Idea is to list known 4GB SLC flash storage, to make finding this a bit more easy.
CF cards:
Transcend Industrial Ultra 100x: TS16GCF100I
SD cards:
Transcend SDHC Class 6 150x: TS4GSDHC150
Integral Endurance Class 10: INSDH4G10-ENDU
microSD cards:
ATP Industrial Grade microSD: AF4GUDI
USB sticks:
Transcend JetFlash 185: TS4GJF185
Transcend JetFlash 130: TS4GJF130
Feel free to list more SLC based flash storage...
Known SLC Flash Storage
Moderator: Mattk
Re:Known SLC Flash Storage
The only Manufacturer that I have found that actually spells it out is Kingston. they specify that the Ultimate version SD is SLC, Elite Pro for CF card.
http://www.kingston.com/products/pdf_fi ... mGuide.pdf
Although I have not heard of anyone using these, so unknown how they will work.
Mod: I have tried looking at the specs to determine what is what and that gets very misleading.. insertion cycles vs write/erase. still not finding it actually spelled out with most.
http://www.kingston.com/products/pdf_fi ... mGuide.pdf
Although I have not heard of anyone using these, so unknown how they will work.
Mod: I have tried looking at the specs to determine what is what and that gets very misleading.. insertion cycles vs write/erase. still not finding it actually spelled out with most.
Re:Known SLC Flash Storage
Transcend is very specific in it's data sheets. Cards listed above are clearly SLC. But, it is important to check for recent information, as a product once launched with SLC can switch to MLC after a couple of production quarters later, without giving explicit notice on that. Many manufacturer tend to replace costly SLC cards by cheaper multi-channel MLC cards that offer same performance but sub-par endurance. Often the name of the product keeps unchanged, which results in wrong expectation of customers what kind of chips is actually used.
However, I am pleased that Transcend is one of the manufacturers that gives any information at all what kind of cells they actually use. I did not find any information about SLC chips from Sandisk or A-Data at all. So I would start blaming these in the first place ;-)
Insertion cycles is clearly out of interest as this just tells how well the gold plating of the contacts is. Write cycles is what we are looking for. 100.000 write cycles is typically for MLC, SLC normally goes to 1.000.000 to 2.000.000 write cycles.
However, I am pleased that Transcend is one of the manufacturers that gives any information at all what kind of cells they actually use. I did not find any information about SLC chips from Sandisk or A-Data at all. So I would start blaming these in the first place ;-)
Insertion cycles is clearly out of interest as this just tells how well the gold plating of the contacts is. Write cycles is what we are looking for. 100.000 write cycles is typically for MLC, SLC normally goes to 1.000.000 to 2.000.000 write cycles.
Re:Known SLC Flash Storage
Yes, Transcend does spell it out for those specific models. and in the case of the TS4GSDHC150 anyhow, the only one that we know for sure is stable on a Sheeva Meteohub!
As you said though information is subject to change without notice! I have found outdated information on their site specifying SLC for certain models when that is apparently no longer the case. trying to verify by looking for the specs, fruitless.
As you said though information is subject to change without notice! I have found outdated information on their site specifying SLC for certain models when that is apparently no longer the case. trying to verify by looking for the specs, fruitless.
Re:Known SLC Flash Storage
I just checked Kingston web site. Apart from their general information what SLC/MLC NAND/NOR is, they don't say anything reliable in their actual product descriptions what technology is used. So we have a list of companies to skip when looking for SLC based cards. These are:
- A-Data
- Kingston
- Sandisk
... and many more. If you find a SLC flash card from those (with an up-to-date information from the manufaturer that it is SLC, not just some information from a reseller), please drop a pointer to this.
- A-Data
- Kingston
- Sandisk
... and many more. If you find a SLC flash card from those (with an up-to-date information from the manufaturer that it is SLC, not just some information from a reseller), please drop a pointer to this.
Re:Known SLC Flash Storage
What Kingston says in the PDF that I linked earlier is :
In general, Flash storage devices built with Single-Level Cell (SLC)
NAND Flash, such as Kingston's Elite Pro/Ultimate Flash cards or
the DataTraveler II, II Plus - Migo Edition or Secure / Secure -
Privacy Edition USB Flash drives, will deliver higher performancean
the standard Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND Flash or Multi-Bit
Cell (MBC) NAND Flash based cards or DataTraveler.
And this: SLC Flash based-products, typically found in Kingston's Elite Pro/Ultimate Flash cards
and DataTraveler II, II Plus - Migo Edition and Secure / Secure - Privacy Edition USB Flash
drives, offer both high performance and high endurance.
Words like General and Typically sure do give a lot of wiggle room!
The do spell it out again here: http://www.kingston.com/flash/beintheknow.asp?show=fe
In general, Flash storage devices built with Single-Level Cell (SLC)
NAND Flash, such as Kingston's Elite Pro/Ultimate Flash cards or
the DataTraveler II, II Plus - Migo Edition or Secure / Secure -
Privacy Edition USB Flash drives, will deliver higher performancean
the standard Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND Flash or Multi-Bit
Cell (MBC) NAND Flash based cards or DataTraveler.
And this: SLC Flash based-products, typically found in Kingston's Elite Pro/Ultimate Flash cards
and DataTraveler II, II Plus - Migo Edition and Secure / Secure - Privacy Edition USB Flash
drives, offer both high performance and high endurance.
Words like General and Typically sure do give a lot of wiggle room!
The do spell it out again here: http://www.kingston.com/flash/beintheknow.asp?show=fe
Re:Known SLC Flash Storage
Yes I have read all this and it is zero help. When Kingston clearly marks one of their products in the direct product description as SLC and can give a part number for that, they might be interesting again.
Ok, lets go back to listing part numbers of SLC flash cards. Any out there we should know?
Ok, lets go back to listing part numbers of SLC flash cards. Any out there we should know?
Re:Known SLC Flash Storage
Doing a little more research on the "Holy Grail" of documented SLC cards.. ATP says this
All ATP Industrial Grade CF, SD, USB drives, and SSDs are constructed using best-in-class SLC(Single-Level Cell) components with enhanced Error Correction Code(ECC) functions and wear leveling algorithms. This results in MTBF ratings over 2 million hours and the highest write cycle lifetimes in the industry. ATP's SIP (System-In-Packaging) manufacturing process encapsulates all exposed components and points of failure to ensure the products are fully waterproof, shockproof, and ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) proof.
although that is much like Kingston's blanket statement too, somehow I find this one more believable. I do see they say SLC in the description for the microSD "Using carefully screened SLC flash components" but not actually in the specifications. probably the best one can hope to find.
All ATP Industrial Grade CF, SD, USB drives, and SSDs are constructed using best-in-class SLC(Single-Level Cell) components with enhanced Error Correction Code(ECC) functions and wear leveling algorithms. This results in MTBF ratings over 2 million hours and the highest write cycle lifetimes in the industry. ATP's SIP (System-In-Packaging) manufacturing process encapsulates all exposed components and points of failure to ensure the products are fully waterproof, shockproof, and ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) proof.
although that is much like Kingston's blanket statement too, somehow I find this one more believable. I do see they say SLC in the description for the microSD "Using carefully screened SLC flash components" but not actually in the specifications. probably the best one can hope to find.