I don't think it's possible to make more entertaining videos about the world of NAS. You do a great job and I have surprised myself by watching videos that transcended my personal usefulness. Not to mention how well structured and dense the website is... Just one thing, I miss some seagulls in the recordings 😆
At Gen 4/5 speeds, DRAMless is plenty fine for situations mostly dependent on reads that rarely experience intensive writes. I use two DRAMless drives in my DIY NAS -- one for boot drive, one for app drive -- because DRAM would give no performance benefit and not be worth the extra money.
Problem when ppl say lower write speed, "lower" is relative, it wont drop to like HDD 5400RPM levels :) In the end it feels like if you have to ask the question what drive to buy you most likely wont notice the difference :) Dont forget that not too long ago SSDs were still pretty rare, HDDs did not had RAM in them and somehow all worked. Im using WD RED HDDs in my NAS and sure, its not fun when I need to transfer say 40-50Gb from it to my SSD for whatever reason, but its not like Im doing it every day.
Had a question!!! Does dram or not affect even for using as an external ssd ( as used as an external storage device ) ! And how do I upgrade the firmware in an enclosed ssd ? Thank you 🎉 Your videos are so informative 🎉
I would say it's more important to use a SSD with DRAM in an external enclosure because it can't use HMB (which is used to compensate for the lack of DRAM) if it's used over USB or similar. For updates, it depends, often it's just not possible without plugging the drive in directly.
@@tomsuper2199 Thank you for replying 😃 I have formatted my ssd to exfat ! Is it then possible to just remove the ssd from encloser and directly attach to the computer ssd slot and upgrade it ? Will it delete or format my data in the ssd ?
@@lekshindev3280 That sounds like a plan! It shouldn't format anything without your explicit permission, that said some people and companies recommend a backup before a firmware update because if anything goes wrong it's a possibility to lose the data (never happened to me, but if it's important data I would definitely make a backup).
6:59 - "One Small Security Blip:" Are you sure data can be retrieved from powered down DRAM? It's volatile memory isn't it? How can data be pulled off this if it's been powered off / pulled out of the host system? Cheers.
It's serious espionage level stuff that the average person doesn't need to give a second thought toward. Volatile memory takes anywhere from seconds to minutes to properly discharge. If there is physical access to the machine in that window, a memory dump can be done with specialized equipment. The most reliable method involves freezing the memory (not as in locking up the system, but as in actual freezing temperatures), which can make the data persist for days.
@@davidg5898 Ahh this makes sense now. I expect @NASCompares wes talking about grabbing data off the DRAM in a very narrow time-window then, and not, say, hours, days, or weeks later. Cheers!
Hi, great video, when will you be testing the lexar in a ps5, waiting on your test before I buy. Thanks for making these videos, really helpful. Cheers.
Loves these videos on all the different m.2 drives. Question, is the temperature testing video of HK Hynix m.2 heatsink in the PS5 still coming? Interested to see how it compares to the other ps5 heatsinks.
useful info there! as I see it, the only advantage is power efficiency for laptops and other portable devices, but for any decent desktop PC, server or NAS, dedicated DRAM is a no brainer.... maybe, just maybe, if the prices of DRAM-less SSDs dropped on par with HDDs, then as a replacement for HDDs it could become viable alternative...
Your most recent set of videos with text chapter separators and the silly little sounds are very annoying. Those of us who listen as opposed to watch have no idea what the following discussion is in relation to. Your older videos were great learning tools because so little of it was "see this part here" content requiring I be right in front of the TV. Perfect to listen to while doing dishes, putting away items, etc. Even if it's one of those stupid automated readers, please add audio to your topic changes so I can follow the remaining discussion.
Thank you for the honest feedback. Really do appreciate it. The honest answer is that I am always trying to find ways to twerk these videos to be more interesting (as, realistically, I have to accept this is a dull subject and a fantastically niche channel). That said, I appreciate that these inserts, though good for chapterization and breaking a subject up into parts, do need more work and I am slowly moving over to verbal annotations (look at the video soon on SMR drives). Also, side note, I cannot stress how much I am genuinely flattered that someone would listen to my vids when they do chores...as that a EXACTLY how I listen/watch some channels and ones I really like. To me, that is high praise. Thank you
@@nascomparesI actually really appreciate the chapters. I know it’s not always best for your stats if I skip around, but I find myself coming back to your videos and using the chapters to quickly jump to the info I wanted to revisit. And hey, fantastically niche is a great description. I appreciate your work and find it fascinating.
