBW (terabytes written) and MTBF (mean time between failures). Here are a few definitions to help keep everything straight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Programmed\/Erase Cycles (P\/E Cycles)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A P\/E cycle in solid state storage involves writing data to a NAND flash memory cell then erasing that data, so it is ready to be rewritten. The endurance of an SSD, measured in P\/E cycles, varies depending on the technology, but typically falls somewhere between 500 and 100,000 P\/E cycles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Terabytes Written (TBW)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Terabytes written is the total amount of data that can be written to an SSD before it is likely to fail. For example, here are the TBW warranties for the popular <a href=\"https:\/\/semiconductor.samsung.com\/consumer-storage\/internal-ssd\/870evo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Samsung V-NAND SSD 870 EVO<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>250GB model: 150TBW<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>500GB model: 300TBW<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1TB model: 600TBW<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2TB model: 1,200TBW<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>4TB model: 2,400TBW<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All of these models are warrantied for five years or TBW, whichever comes first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>MTBF is a metric used to gauge the reliability of a hardware component throughout its anticipated lifespan. For most components, the measure is typically in thousands or even tens of thousands of hours between failures. For example, an HDD may have a mean time between failures of 300,000 hours, while an SSD might have 1.5 million hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manufacturers provide these specifications for their products. They can help you understand your drives\u2019 expected lifespan as well as its suitability for specific applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be careful when reviewing the specifications though, as they don\u2019t guarantee your particular SSD will last for that specific duration. Rather, they indicate that, based on a sample set of the SSD model, errors are anticipated to occur at a certain rate. A 1.2 million hour MTBF means that, assuming the drive is used at an average of eight hours a day, a sample size of 1,000 SSDs would be expected to have one failure every 150 days, or about twice a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, many SSDs come with a utility which monitors the life expectancy of the drive. Their recommendations are based on monitoring the SMART attributes of the drive. As we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/making-sense-of-ssd-smart-stats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">discussed in a previous post<\/a>, there is little consistency between the different SSD manufacturers in what attributes they monitor and how they calculate drive life expectancy. Therefore, it is important that you read the manual for your particular SSD if you are interested in using this information to decide when to replace your SSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SSD Storage Memory<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are currently five different NAND flash cell technologies based on the number of bits stored per cell, which we\u2019ll discuss below. Generally, as the number of bits stored per cell increases, the cost per bit decreases, but endurance and performance may decrease as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SLC (Single Level Cell): One Bit Per Cell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SLC was the first type of NAND flash storage developed. It stores one bit per cell. SLC storage is fast and wear is minimal. On the downside, it\u2019s not space-efficient; that is, the physical size of the SSD form factor used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MLC (Multi-Level Cell): Two Bits Per Cell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>MLC stores two bits per cell. This basically doubled the amount of storage and lowered the cost for a given form factor. But MLC is slower as it has to distinguish between the two bits in a given cell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">TLC (Triple Level Cell): Three Bits Per Cell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The trend continued with TLC where three bits are stored per cell. This advancement had two interesting consequences. First, the unit cost started to be appealing to most audiences. While still two to three times as expensive as a comparable hard drive, a TLC-based SSD was affordable. Second, the TLC technology hastened the introduction of caching within the SSD, as the unaided read\/write speeds had dipped to near those of a hard drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">QLC (Quad Level Cell): Four Bits Per Cell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>QLC is the current \u201cstandard.\u201d It stores four bits per cell. This increases storage density yet again, lowers the price even more, and, with caching improvements, continues to deliver superior speed. On the downside, the drive can wear out sooner, especially as it fills up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3D NAND<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the previous technologies the cells are side by side in a single, two-dimensional layer\u2014this design is described as planar. In 3D NAND, the cells are stacked three-dimensionally. This improves storage density and speed, but increases the manufacturing cost and lowers endurance over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general SLC and MLC are faster and last longer, but are limited to the amount of space. TLC and QLC technologies can store data at a lower cost, but may be slower. However, the difference in speed is probably negligible for the average consumer, and is sometimes made up for by things like dynamic caching. The 3D NAND technology is a great choice, but be prepared to pay more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SSD Reliability Factors to Consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Compared to HDDs, SSDs are sturdier. Since they don\u2019t have moving parts like actuator arms and spinning platters, they can withstand accidental drops and other shocks, vibration, extreme temperatures, and magnetic fields better than HDDs. Add to that their small size and lower power consumption, and the idea of replacing HDDs with SSDs could be worth the time and effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s not exactly the whole story though. There are different performance and reliability criteria you should use depending on whether the SSD will be used in a home desktop computer, a data center, or an exploration vehicle on Mars. And SSD manufacturers are increasingly marketing SSDs for specific workloads such as write-intensive, read-intensive, or mixed-use. What that means is that you can select the optimal level of SSD endurance and capacity for a particular use case.