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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To find out whether an SSD uses QLC or TLC NAND, first identify its exact model and capacity, then check the manufacturer’s documentation for that specific drive. To find its write-buffer size, look for an SLC cache, SLC buffer or equivalent specification. Windows or macOS device details and tools such as CrystalDiskInfo may help identify the drive, but do not assume they can reveal NAND type or cache size.
1. Identify the exact SSD model and capacity
Start with the full model string and the drive’s capacity. A product family can include different configurations, so a family name alone may not identify the NAND or buffer specification for the SSD in your computer.
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- Read the label on the drive if you can access it safely.
- Otherwise, check the operating system’s disk or device information, or use the SSD manufacturer’s utility to identify the device.
- Record the complete model number, including any suffix, and the capacity shown for the installed drive.
A utility’s model identification is a useful first step, not proof that the utility reports the NAND type or SLC cache size.
2. Check the manufacturer’s documentation for NAND type
Search the full model number together with terms such as “datasheet,” “product brief,” or “NAND.” Prefer the manufacturer’s product page or technical document to retailer listings. Check that the document matches both the model and capacity you identified.
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Look for an explicit statement of TLC or QLC. “3D NAND,” “V-NAND,” and a generation or marketing name do not, by themselves, tell you which of those cell types the drive uses. If the available manufacturer documentation does not disclose the type, treat it as undisclosed; do not infer it from price, capacity, or performance.
Manufacturer examples: model-specific details matter
Samsung’s 2018 860 QVO white paper identifies the 860 QVO as QLC NAND and lists its 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models. It also specifies TurboWrite regions by capacity:
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| Samsung 860 QVO capacity | Default TurboWrite region | Intelligent region | Total listed region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 TB | 6 GB | 36 GB | 42 GB |
| 2 TB | 6 GB | 72 GB | 78 GB |
| 4 TB | 6 GB | 72 GB | 78 GB |
These figures are for the documented 860 QVO capacities, not a general rule for SSDs. Samsung describes Intelligent TurboWrite as SLC buffering that improves write speed; data is later moved to multi-bit cells when the SSD is not reading or writing. Its SSD product information advises consulting the individual product datasheet for product details.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsMicron’s 2400 NVMe SSD product page is another example of a manufacturer identifying a particular product as QLC. That designation does not establish the NAND type or cache capacity of other Micron drives, and the product information should not be taken as a cache-size specification unless it explicitly provides one.
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- Supports SLC Caching technology and enjoys a smooth user experience with a fast read/write speed of up to 560/500MB/s
- Before purchasing, please make sure that your motherboard/laptops, processor (CPU), and BIOS support the SSD you are buying to avoid incompatibility issues.
3. Find the SLC write-buffer specification
For sustained writes, search the exact-capacity documentation for “SLC cache,” “SLC buffer,” “pseudo-SLC,” “write buffer,” or the manufacturer’s branded term. Read the qualification alongside the number: the buffer might be a fixed region, a maximum, or a variable region whose size depends on capacity or drive conditions. Do not assume one stated maximum is always available.
If the manufacturer does not publish the SLC-buffer capacity in the available official material, say it is not disclosed there. A benchmark observation is not a substitute for a published capacity.
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- Smart Dual Cache and powerful performance
- A monster that can defeat mechanical hard drives
- Ultra-high durability. Stable and reliable
- Supports SLC Caching technology and enjoys a smooth user experience with a fast read/write speed of up to 500/460MB/s
- Manufacturer Warranty: 3-year or TBW (Terabytes Written) limited warranty. Free Technical Support and Customer Service on TEAMGROUP's official website. The definition and conditions of TBW are based on the JEDEC standard.
4. Keep SLC buffering separate from DRAM write cache
The word “cache” can refer to different things. An SLC buffer uses NAND temporarily configured to accept writes faster; DRAM is volatile memory that can queue operating-system write requests. Samsung describes these separately in its SSD product information. If a listing or specification says only “write cache,” check which mechanism it means before quoting a size.
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5. Use benchmarks as behavior clues, not identification
A sharp slowdown during a long sequential write can be consistent with a fast buffer filling and subsequent writes going to the underlying NAND. But that pattern cannot certify whether the NAND is TLC or QLC, nor establish the manufacturer’s advertised buffer capacity. Results depend on factors such as test size, free space, drive state, temperature, workload, controller, firmware, interface, and platform. Samsung also notes that performance-check results vary with the benchmark tool, hardware, and configuration in its performance-check guidance.
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Only describe a buffer transition as measured behavior if an actual test was run and its setup and conditions are reported. Do not present an observed transition as a definitive NAND identifier or as the official cache-size specification.
What to compare when choosing between SSDs
For a meaningful comparison, match the exact capacity and model revision, then check the attributes that affect compatibility and sustained use. A headline sequential-write speed alone does not describe performance after any fast buffer fills.
- NAND type, if the manufacturer discloses it.
- Interface and form factor, confirmed against the host system’s compatibility requirements.
- SLC-buffer behavior and published capacity, if specified.
- Sustained write performance after buffering, endurance rating, warranty, and price per usable capacity.
Samsung’s white paper notes that QLC stores four bits per physical cell and TLC stores three. That is a cell-level storage-density comparison, not evidence that QLC is faster or that a whole QLC drive offers a particular capacity advantage.
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