Keep the chapters, but could you read the titles or restate them at the start of each chapter. Like the orignal poster I tend to listen to your videos while doing things that require my eyesight be elswhere. Love your work!
Let's be honest, flash-memory is still not really fast memory and that durable. (compared to other storage solutions) The RAM helped the algorithms to reduce the wear-and-tear. (and indeed, at times, the performance as noted in this video) Dropping the on-board RAM is next to a cost-saving move also because of chip-shortages, which is still a thing. I do agree omitting RAM may not impact that much in several applications but for modern-day NAS, in my opinion, you will need it. And FYI dramless is something that has been ongoing since (about) 2017. Back then it was really, really bad on almost every level. Nowadays it has improved substantially. (controller & algorithms) It is the same as with the number of flash-chips (as you mentioned), the amount of layered flash-cells per chip, it is about costs and not always to the benefit of the users/application. When you want to obtain SSD's, it is nowadays really an intens study, figuring out the various caveats.
sorry but that is complete nonsense! DRAM on SSDs is only used for the lookup buffer. So where data is on the SSD, not to buffer data. It's definitely faster with DRAM. But if you have no idea about the technology you shouldn't make YT videos!
This is what I found online too. But usually the ssd need 1gb dram per 1TB flash, while at the same time the hmb ssd uses only 32-64mb ram. This may cause big performance gap.
I don't think it's possible to make more entertaining videos about the world of NAS. You do a great job and I have surprised myself by watching videos that transcended my personal usefulness. Not to mention how well structured and dense the website is...
Just one thing, I miss some seagulls in the recordings 😆
As always an excellent video.
Really hones on the importance of DRAM
Great primer, I can see this getting a lot of views and being informative to those viewers.
Cheers man
This was an excellent explanation on the pros n cons of dramless.and dram ssd.
At Gen 4/5 speeds, DRAMless is plenty fine for situations mostly dependent on reads that rarely experience intensive writes.
I use two DRAMless drives in my DIY NAS -- one for boot drive, one for app drive -- because DRAM would give no performance benefit and not be worth the extra money.
Problem when ppl say lower write speed, "lower" is relative, it wont drop to like HDD 5400RPM levels :) In the end it feels like if you have to ask the question what drive to buy you most likely wont notice the difference :) Dont forget that not too long ago SSDs were still pretty rare, HDDs did not had RAM in them and somehow all worked. Im using WD RED HDDs in my NAS and sure, its not fun when I need to transfer say 40-50Gb from it to my SSD for whatever reason, but its not like Im doing it every day.
Had a question!!! Does dram or not affect even for using as an external ssd ( as used as an external storage device ) ! And how do I upgrade the firmware in an enclosed ssd ? Thank you 🎉 Your videos are so informative 🎉
I would say it's more important to use a SSD with DRAM in an external enclosure because it can't use HMB (which is used to compensate for the lack of DRAM) if it's used over USB or similar. For updates, it depends, often it's just not possible without plugging the drive in directly.
@@tomsuper2199 Thank you for replying 😃 I have formatted my ssd to exfat ! Is it then possible to just remove the ssd from encloser and directly attach to the computer ssd slot and upgrade it ? Will it delete or format my data in the ssd ?
@@lekshindev3280 That sounds like a plan! It shouldn't format anything without your explicit permission, that said some people and companies recommend a backup before a firmware update because if anything goes wrong it's a possibility to lose the data (never happened to me, but if it's important data I would definitely make a backup).
6:59 - "One Small Security Blip:" Are you sure data can be retrieved from powered down DRAM? It's volatile memory isn't it? How can data be pulled off this if it's been powered off / pulled out of the host system? Cheers.
It's serious espionage level stuff that the average person doesn't need to give a second thought toward.
Volatile memory takes anywhere from seconds to minutes to properly discharge. If there is physical access to the machine in that window, a memory dump can be done with specialized equipment. The most reliable method involves freezing the memory (not as in locking up the system, but as in actual freezing temperatures), which can make the data persist for days.
@@davidg5898 Ahh this makes sense now. I expect @NASCompares wes talking about grabbing data off the DRAM in a very narrow time-window then, and not, say, hours, days, or weeks later. Cheers!