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, an enterprise user with a high-transaction database might opt for a drive that can withstand a higher number of writes at the expense of capacity. Or, a user operating a database that doesn\u2019t get frequent writes might choose a lower performance drive with a higher capacity. By doing this, the manufacturers are hiding the complexity embedded in the technology like storage NAND (SLC, MLC, etc), caching, and so on. That said, it does make it easier to match your requirements to the best type of SSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Signs of SSD Failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve likely encountered the dreaded clicking sound that emanates from a dying HDD. An SSD has no moving parts, so you won\u2019t get an audible warning that an SSD is about to fail, but there are usually other signs of when that\u2019s going to happen. If you start to notice any of them, take action by replacing that drive with a new one. Indicators that your SSD is nearing its end of life include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) Errors Involving Bad Blocks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Much like bad sectors on HDDs, there are bad blocks on SSDs. If you have a bad block, the computer will typically try to read or save a file, but it takes an unusually long time and ends in failure, so the system eventually gives up and sends an error message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) Files Cannot Be Read or Written<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two ways in which a bad block can affect your files. First, the system detects the bad block while writing data to the drive, and thus refuses to write data, or second, the system detects the bad block after the data has been written, and thus refuses to read that data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) The File System Needs Repair<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting an error message like this on your screen can happen simply because the computer was not shut down properly, but it also could be a sign of an SSD developing bad blocks or other problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4) Crashing During Boot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A crash during the computer boot is a sign that your drive could be developing a problem. You should make sure you have a current backup of all your data before it gets worse and the drive fails completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5) The Drive Becomes Read-Only<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your drive might refuse to write any more data to disk and can only read data. Fortunately, you can still get your data off the disk, and you should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So, How Reliable Is an SSD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s break down the reliability of SSDs into three, more specific questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Question 1: How long can we reasonably expect an SSD to last?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Answer:<\/strong> An SSD should ideally last as long as its manufacturer expects it to last (generally five years), provided that the use of the drive is not excessive for the technology it employs (e.g. using a QLC in an application with a high number of writes). Consult the manufacturer\u2019s recommendations to ensure that how you\u2019re using the SSD matches its best use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here at Backblaze we use SSDs for many different applications. The one use case we have rigorous reliability data for is as boot drives in our storage servers. This cohort of drives does more than boot these servers; they also write, store, read, and delete log files of various types recorded by the storage servers on a daily basis. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/ssd-edition-2023-mid-year-drive-stats-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">latest Drive Stats SSD Edition<\/a> illuminates the reliability of the drive models we use for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Question 2: Do SSDs fail faster than HDDs?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Answer:<\/strong> There are many variables in comparing the reliability of HDDs and SSDs, the primary one being how they are used. In the SSD Drive Stats report noted above, we compared SSD and HDD boot drives as they performed the same function in the same types of systems, storage servers. While it seems in the first three years or so the different drives are similar in their failure curves, the curves separate after four years, with the HDDs failing at a higher rate. So far the SSDs have maintained a 1% or less Annualized Failure Rate (AFR) through the first four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SSD users are far more likely to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/ssd-upgrade-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">replace their storage drive<\/a> because they\u2019re ready to upgrade to a newer technology, higher capacity, or faster drive, than having to replace the drive due to a short lifespan. Under normal use we can expect an SSD to last years. If you replace your computer every three years, as most users do, then you probably needn\u2019t worry about whether your SSD will last as long as your computer. What\u2019s important is whether the SSD will be sufficiently reliable that you won\u2019t lose your data during its lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Question 3: Are SSDs good for long-term storage?