FAQs

The AES-256bit (Advanced Encryption Standard, Class0 SED) technology applied to SSDs uses hardware-based controller and encryption technology to encrypt data and prevent external access while minimizing performance degradation.

TCG Opal refers to an authentication method that uses protocols specified by TCG (Trusted Computing Group). For encryption, you need to install the encryption software provided by the TCG OPAL software development company.

For more detailed information and instructions, please contact the TCG software company.

IEEE1667 (Encrypted drive), which is associated with the BitLocker software, is a technology that enhances the BitLocker security performance and is provided by the Microsoft Windows operating system. BitLocker uses software for encryption but can perform hardware-based encryption when paired with a storage device that supports IEEE1667. This improves security and performance while minimizing CPU usage.

Write cache is a volatile memory that improves SSD performance by sending write requests to a queue from the OS, allowing the OS to continue without waiting for the write to complete.

• 1.

  Run Control Panel > System > Device Manager.

• 2.

  In the Disk Drive menu, click SSD Properties.

• 3.

  In the ""Policies"" tab, confirm ""Enable write cache on the device(W).””

[ Garbage Collection ]
Data is written in flash memory in units called pages. However, memory can only be erased in larger units called blocks. When the data on some pages of a block is no longer needed (also known as stale pages), it reads only the pages containing the good data in the block and rewrites in the previously erased and empty blocks. Then, the blank pages left behind due to the old data that is not transferred can be used for new data. This process is called Garbage Collection.

[ TRIM ]
TRIM is a feature that allows OS to notify the SSD when data is marked as erased or no longer valid. TRIM prepares the deletion of invalid data, making Garbage Collection more effective. When the data is ""erased"" from the OS, it doesn't actually go anywhere else. The space occupied by the data is simply marked as ""free space"" and can be reused later. The OS is set by default not to inform SSDs of free data. TRIM enables the OS to notify the SSD of invalid data, allowing the SSD to skip invalid data when performing Garbage Collection.

All Samsung SSDs support the TRIM function, but these features may not work properly, depending on the OS. Please contact the OS (Linux, Mac OS, etc.) manufacturer or system manufacturer to see if TRIM is supported.

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is a phenomenon that occurs when static electricity accumulates and suddenly moves to a different object with an opposite charge (imagine rubbing socks on a carpet and then touching metal or another person with them). When strong electrostatic discharge occurs, visible or audible electric sparks may follow. However, even mild electrostatic discharge can cause damage to SSDs and other electronic devices. Using a grounded wrist strap during SSD installation can minimize the risk of ESD damage. Use of antistatic packaging materials is recommended when packaging SSD storage products.

The Over Provisioning feature displays the partition information of the Samsung SSD and controls the size of the unallocated area. SSDs that have gone through Over Provisioning have improved performance and longer lifespans when there is an unallocated area.

In addition, Over Provisioning can be activated through the Magician software.

Select the device to apply Over Provisioning, followed by Over Provisioning from the menu. Select the OP settings and set the Over Provisioning size.

With Over Provisioning applied, you can deactivate Over Provisioning by selecting Clear OP and pressing the Apply button.

RAPID mode is an advanced storage management technology aimed at enhancing overall system performance, leveraging DRAM as a cache for storage for faster and more reliable user experience. RAPID mode dynamically optimizes the I/O of Samsung SATA SSDs and analyzes application and data usage to minimize system performance bottlenecks. (* Samsung NVMe™ SSDs do not support RAPID mode.)

For detailed information including the usage and limitations of RAPID, please visit the website below (www.samsung.com/samsungssd) and refer to the Magician software installation guide.

Secure Erase permanently destroys all data stored on the SSD by erasing the data in all cells. Secure Erase also provides a way of resetting the SSD if the SSD has performance or operation issues.

Before running Secure Erase, make sure that the SSD firmware is updated to the latest version. In addition, note that all data on the drive will be removed.

• Check the device (check the device you want to test)
  $ sudo fdisk -l

• Check the device status (assuming that the device to test is set as /dev/sdb in step 1)
  => must not be ""frozen""; otherwise Secure Erase cannot be executed.
  $ sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdb

• Set the password (NULL is recommended as the password in the reference material below, so set the password to NULL)
  $ sudo hdparm --security-set-pass NULL /dev/sdb

• Run Secure Erase
  $ sudo hdparm --security-erase NULL /dev/sdb

Samsung SSDs use Intelligent Turbo Write, which improves performance by increasing write speeds through internal SLC buffering. This technology is not directly used in multi-bit cells such as TLC or QLC but writes to the SLC Buffering area instead. When SSD is not writing or reading, the data moves to the multi-bit cell, freeing up space in the SLC Buffering area.

For more details, please visit the website below and refer to the datasheet for each product.

www.samsung.com/samsungssd

Wear leveling is a technique for prolonging the service life of SSD by ensuring that data writes are evenly distributed across available cells by the SSD controller. Because each cell can only endure a finite number of writes/erasures, it is possible that, without wear leveling, some cells would be unevenly stressed, which would prematurely end the life of the entire SSD.

No. Defragmentation is not required. Because SSDs have no moving parts, they can access any data location just as fast. You should disable automatic defragmentation on your computer. Frequently defragmenting will reduce the lifespan of your SSD.

When the system is running, heat is generated from various hardware components, leading to an increase in the temperature of SSD. If the guaranteed operating temperature of the device is exceeded due to the temperature rise, it may cause problems in ensuring the normal operation and data reliability of SSD. DTT (Dynamic Thermal Throttling) is a technology that dynamically controls performance to reduce temperatures.

Samsung NVMe™ SSDs don't necessarily require a heatsink because they maintain optimal performance through Samsung's advanced design and manufacturing capabilities, along with integrated heat dissipation thermal labels.

In rare cases with high workloads involving transferring several hundred GB, however, performance may be suppressed to protect the integrity of the SSD using Samsung's Dynamic Thermal Throttling algorithm.

Additionally, external heat sources such as CPUs or high-power graphics cards placed in close proximity to Samsung NVMe™ SSDs can negatively affect the airflow around NVMe™ SSDs, resulting in performance degradation.

Please ensure proper airflow around the Samsung NVMe™ SSD.

Samsung SSDs provide internal hardware encryption for all data stored on the SSD, including the operating system. Data is decrypted through a pre-boot authentication process. All user data is encrypted to minimize risk of personal information being lost or stolen. Hardware-based encryption ensures a secure environment without compromising performance.

The encryption methods offered by each Samsung SSD are as follows:
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard, Class0 SED), TCG/OPAL, and eDrive

Multiple encryption methods cannot be used simultaneously.

NVMe™ (Non-Volatile Memory Express) is a new storage protocol designed to maximize the performance potential of SSDs and fundamental NAND flash technology by minimizing the performance bottlenecks that were present in the previous storage protocol SATA, which was optimized for significantly slower hard disk drives.

NVMe™ SSDs utilizing the new protocol are much faster than SATA SSDs.

PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a well-established and versatile interface. Because of its prevalence (used for Graphic Cards etc.) and high data throughput capability PCIe was adopted by the storage industry to replace the much older and constrained SATA interface for the next generation of SSDs.

NVMe™ SSDs with PCIe are much faster than SATA SSDs.

M.2 is a form factor that describes the connectors and physical specifications used for M.2 SSDs. It is designed to accommodate the NVMe™ protocol and the new PCIe interface in SSDs, reducing the overall storage footprint of the previous HDD-based 2.5-inch standard.