Micron MTFDDAT120MAV 120GB SATA 6G mSATA MLC SED SSD

What does it mean that this drive is MLC?

• Cost Efficiency: MLC SSDs offered a more affordable option for storage compared to SLC SSDs. By storing more data in each cell, manufacturers could produce higher-capacity SSDs at a lower cost per gigabyte.
  
  
• Increased Storage Density: MLC's ability to store multiple bits per cell increased the storage density of NAND flash memory. This meant that more data could be stored in the same physical space, allowing for higher-capacity SSDs.
  
  
• Balancing Performance and Endurance: MLC struck a balance between performance and endurance. While not as fast or durable as SLC, MLC SSDs still provided a significant improvement over traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) in terms of read/write speeds and overall reliability.
  
  
• Wider Adoption of SSDs: The availability of cost-effective MLC SSDs played a crucial role in driving the wider adoption of SSD technology. It enabled businesses and consumers to transition from HDDs to SSDs, benefiting from faster data access and improved system responsiveness.

What does it mean if a hard drive has an interface of SATA?

The term "SATA" represents Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. It denotes a computer interface utilized for connecting storage devices, including hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and optical drives, to a computer's motherboard. SATA replaced the older Parallel ATA (PATA) interface, also known as IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics).

SATA made its debut in 2003 as a successor to PATA, which had been in use since the 1980s. The initial iteration, SATA 1.0 or SATA 1.5 Gbps, offered a data transfer rate of 1.5 gigabits per second (Gbps). Subsequently, newer versions of SATA were introduced, such as SATA 2.0 (3 Gbps), SATA 3.0 (6 Gbps), and SATA 3.2 (16 Gbps). It is important to note that the actual achieved data transfer rates are generally lower than the specified theoretical maximum due to factors like drive performance and host system capabilities.

The transition from PATA to SATA brought forth significant technological advancements:

1. Enhanced data transfer rates: SATA provided faster data transfer rates compared to PATA. The increased bandwidth facilitated quicker and more efficient communication between storage devices and motherboards, resulting in improved overall system performance.
   
   
2. Sleeker and more flexible cables: SATA cables are thinner and more flexible compared to the bulky ribbon cables used by PATA. This change simplified cable management within computer cases and improved airflow for better cooling.
   
   
3. Support for hot-swapping: SATA introduced support for hot-swapping, enabling drives to be connected or disconnected while the system is powered on and operational. This feature proved valuable in enterprise settings, as it facilitated easier drive replacement and system maintenance without requiring a complete system shutdown.
   
   
4. Native command queuing (NCQ): SATA also introduced NCQ, a feature that enhances drive performance by allowing the drive to optimize the execution order of read and write commands. NCQ improves overall responsiveness and reduces latency, particularly in multitasking scenarios.

These advancements made SATA a significant improvement over its predecessor, PATA, and played a crucial role in delivering faster and more reliable storage solutions in computers.