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Answer:<\/strong> SSDs, like hard drives, are meant to be used. An external drive stuffed into a closet for a couple of years is never a good thing, and it doesn\u2019t matter whether it is an SSD or HDD inside. The evidence of whether an SSD will fare better than a HDD in such a circumstance is anecdotal at best. Still, it is better to use an external drive as a backup of your computer as part of your backup plan\u2014just don\u2019t make it your only backup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s good to understand how the different SSD technologies affect their reliability, and whether it\u2019s worth it to spend extra money for SLC over MLC or QLC. However, unless you\u2019re using an SSD in a specialized application with more writes than reads as we described above, just selecting a good quality SSD from a reputable manufacturer should be enough to make you feel confident that your SSD will have a useful life span.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep an eye out for any signs of failure or bad sectors, and, of course, be sure to have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/cloud-backup\/personal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">solid backup plan<\/a> no matter what type of drive you\u2019re using.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1712329496630\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">1. How do you measure SSD reliability?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">There are a number of metrics that can help you understand SSD reliability, including programmed\/erase (P\/E) cycles, terabytes written (TBW), and mean time between failures (MBTF). These metrics alone won\u2019t be able to tell you how long a given SSD will last, but they can help you understand roughly where your SSD is in its lifecycle. Check the manufacturer\u2019s warranty and endurance rating in TBW. Higher values indicate better durability.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1712329533285\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">2. What are programmed\/erase (P\/E) cycles?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A solid-state storage programmed\/erase (P\/E) cycle is a sequence of events in which data is written to a solid-state NAND flash memory cell, then erased, and then rewritten. How many P\/E cycles a SSD can endure varies with the technology used, somewhere between 500 to 100,000 P\/E cycles.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1712329534449\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">3. What SSD should I buy?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The ideal SSD to buy depends on your specific needs. Consider factors like capacity, speed, and budget. For most users, a mid-range SSD from a reputable brand offers a good balance of performance and affordability. SSD manufacturers are increasingly marketing SSDs for specific workloads such as write-intensive, read-intensive, or mixed-use. What that means is that you can select the optimal level of SSD endurance and capacity for a particular use case. For instance, an enterprise user with a high-transaction database might opt for a drive that can withstand a higher number of writes at the expense of capacity. Or, a user operating a database that doesn\u2019t get frequent writes might choose a lower performance drive with a higher capacity.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1712329535519\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">4. How do I know my SSD is going to fail?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">SSDs will eventually fail, but there usually are advance warnings of when that\u2019s going to happen. Some warning signs include errors involving bad blocks, being unable to read or write files, getting error messages that the file system needs repair, crashes during boot, or when your drive becomes read-only. When this happens, make sure you have a good backup.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1712329576315\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">5. How long can I expect an SSD to last?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">An SSD should ideally last as long as its manufacturer expects it to last (generally five years), provided that the use of the drive is not excessive for the technology it employs. Consult the manufacturer\u2019s recommendations to ensure that how you\u2019re using the SSD matches its best use.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1712329577981\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">6. Do SSDs fail faster than HDDs?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">There are many variables in comparing the reliability of HDDs and SSDs, the primary one being how they are used. SSD users are far more likely to replace their storage drive because they\u2019re ready to upgrade to a newer technology, higher capacity, or faster drive, than having to replace the drive due to a short lifespan. Under normal use we can expect an SSD to last years. If you replace your computer every three years, as most users do, then you probably needn\u2019t worry about whether your SSD will last as long as your computer. What\u2019s important is whether the SSD will be sufficiently reliable that you won\u2019t lose your data during its lifetime.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1712329617916\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">7. Are SSDs good for long-term storage?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">SSDs, like hard drives, are meant to be used. An external drive stuffed into a closet for a couple of years is never a good thing, and it doesn\u2019t matter whether it is an SSD or HDD inside. The evidence of whether an SSD will fare better than a HDD in such a circumstance is anecdotal at best. Still, it is better to use an external drive as a backup of your computer as part of your backup plan\u2014just don\u2019t make it your only backup.