Computer Memory

Solid state drives are the new sensation that are sweeping the computer nation, but there seem to be a few myths in circulation that are stopping some taking the plunge and giving their computer a much needed boost.

Let’s work through a few those now.

Myth 1 - Traditional magnetic hard drives have had so much more time to perfect their firmware development and they’re just...better.

This may well have been the case when SSDs first came onto the market, but now, there is literally no gap between them and HDDs. The code development continues in relation to the development of solid state hardware and aspects like error correction have been addressed.

Myth or Fact? 
Answer - Myth

Myth 2 - SSDs just aren’t up to heavy usage and will wear out too quickly.

It is well documented that flash memory has a limited number of writes before degradation occurs, but there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the long term effects of this characteristic. Overprovisioning the space required by a factor of around 20% and optimising use patterns are just 2 ways this can be achieved.

Most users will never encounter this problem, but if you think you might give yours a hammering, there are different durability levels of SSD you can choose from when you purchase to suit your intended usage requirements.

Myth or Fact?
Answer - Fact. However, the poor durability claims made by some are somewhat exaggerated.

Myth 3 - When the power’s off, SSDs lose stored data fast!

Retention loss just isn’t an issue for today’s SSDs and whilst extremes in heat can result in trapped electrons tunneling more quickly, the environment temperature solid state drives are typically stored in means that there is no problem with data loss.

Myth or Fact?
Answer - Myth.

Myth 4 - As SSD form factors reduce, so does data reliability.

As SSDs become more and more widely used in laptops, there has been an obvious and natural need to make them smaller. This has led to some claiming that these smaller features mean that fewer electrons are able to be stored in each individual cell and in turn mean they are less reliable.

This is, in part true, but that what has to be taken into consideration is that SSDs use software that is able to overcome this problem. Meaning that it shouldn’t stop you buying one, even for your laptop.

Myth or Fact?
Answer - Fact. This may be true, but it can still be filed under the ‘myth debunked’ column.

If you’d like more information or you’re considering investing in an SSD and you have questions you need answering, have a chat with one of our tech support team. Don’t let hearsay stop you from improving your computer’s performance with a solid state drive.

Before being acquired by Intel and placed under its wing in early 2015, Lantiq was a supplier of semiconductor hardware from Germany, employing in the region of 1,0000 people at its Bavarian HQ. The hardware it supplied was done on a ‘fabless’ basis, in that the company didn’t actually manufacture them themselves, rather they sourced them from a 3rd OEM manufacturers. Based near Munich, the primary focus of the company was supplying semiconductor hardware for use by telecoms companies and home computer networks.

Lantiq came into being in the Summer of 2009 after Infineon (Another computer hardware company from Germany) sold its ‘wire based’ comms division in order to raise funds during what were some pretty austere years for the world as a whole. One of the products of this major corporate reshuffle was the emergence of the company known as Lantiq.

Lantiq Today
The company may no longer bear the name it was known by until 2015, but it still exists very much on the same path it was before under the wing of the global giant that is Intel. After paying an undisclosed sum for Lantiq, Intel rebranded the entire enterprise, which today concerns itself with much the same as it did before the acquisition.

The purchase was made in part by Intel in order to expand its offering of computer chips used in the burgeoning paradigm of the Internet of Things (IoT), which is set to become part of all of our lives in the near future.

Internet Connectivity
Intel/Lantiq produces equipment used to bring high speed internet access to the masses with bandwidths being enhanced with its proprietary Puma™ SoCs hardware.

Telecoms Companies
There aren’t many industries that have as much requirement for expansions as in the world of telecoms. The infrastructure that existed as little as 10-15 years ago is unrecognisable when compared to fibre channels and high bandwidth ADSL solutions available today. This expansions will undoubtedly continue and the subsidiary’s products are used to improve flexibility, reliability, and compatibility for the Telecoms industry.

Wireless Hardware
Wireless technology is a must in the modern age, rather than a luxury, which is why Intel/Lantiq’s equipment are so widely used today. Look around you and if you have wireless broadband at home, you’ll likely have a device or a component inside a device that began life with this company.

Whilst the company may not exist under the name Lantiq anymore, it continues to influence the world around us, even it isn’t instantly obvious and with the might of Intel in their corner, that is likely to continue indefinitely.