Is an SSD a necessary upgrade? If so, how many GIGABYTES is enough?

[boybi]

Do SSDs have a read-write cycle limit like memory cards?

[ghosthunter]

Do SSDs have a read-write cycle limit like memory cards?

yes they do. But they usually have a built-in program to spread out the write locations over the entire disk to minimize over-use of certain areas.

[Type 100]

Do SSDs have a read-write cycle limit like memory cards?

Yep. Read-write endurance is a fact of life for SSDs. Unless you are writing huge amounts of data to and from the drive though, the usable lifetime of an SSD is a non-factor for most consumers.

Unless you're running Windows XP or lower, it shouldn't be a problem. There is an onboard "TRIM" command that balances the wear between the NAND flash memory cells on an SSD. Many SSD makers have their own optimization software to go along with their products too, such as Samsung's Magician and Intel's SSD Toolbox.

In my case, Intel made up for the lack of the TRIM command on XP via its maintenance software.

There is one thing you do have to avoid: Do NOT defrag an SSD. That has no benefit and just prematurely wears out the NAND flash.

[Retz]

Baka ma obsolete na hdd sa susunod just like floppy disc.

[ghosthunter]

Baka ma obsolete na hdd sa susunod just like floppy disc.

HDDs are still much cheaper than SSD. So most computer buyers will still go for HDD over SSD.

[testament11]

Baka ma obsolete na hdd sa susunod just like floppy disc.

Malabo pa yan. Sobrang mahal pa ng SSD ngayon. Give at least 5 years o more pa.

And oh, another advantage of SSD over HDD is the weight ;)

[roninblade]

as others have said, until SSD prices go down and capacity improves the traditional platter-based HDDs are not going anywhere.

[Type 100]

Baka ma obsolete na hdd sa susunod just like floppy disc.

Not anytime soon, but it could happen.

As the process node lithography of NAND flash memory goes down, you can cram more memory into a given piece of silicon. This is the biggest reason why SSDs have gotten much cheaper over the past four years. You're essentially getting more yield out of the same amount of raw material.

To give you an idea, my Intel X25-V back in 2010 was made on a 34nm lithography process. These days the newest SSDs are approaching 25nm, 21nm and even 19nm NAND.

[Retz]

Malabo pa yan. Sobrang mahal pa ng SSD ngayon. Give at least 5 years o more pa.

And oh, another advantage of SSD over HDD is the weight ;)

Yep, mahal pa kasi SSD ngayon. But slowly may nakikita na akong laptop ngayon na SSD na.

[ghosthunter]

Yep, mahal pa kasi SSD ngayon. But slowly may nakikita na akong laptop ngayon na SSD na.

Not yet if you're looking at regular laptops. The ones that feature SSDs are Apple and Ultrabooks. And even ultrabooks are going back to HDD to lower the selling price.