FAQ

Swissbit NAND Flash Product FAQ

Q1: How to find the right product?
To use Swissbit’s Product Finder to find the right product for your needs, follow these steps:
  1.  Visit Swissbit Product Finder page: https://www.swissbit.com/en/products/product-finder/
  2.  Select your use case:
    • On the page, you will see different use cases such as “Small Data Logging,” “Large Data Logging,” “Audio/Video Recording,” “Boot Only,” etc.
    • Hover over each option to view details like write/read characteristics, data size, and random data handling performance.
    • Choose the use case that best fits your application.
  3.  Browse the recommended products:
    • Based on your selected use case, the system will highlight and pre-filter suitable products.
    • You can further refine the selection to find the most optimal solution for your needs.
  4. Select multiple products and clicking the compare button to see specifications side by side.
By following these steps, you can easily identify the most suitable Swissbit product for your application. 

Q2: Where can I download the datasheet for part number XXXXXXX?
You can enter the part number in the filter on the Swissbit Product Finder https://www.swissbit.com/en/products/product-finder/products/.
If the product is still available, it will appear on the page, and you can download its datasheet from there.

Q3: Can this XXXXXXX part number product still be purchased?
You can enter the part number in the filter on the Swissbit Product Finder https://www.swissbit.com/en/products/product-finder/products/.
If the product is still available, you will see it on the page and proceed with the purchase.
If the product does not appear in the search results, please contact us for further assistance.

Q4: What is the difference between IOPS and MB/s?
  • IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second): Measures "random" read/write speed, important for databases, OS boot, and gaming.
  • MB/s (Megabytes per Second): Measures "sequential" read/write speed, crucial for large file transfers and video editing.

Q5: Is a JEDEC eMMC 5.1 compliant eMMC downwards compatible with eMMC 4.51? 
Yes. eMMC 5.1 is fully downwards compatible with 4.51

Q6: What are the differences between Gen5 NAND and Gen3 NAND?
  • Gen5 NAND: Higher speeds, lower power consumption, and improved endurance.
  • Gen3 NAND: Older technology with lower performance, suitable for cost-sensitive applications.

Q7: Why is Swissbit having such weird dentities like 32GB but then 30GB Only? Why cant we keep having the same density all the time? Does Swissbit want to save some memory/Money?
The difference in capacity is due to over-provisioning, controller management, and system formatting. Over-provisioning helps improve performance, endurance, and reliability by reserving space for wear leveling and error correction. The actual available capacity may also vary based on file system formatting.

Q8: How can I assess which product I need in terms of durability?
  • A first estimation can be made using the Total Bytes Written (TBW) figures of the drives.
  • If TBW is not sufficient for your needs, performing real-world endurance tests is recommended.

Q9: How can I check the remaining lifetime of Swissbit cards?
You can check the remaining lifetime using Swissbit Device Manager (SBDM). You can download form here: https://www.swissbit.com/en/support/swissbit-device-manager/

Q10: How can I update the firmware?
Firmware updates require approval. Please contact memory.support@swissbit.com for further assistance.

Q11: What is SATA PHY CRC error count?
It is a counter for "Host Interface CRC Error", which is not a critical error. It is very likely that every SSD will detect CRC errors, it can happen several times a day. 
The purpose of this counter is to detect weak SATA links. This means that if the counter increases very quickly, e.g. once a minute, the quality of the SATA connection should be checked.
This CRC error happens in the direction from the host to the SSD. The SSD just counts damaged data packets.
There are many possible causes for CRC errors:
If it occurs very often, then the reasons could be:
  • Long SATA traces
  • Weak drive strength of the host
  • Strong drive strength of the host
  • Signal reflections
  • EMI
  • Connector issues
If it occurs very rarely, then the reasons could be:
  • EMI (switching loads with high current consumption or inductive loads nearby on/off)
  • ESD
  • Power failure of the host

Q12: Why does my SSD read/write speed fluctuate?
Fluctuations in SSD read/write speed are normal and are primarily influenced by factors such as SLC caching, garbage collection (GC), and write amplification (WA). 
To gain a deeper understanding of why SSD speed varies, you can refer to our Application Notes and White Papers, which provide detailed technical explanations and test data.

Application Notes:
https://www.swissbit.com/en/support/application-notes/

White Papers:
https://www.swissbit.com/en/technology/white-papers/an-introduction-to-understanding-ssd-performance/