I guess if you hear a pounding on your door because you're being raided by the feds, you're going to want DRAMless. 😂
Great info, so much to consider when buying an SSD.
Hi, great video, when will you be testing the lexar in a ps5, waiting on your test before I buy.
Thanks for making these videos, really helpful. Cheers.
How about external SSD‘s for Time Machine backups. Is there a advantage with DRAM?
Good one mate - Thanx👍👍👍
No worries. Glad you liked it. It's a dull, dull subject, but glad it hit the mark
No worries. Glad you liked it. It's a dull, dull subject, but glad it hit the mark
Wish I was aware of this sooner. I bought less expensive Crucial Nvme drives which sustained data rates are extremely low.@@nascompares
Loves these videos on all the different m.2 drives. Question, is the temperature testing video of HK Hynix m.2 heatsink in the PS5 still coming? Interested to see how it compares to the other ps5 heatsinks.
Excellent video
How about video editing?
Is dram necessary?
useful info there!
as I see it, the only advantage is power efficiency for laptops and other portable devices,
but for any decent desktop PC, server or NAS, dedicated DRAM is a no brainer....
maybe, just maybe, if the prices of DRAM-less SSDs dropped on par with HDDs, then as a replacement for HDDs it could become viable alternative...
Dramless are usually slower. And cheaper. Safe choice use dram
I'm watching because a DRAM M.2 costs 1.5x a DRAMLESS M.2
Your most recent set of videos with text chapter separators and the silly little sounds are very annoying. Those of us who listen as opposed to watch have no idea what the following discussion is in relation to. Your older videos were great learning tools because so little of it was "see this part here" content requiring I be right in front of the TV. Perfect to listen to while doing dishes, putting away items, etc. Even if it's one of those stupid automated readers, please add audio to your topic changes so I can follow the remaining discussion.
Thank you for the honest feedback. Really do appreciate it. The honest answer is that I am always trying to find ways to twerk these videos to be more interesting (as, realistically, I have to accept this is a dull subject and a fantastically niche channel). That said, I appreciate that these inserts, though good for chapterization and breaking a subject up into parts, do need more work and I am slowly moving over to verbal annotations (look at the video soon on SMR drives). Also, side note, I cannot stress how much I am genuinely flattered that someone would listen to my vids when they do chores...as that a EXACTLY how I listen/watch some channels and ones I really like. To me, that is high praise. Thank you
@@nascomparesI actually really appreciate the chapters. I know it’s not always best for your stats if I skip around, but I find myself coming back to your videos and using the chapters to quickly jump to the info I wanted to revisit. And hey, fantastically niche is a great description. I appreciate your work and find it fascinating.
Keep the chapters, only insane people would argue against them.
Keep the chapters, but could you read the titles or restate them at the start of each chapter. Like the orignal poster I tend to listen to your videos while doing things that require my eyesight be elswhere.
Love your work!
It's UA-cam, not a podcast... Keep the chapters they are fine
Not great once turfed out to an usb enclosure.
Let's be honest, flash-memory is still not really fast memory and that durable. (compared to other storage solutions)
The RAM helped the algorithms to reduce the wear-and-tear. (and indeed, at times, the performance as noted in this video)
Dropping the on-board RAM is next to a cost-saving move also because of chip-shortages, which is still a thing.
I do agree omitting RAM may not impact that much in several applications but for modern-day NAS, in my opinion, you will need it.
And FYI dramless is something that has been ongoing since (about) 2017.
Back then it was really, really bad on almost every level. Nowadays it has improved substantially. (controller & algorithms)
It is the same as with the number of flash-chips (as you mentioned), the amount of layered flash-cells per chip, it is about costs and not always to the benefit of the users/application.
When you want to obtain SSD's, it is nowadays really an intens study, figuring out the various caveats.
its not about the speed , its about durability
sorry but that is complete nonsense! DRAM on SSDs is only used for the lookup buffer. So where data is on the SSD, not to buffer data. It's definitely faster with DRAM. But if you have no idea about the technology you shouldn't make YT videos!
This is what I found online too. But usually the ssd need 1gb dram per 1TB flash, while at the same time the hmb ssd uses only 32-64mb ram. This may cause big performance gap.
yeah the Hard truth actually Controller do the buffer, and high quality controller make the ssd more durable.