what is a solid state external hard drive
Solid-state drive A solid-state drive (SSD) is a solid-state storage device that uses integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store data persistently. It is also sometimes called solid-state disk;[1] the word "disk" is inappropriate since SSDs do not have physical disks. SSDs primarily use traditional hard disk drive (HDD) interfaces, such as SATA and SAS, greatly simplfying usage of SSDs in computers.[2] Following the initial acceptance of SSDs with HDD interfaces, new I/O interfaces like M.2 and U.2 have been designed to address specific requirements of the Flash memory technology used in SSDs.
USB flash drive A USB flash drive, also variously known as a thumb drive, pen drive, jump drive, disk key, disk on key, flash-drive, memory stick or USB memory,[a] is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated USB interface. It is typically removable, rewritable and much smaller than an optical disc. Most weigh less than an ounce (approx. 30g).[1] Since first appearing on the market in late 2000, as with virtually all other computer memory devices, storage capacities have risen while prices have dropped. As of March 2016[update], flash drives with anywhere from 8 to 256Â GB are frequently sold; less frequent are 512 GB and 1 TB units.[2][3] Storage capacities as large as 2 TB are planned, with steady improvements in size and price per capacity expected.[4] Some allow up to 100,000 write/erase cycles, depending on the exact type of memory chip used, and are thought to last between 10 and 100 years under normal circumstances. shelf storage time.[5][6][7]