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We love SSDs because they are generally faster, smaller, and more rugged than HDDs. Plus they are gaining capacity and becoming more affordable every day. So, how do they compare to HDDs in reliability and how long can they be expected to last?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":108388,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[121,434],"tags":[469,377,415],"class_list":["post-88083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backing-up","category-featured-1","tag-consumerbackup","tag-ssd","tag-ssd101","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Are Solid State Drives \/ SSDs More Reliable Than HDDs?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It&#039;s good to know the difference between HDDs and SSDs and understand how the different SSD technologies affect reliability.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Are Solid State Drives \/ SSDs More Reliable Than HDDs?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It&#039;s good to know the difference between HDDs and SSDs and understand how the different SSD technologies affect reliability.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage &amp; 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He has over 25 years of experience in technology marketing and during that time, he has shared his expertise in cloud storage and computer security at events, symposiums, and panels at RSA, SNIA SDC, MIT, the Federal Trade Commission, and hundreds more. He currently writes and rants about drive stats, Storage Pods, cloud storage, and more.","url":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/author\/andy\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329496630","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329496630","name":"1. How do you measure SSD reliability?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"There are a number of metrics that can help you understand SSD reliability, including programmed\/erase (P\/E) cycles, terabytes written (TBW), and mean time between failures (MBTF). These metrics alone won\u2019t be able to tell you how long a given SSD will last, but they can help you understand roughly where your SSD is in its lifecycle. Check the manufacturer\u2019s warranty and endurance rating in TBW. Higher values indicate better durability.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329533285","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329533285","name":"2. What are programmed\/erase (P\/E) cycles?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A solid-state storage programmed\/erase (P\/E) cycle is a sequence of events in which data is written to a solid-state NAND flash memory cell, then erased, and then rewritten. How many P\/E cycles a SSD can endure varies with the technology used, somewhere between 500 to 100,000 P\/E cycles.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329534449","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329534449","name":"3. What SSD should I buy?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The ideal SSD to buy depends on your specific needs. Consider factors like capacity, speed, and budget. For most users, a mid-range SSD from a reputable brand offers a good balance of performance and affordability. SSD manufacturers are increasingly marketing SSDs for specific workloads such as write-intensive, read-intensive, or mixed-use. What that means is that you can select the optimal level of SSD endurance and capacity for a particular use case. For instance, an enterprise user with a high-transaction database might opt for a drive that can withstand a higher number of writes at the expense of capacity. Or, a user operating a database that doesn\u2019t get frequent writes might choose a lower performance drive with a higher capacity.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329535519","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329535519","name":"4. How do I know my SSD is going to fail?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SSDs will eventually fail, but there usually are advance warnings of when that\u2019s going to happen. Some warning signs include errors involving bad blocks, being unable to read or write files, getting error messages that the file system needs repair, crashes during boot, or when your drive becomes read-only. When this happens, make sure you have a good backup.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329576315","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329576315","name":"5. How long can I expect an SSD to last?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"An SSD should ideally last as long as its manufacturer expects it to last (generally five years), provided that the use of the drive is not excessive for the technology it employs. Consult the manufacturer\u2019s recommendations to ensure that how you\u2019re using the SSD matches its best use.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329577981","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329577981","name":"6. Do SSDs fail faster than HDDs?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"There are many variables in comparing the reliability of HDDs and SSDs, the primary one being how they are used. SSD users are far more likely to replace their storage drive because they\u2019re ready to upgrade to a newer technology, higher capacity, or faster drive, than having to replace the drive due to a short lifespan. Under normal use we can expect an SSD to last years. If you replace your computer every three years, as most users do, then you probably needn\u2019t worry about whether your SSD will last as long as your computer. What\u2019s important is whether the SSD will be sufficiently reliable that you won\u2019t lose your data during its lifetime.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329617916","position":7,"url":"https:\/\/backblazeprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-reliable-are-ssds\/#faq-question-1712329617916","name":"7. Are SSDs good for long-term storage?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SSDs, like hard drives, are meant to be used. An external drive stuffed into a closet for a couple of years is never a good thing, and it doesn\u2019t matter whether it is an SSD or HDD inside. The evidence of whether an SSD will fare better than a HDD in such a circumstance is anecdotal at best. 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