read-intensive SSD (read-intensive solid-state drive)

A read-intensive solid-state drive (SSD) is a storage or caching device intended for use with applications that write data infrequently.

A read-intensive SSD is able to use NAND flash memory with a lower endurance level than an SSD that targets write-intensive workloads, such as online transaction processing, high-performance computing, and data warehousing. High numbers of writes can cause NAND flash wear-out, and manufacturers of SSDs intended for write-intensive workloads generally use more reliable types of NAND, overprovision the flash and/or use special algorithms to improve endurance. 

Download this free guide

PDF: The NAND flash essentials one-stop shop

Look no further than this guide for your NAND flash memory essentials. Your copy includes an in-depth breakdown of SLC, MLC and TLC NAND, a performance and cost comparison of NAND vs. DRAM and NOR, and how the NAND flash shortage affects SSD supply and pricing.

Start Download

• Corporate E-mail Address:

  You forgot to provide an Email Address.

  This email address doesn’t appear to be valid.

  This email address is already registered. Please login.

  You have exceeded the maximum character limit.

  Please provide a Corporate E-mail Address.

• • I agree to TechTarget’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and the transfer of my information to the United States for processing to provide me with relevant information as described in our Privacy Policy.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

• • I agree to my information being processed by TechTarget and its Partners to contact me via phone, email, or other means regarding information relevant to my professional interests. I may unsubscribe at any time.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent.

Drive manufacturers sometimes offer SSDs of varying endurance levels and capacities earmarked for read-intensive, write-intensive or mixed workloads. For example, a read-intensive SSD might guarantee only one to three drive writes per day (DWPD) but offer higher capacity than a write-intensive SSD that supports up to 25 DWPD. The write-intensive SSD’s usable capacity may be lower because a greater percentage of NAND flash is reserved to handle garbage collection and compensate for potential chip wear-out or failure.

Read-intensive SSDs tend to use the least expensive types of NAND flash memory, such as multilevel cell (MLC) and triple-level cell (TLC) flash. Write-intensive SSDs more commonly use enterprise MLC (eMLC) or single-level cell (SLC) flash, which offer higher endurance than MLC and TLC. Storage systems that use less expensive MLC for write-intensive workloads generally employ special algorithms and other techniques to manage endurance.