Unlike DRAM, flash memory chips have a limited lifespan. Further, different flash chips have a different number of write cycles before errors start to occur. Flash chips with 300,000 write cycles are common, and currently the best flash chips are rated at 1,000,000 write cycles per block (with 8,000 blocks per chip). Now, just because a flash chip has a given write cycle rating, it doesn't mean that the chip will self-destruct as soon as that threshold is reached. It means that a flash chip with a 1 million Erase/Write endurance threshold limit will have only 0.02 percent of the sample population turn into a bad block when the write threshold is reached for that block. The better flash SSD manufacturers have two ways to increase the longevity of the drives: First, a "balancing" algorithm is used. This monitors how many times each disk block has been written. This will greatly extend the life of the drive. The better manufacturers have "wear-leveling" algorithms that balance the data intelligently, avoiding both exacerbating the wearing of the blocks and "thrashing" of the disk: When a given block has been written above a certain percentage threshold, the SSD will (in the background, avoiding performance decreases) swap the data in that block with the data in a block that has exhibited a "read-only-like" characteristic. Second, should bad blocks occur, they are mapped out as they would be on a rotating disk. With usage patterns of writing gigabytes per day, each flash-based SSD should last hundreds of years, depending on capacity. If it has a DRAM cache, it'll last even longer.
I don't think it'll happen before we get rid of the limited write cycles. At which point it would also be a true HDD replacement. Anyways, RAM is still faster (I think)
But higher speeds and still its prices are falling fast too, battery power usage, less points of failure. But shorter lifespans. True, they are more predictable, but the average lifespan is still lower.
I'm personally thinking of having a flash / drive and a HDD/home.
What filesystem (NTFS, ext3, etc) is best for solid-state drives anyways? All of our commom filesystems are written for spinning drives, and certain features (such as ext3 self-defragmentation) probably shorten a flash drives lifespan.
All fall under a $1000? What kind of standard is that? MY laptop was under $1000 when new, and similar laptops are now in the ~$750 range. Why get an underpowered ultraportable when a normal laptop costs just as much?
Read the article again. What is oppressive about lengthening the duration of recorded cockpit coversation, using flash rather than tape drives, and having an internal power supply?
1. Microsoft is attempting to make an Acid2-compliant browser
2. It says that Microsoft realizes that they have fallen behind and need to actually be competitive again.
3. MS was content to sit around. IE6 was *the* browser for years. That's the reason for No. 2
Remember, these are the type of people that think hackers can see them through the monitor. They also think that everybody on the Internet that they don't know personally is a hacker.
Slashdot Mirror
http://hackerkey.com/
Hmm...
I just found this:
Unlike DRAM, flash memory chips have a limited lifespan. Further, different flash chips have a different number of write cycles before errors start to occur. Flash chips with 300,000 write cycles are common, and currently the best flash chips are rated at 1,000,000 write cycles per block (with 8,000 blocks per chip). Now, just because a flash chip has a given write cycle rating, it doesn't mean that the chip will self-destruct as soon as that threshold is reached. It means that a flash chip with a 1 million Erase/Write endurance threshold limit will have only 0.02 percent of the sample population turn into a bad block when the write threshold is reached for that block. The better flash SSD manufacturers have two ways to increase the longevity of the drives: First, a "balancing" algorithm is used. This monitors how many times each disk block has been written. This will greatly extend the life of the drive. The better manufacturers have "wear-leveling" algorithms that balance the data intelligently, avoiding both exacerbating the wearing of the blocks and "thrashing" of the disk: When a given block has been written above a certain percentage threshold, the SSD will (in the background, avoiding performance decreases) swap the data in that block with the data in a block that has exhibited a "read-only-like" characteristic. Second, should bad blocks occur, they are mapped out as they would be on a rotating disk. With usage patterns of writing gigabytes per day, each flash-based SSD should last hundreds of years, depending on capacity. If it has a DRAM cache, it'll last even longer.
Ahh... Wikipedia has some data on Flash-oriented filesystems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YAFFS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JFFS2
The data is still readable, right? Is it only the writing that fails?
I don't think it'll happen before we get rid of the limited write cycles. At which point it would also be a true HDD replacement. Anyways, RAM is still faster (I think)
Define "near". Next week? Next couple of months? Right after Duke Nukem Forever is released?
There is a difference between a solid-state overlord and an overlord with solid-state storage. My non-solid-state overlord does run Linux, though.
Exactly my point. Ext3 defragments itself automatically, which does more harm than good on a flash drive.
I'm personally thinking of having a flash / drive and a HDD
Why? A solid-state overlord is not much more than a geometric rock.
What filesystem (NTFS, ext3, etc) is best for solid-state drives anyways? All of our commom filesystems are written for spinning drives, and certain features (such as ext3 self-defragmentation) probably shorten a flash drives lifespan.
Maybe the screen is that small for battery conservation purposes?
All fall under a $1000? What kind of standard is that? MY laptop was under $1000 when new, and similar laptops are now in the ~$750 range. Why get an underpowered ultraportable when a normal laptop costs just as much?
Read the article again. What is oppressive about lengthening the duration of recorded cockpit coversation, using flash rather than tape drives, and having an internal power supply?
Blasphemy!
1. Microsoft is attempting to make an Acid2-compliant browser
2. It says that Microsoft realizes that they have fallen behind and need to actually be competitive again.
3. MS was content to sit around. IE6 was *the* browser for years. That's the reason for No. 2
6'4"
6'4", so that's possible.
I had a trip to Virginia and back last year. I got flagged for the expanded screening every single time (4/4). And I am a white male.
I prefer 'Lich'
Remember: Not even the iPod had WiFi until recently.
Or hope that your new boss has higher morals (Unlikely, but you never know).
The reaction chamber of a nuclear power plant?
Remember, these are the type of people that think hackers can see them through the monitor. They also think that everybody on the Internet that they don't know personally is a hacker.