How to Check and Extend SSD Lifespan

They are quiet and hardly susceptible to mechanical defects: SSDs - flash storage without moving parts. However, an SSD (SSD = Solid State Drive) is more expensive to purchase and less durable than a traditional HDD. The difference between HDD and SSD includes the fact that the number of write and read cycles per storage cell is limited. To prevent data loss, a small lifespan check is therefore recommended. Additionally, there are various ways to maximize SSD lifespan.

How Long Does an SSD Last?

A general statement about how long an SSD will last before it gives up the ghost cannot be made. However, you can get closer to answering the question about the expected lifespan of an SSD. First, it is important to distinguish between the different SSD storage types:

1. Single Level Cell (SLC)
2. Multi Level Cell (MLC)
3. Triple Level Cell (TLC)

While the SLC type can only store one bit per cell, the MLC type stores two. The TLC type accordingly stores three bits per cell. The rule is: The more data stored per cell, the faster the "wear" of the respective storage cell accelerates. An SLC SSD is therefore generally more durable than a TLC SSD.

No Wear from Read Operations

While the mechanics of an HDD hard drive can also wear out from read operations, simply reading data does not affect an SSD at all. In terms of lifespan, only write and delete operations (write cycles) matter.

To extend their lifespan, modern MLC and TLC SSDs can emulate SLC storage and initially write only 1 bit per cell. Only when no further storage space is available does the SSD switch to its conventional storage method.

So-called "Wear Leveling" also contributes to the longevity of modern SSDs. Here, the SSD controllers distribute all data evenly across the entire storage to balance out the wear of individual cells.

How to Check SSD Lifespan

The health status and remaining lifespan of SSDs can be read using free tools such as GSmartControl, SSD-Z, or CrystalDiskInfo. The manufacturers' management programs also often offer corresponding functions for analyzing S.M.A.R.T. values (S.M.A.R.T. = Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology).

Example with SSD-Z:

1. Install the SSD-Z tool
2. Open the .exe file and navigate to the "Device" tab
3. Hover the mouse over the values "Bytes Written" and "POH" to get information about the approximate remaining lifespan.

Calculating SSD Lifespan

If you want to calculate the basic SSD lifespan yourself, you can use the following formula. The SSD factor describes the ratio between actual data volume and data actually written. A value of 5 puts you on the safe side for the calculation:

(Write cycles Storage capacity in GB) / (SSD factor Annual data volume in GB) = Expected lifespan in years

Example (MLC SSD with 1,000 GB):

(3,000 1,000) / (5 1,500) = 300,000 / 7,500 = 40 years

How to Extend SSD Lifespan

Via the Windows system application (app) "Defragment and Optimize Drives", SSDs can be analyzed and optimized manually or automatically at defined intervals. However, the Windows SSD optimization has nothing to do with defragmentation. Defragmenting an SSD would be harmful and is therefore not offered by Windows for good reason. External tools for SSD defragmentation should also be avoided. If your SSD has already failed or is showing problems, professional data recovery can help.

TRIM Command

Windows optimizes SSD performance using the TRIM command. This command tells the SSD controller which blocks can be marked as invalid when files are deleted. Since the controller does not need to copy files when "cleaning up" the flash storage, the number of write operations is minimized and the lifespan is maximized accordingly. The speed of the SSD also increases in this way.

Optimizing Windows Registry Settings

The Windows Registry is a database in which countless important pieces of information are stored. Those who are not familiar with it can break a lot of things. Fortunately, there are tools like SSD-Tweaker that make SSD-relevant settings in the Registry without risk.

How to do it:

1. Install and start the tool
2. Click the "Start Auto Tweaks" or "automatic optimization" button on the start page
3. Restart the PC to apply the changes

Among other things, the tool configures settings for working memory and cache, and disables 8.3 file names and extended timestamps. Disabling the Windows Indexing Service is also possible via the Standard Tweaks -> Other Tweaks -> Disable Windows Indexing Service tab.

Moving Files/Folders to Another Drive

A relatively simple way to maximize SSD lifespan is to move files and folders to a secondary HDD or to the cloud. This approach is especially worthwhile for files/folders that do not benefit from SSD speed but merely take up storage space and cause write operations (e.g., "Downloads").

Simply right-click on the respective folder and select "Properties" (at the bottom). A new window will open where you need to navigate to the "Location" tab. There you can set a new destination via the "Move" button.

Professional Help for SSD Data Loss

If your SSD is already showing signs of a defect or data has been lost, contact our experts. We recover data from SSDs of all manufacturers - with a non-binding online cost estimate and fixed-price guarantee.

Contact us at 0800-881 12 25 (free, available 24/7) for a free initial consultation.