Is a DRAM-less M2 SSD too bad to use?
Posted by crimsyz@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 12 comments
Hello, I’ve bought a pre-built system which has a;
KIOXIA Exceria PLUS G3 1TB NVMe Gen4 M.2 SSD R:5000MB/s W:3900 MB/s
as a boot drive (my OS is installed on it). But unfortunately I was too late to notice that it didnt have a DRAM and apparently it has a significant effect on disks from what I’ve read over the web. (shorter life span etc.) I’ve been using it for a while now so too late to get a refund as well. Please let me know what issues would this cause in the future for me and should I change it. I only plan to play games if that is relevant.
ripsql@reddit
It’s fine, you have a hmb version. Basically, there are 3 types.
Dram/cache - the high end ssd, I tend to prefer this but the others are valid option.
Hmb - this is new, the ssd uses system ram to run as cache.
Nothing - the previous no cache ssds, it uses itself as temp cache so .. if the drive is full, performance dives.
ncilswdk2@reddit
Dram and cache are not the same thing. Dram stores the ssds indexes and metadata for faster data retrieval and wear leveling. The cache keeps part of the nand memory as SLC storage which can be written to faster. Basically all ssds will have a dynamic SLC cache where it will decrease as the drive fills up.
SnooPandas2964@reddit
You're right, dram isn't technically a cache usually, though people still call it cache and that doesn't really bother me. Slc is the real cache. But dram still does help with sustained writes ( not saying you denied that, just wanted to make it clear).
Dramless ssds generally do poorly on sustained writes (thats what I care about when it comes to ssds, and I know I'm somewhat a minority in that) even good dramless ssds like sn770, only do okay on the fill whole drive test ( though it does excellent for the first 300GB and that should be enough for most people) it gets 630MB/s on the 1TB model. The sn850 (unfortunately the sn850x was never got reviewed by tpu so I have no direct comparison), got 1620MB/s also 1TB, and it actually has less slc cache than the sn770.
SnooPandas2964@reddit
Dram does make a difference, depending on the workload. And I generally don't buy ssds without dram unless its for low end machines. That being said, doesn't mean you have to go replacing a drive you already own if its meeting your storage needs.
apoetofnowords@reddit
I use DRAMless 2.5 sata SSDs in all my systems and it's fine. The oldest one is like 6 y.o. NAS running 24/7 and hosting a minecraft server, so I don't think there is any durability penalty. I don't usually have to transfer huge files and if I do I don't mind waiting. I don't game (except MC and some old non-demanding titles). I use MS Office, AutoCAD and sone Adobe apps.
I've no doubt NVME with DRAM will be snappier and faster. But as a person still remembering what it is to have your system on an HDD, I'm still happy with sata ssd speeds)))
ncilswdk2@reddit
No, it won't make a difference, you have a good midrange nvme. It has hmb, like most dram-less nvmes, which is where the ssd uses your ram as it's dram. It has a 600tbw endurance which is the same as higher end ssds like the 980pro or sn850w. It may be slightly slower but you will never notice the difference.
Recent_Delay@reddit
Actually that's not true.
I had the SN770 Black from WD and I needed more space so I bought the SN850X 2tb that was pretty cheap and the difference is pretty noticeable.
Not in games, there maybe it's 1 or 2 less seconds in the load screen (that in games like Elden Ring it's not particularly bad) but in the OS, Adobe programs, or moving folders the difference is huge.
Booting the system to desktop in 3 seconds is pretty nice.
Also programs like even Chrome or Steam opening in 0.1s feels pretty ''high end'' , idk, for me it's worth considering it's not a huge investment.
ncilswdk2@reddit
If there was any difference then it's not due to the dram or max speed. You say you needed more space so the sn770 was probably close to filling up, it is well known that ssd slow down as they fill up.
Recent_Delay@reddit
I was using a HDD for the extra storage, DRAM less SSDs are just slower.
It's 2024, not 2016 anymore, you have plenty of benchmarks about nvme's speeds and how they affect performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5yC1PlhHJE
Sequential performance of SN770s (being one, if not THE fastest DRAM less SSD) is like 25% slower than SN850X, and you don't even need benchmarks, you just need 5 minutes with each one to notice the difference.
fp4@reddit
Where did you read/hear that you should only buy a SSD with DRAM?
It was a big deal for SATA drives not so much M.2.
MetroSimulator@reddit
You won't see the difference if you work won't use the SSD professionally, for games it's ok
Neraxis@reddit
It doesn't matter.