Generally, the performance of a SSD is depends on several factors,
- NAND cell structure (SLC or MLC)
SLC (Single Level Cell) - stores 1 bit per cell, high reliability, faster access time, expensive
MLC (Multi-Level Cell) - stores 2/3/4 bits per cell, high memory density, relatively less reliable, relatively longer access time, more affordable
Determined by 'no. of drive write cycles per day (n DW/D)' or 'max. terabytes written (m TBW)'. Varies with the manufacturer.
- Host interface - SATA/mSATA or M.2
- Environment temperature vs. Retaining data
SSD starts to degrade after exceeding the endurance limits because the capacitors can't hold enough charge to retain data, leads to leak of charge.
Once the endurance limits passed, a SSD has an average lifespan of a 1 year under 30°C and that time may 2× under 25°C storing conditions. So the SSDs are NOT recommended for data archiving.