[NTLUG:Discuss] SSD on Linux Desktop

[Patrick R. Michaud]

On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 02:44:01PM -0500, Ralph Green wrote:
> The size of your drive and
> how sensitime you are to the SSD wearing out should affect your usage.
>  Most SSDs that I have seen are based around MLC flash cells and they
> don't have a long life.  

To me, SSD lifetimes have thus far been a non-issue.

Several studies that I've seen on SSD drives indicate that even 
with MLC, and especially newer models, the worst-case (shortest) 
lifetimes for SSD write cycle failures even under excessively
heavy loads tend to be on the order of at least 5 years.  In
more normal usage, I suspect SSDs will easily outlast the 
lifetime of whatever system they're actually in.  (I tend to
replace/upgrade my primary system every 5 or 6 years.)

I've had many many magnetic drives that start failing in far 
less time that that.  In fact, I suspect I've only ever had one 
magnetic drive that I've kept in active service for more than 
5 years, due either to drive failure (usually) or the need for 
larger capacity (occasionally).

My desktop system (Kubuntu) uses its SSD for both the /home 
and root partitions (including /usr, /tmp, and /var).  It's 
generally powered on 24x7, and I do a fair bit of heavy disk 
activity such as compiling (Parrot, Perl 6, etc) using the SSD,
meaning lots of writes and temporary files.  I've also done 
many fresh OS installs to the SSD, which also involves a lot 
of disk writing.  

I've been using this SSD for over two years in the manner and 
have yet to notice _any_ difficulties.  Perhaps the SSD is 
in fact degrading (albeit gracefully) and I just haven't 
checked to see if that's the case, but so far it's not 
something I've had to deal with.

Even if the SSD were to fail today, I would judge 
it to have been a good investment in terms of time and 
frustration savings, and certainly better than many of
my magnetic drive purchases.  I'd buy another one to
replace it (just as I've done with many failed magnetic
drives), and continue using it as I've done before.

Anyway, my take is that for my needs and desires, prices 
are now low enough and performance/reliability is high 
enough that SSD wear isn't an important consideration for me.  
(I also respect that others may have different takes and 
values here, so what works for me might be unacceptable to
others.)

Pm