What is an SSD?
An SSD, which stands for solid-state drive, is a type of computer storage device. Unlike traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) that use spinning platters and a mechanical arm, SSDs store data on flash memory chips. This allows SSDs to access data much faster than HDDs. Some key advantages of using an SSD are:
- Faster boot and load times: OS and programs load much quicker thanks to SSDs’ higher read/write speeds.
- Faster file transfers: Copying/moving files is quicker with SSDs’ faster data transfer rates.
- Better overall system performance: The speed boost from an SSD improves overall computer responsiveness.
- More durable: SSDs have no moving parts, making them less prone to damage from physical shock.
- Quieter: SSDs run silently with no noise from spinning platters.
With all their speed advantages, SSDs have become the preferred storage device for most PC users. However, there are still ways you can make your SSD run even faster. Keep reading to find out how.
Check for firmware updates
One easy way to potentially get a nice speed boost from your SSD is to check whether it’s running the latest firmware. SSD manufacturers periodically release firmware updates that include performance fixes and optimizations. Keeping your SSD firmware up to date ensures you’re getting the highest speeds the drive is capable of.
You can check for firmware updates using the SSD maker’s software tools. For example:
- Samsung Magician for Samsung SSDs
- Crucial Storage Executive for Crucial SSDs
- Intel SSD Toolbox for Intel SSDs
These tools will detect your drive and let you know if a firmware update is available. The update process is straightforward – just follow the steps in the software. Reboot your computer after the firmware update completes.
Enable TRIM
Enabling TRIM support for your SSD is another easy way to maintain top speeds over time. TRIM is a Windows feature that helps SSDs manage data by “trimming” away unnecessary junk data.
When you delete a file on your SSD, the file isn’t immediately erased. Only the reference to the file is removed from the file table. The actual file data remains on the SSD until it gets overwritten by new data. This works fine on HDDs, but causes a problem called “write amplification” on SSDs.
Write amplification wears out SSD cells prematurely. TRIM fixes this by signaling the SSD which deleted data blocks can be wiped and reused. This maintains the SSD’s performance and extends its longevity.
TRIM is enabled by default on modern Windows versions. You can verify TRIM is active by entering “fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify” in Command Prompt. If TRIM is enabled, it will report “DisableDeleteNotify = 0” (0 means enabled).
If TRIM is disabled, enter “fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0” to activate it. Then reboot your computer.
Update storage drivers
Having the latest drivers for your SSD and related storage hardware enables the operating system to properly communicate with your drive. Outdated drivers can hamper performance.
Updating drivers is quick and simple:
1. Open Device Manager (right-click Start and select it)
2. Expand the Disk drives and Storage controllers sections
3. Right-click each relevant device and select Update driver
4. Click Search automatically for updated driver software
5. Reboot afterward
This will install the newest drivers for your storage controller, SATA controller, SSD itself, etc. Be sure to update the drivers for both your SSD and any secondary HDDs. New drivers can resolve disk bottlenecks, resulting in faster speeds.
Change SATA settings in BIOS
Another setting that can impact SSD performance is the SATA operation mode configured in your motherboard’s BIOS.
SATA is the interface that connects your SSD/HDD to the computer. Most SATA ports support two modes: AHCI and IDE. AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) is optimal for SSDs, while IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is legacy mode meant for HDDs.
Making sure AHCI mode is enabled will allow your SSD to operate at full speed. Here’s how to switch the SATA mode:
1. Restart your PC and enter the BIOS setup utility. The entrance key is different on each motherboard – common ones include Delete, F1, F2, F10, F12.
2. Navigate to the SATA settings. There should be a menu for configuring SATA mode.
3. Change this setting from IDE/ATA to AHCI.
4. Save changes and exit BIOS to reboot.
Now your SSD will have AHCI enabled, which properly supports features like native command queuing and hot swapping. Your drive’s speed and responsiveness will benefit.
Upgrade to a faster SSD
While the above tweaks optimize your existing SSD, a more impactful upgrade is getting a faster SSD. Not all SSDs are created equal – higher-end models offer dramatically faster read/write speeds.
For example, a SATA-based SSD may reach 550 MB/s sequential reads, while a high-end NVMe SSD can hit 7,000 MB/s reads. NVMe uses PCIe lanes directly connected to the CPU, avoiding SATA’s bandwidth limitations. It’s the fastest SSD interface.
Upgrading to an NVMe drive from a 2.5″ SATA SSD can double or triple real-world transfer speeds. Boot and load times see huge improvements. Everything feels snappier thanks to blazing fast data access.
Switching to a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD provides an extra speed boost over PCIe 3.0 models. For reference, here are some ballpark speeds for different SSD types:
| SSD Type | Sequential Read Speed |
|---|---|
| SATA 2.5″ SSD | 550 MB/s |
| NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD | 3,500 MB/s |
| NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD | 7,000 MB/s |
Of course, upgrading your SSD means reinstalling Windows and programs on the new drive. But for the performance payoff, it’s well worth the effort and small expense compared to buying an entirely new PC.
Perform manual maintenance
Regular “maintenance” on your SSD will keep it running at peak efficiency. Here are some suggested tasks:
– Run the TRIM command: In Command Prompt, entering “fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0” activates TRIM if it’s disabled.
– Clear browser caches: Large browser caches eat up space and slow down SSDs.
– Clean the registry: Bloated registry keys slow down Windows. Use a registry cleaner like CCleaner.
– Remove temporary files: Temporary app files and folders build up over time. Use Disk Cleanup to wipe them.
– Uninstall unused programs: Get rid of bloatware and programs you no longer use.
– Run Disk Defragmenter: This optimizes file placement, even though SSDs don’t truly “defrag”.
– Check for bad sectors: Tools like CrystalDiskInfo can check your SSD’s health.
Doing this cleanup every month or so will keep your SSD lean and mean. Like changing your car’s oil, it’s basic drive maintenance.
Secure erase your SSD
For a more thorough cleanup, use the SECURE ERASE function supported by most SSDs. This instantly erases all data on the drive by overwriting it.
Secure erasing an SSD essentially “resets” it to factory settings. It wipes away all cached junk data and clears all cells to maximize performance. Your drive becomes clean and empty.
Secure erase tools like Parted Magic ($11) make the process easy:
1. Download and create Parted Magic USB boot media.
2. Boot from the USB on the target computer.
3. Select the SSD to erase and choose SECURE ERASE.
4. Confirm the data wipe. Parted Magic overwrites all drive data.
5. Reinstall Windows after completed.
While extreme, this returns your SSD to day one speeds. Only use secure erase if you have backups and are reinstalling Windows.
Upgrade hardware components
Beyond just upgrading your SSD itself, also consider faster supporting hardware:
CPU: A faster processor provides more bandwidth for SSD throughput.
RAM: More RAM improves general system performance and speeds up data transfers.
Motherboard: A board with PCIe 4.0 support unlocks the fastest SSD speeds.
Cables: Newer SATA cables offer a slight speed bump over older SATA versions.
PSU: A high-quality power supply ensures stable energy for peak SSD performance.
While your SSD is the star of the show, better surrounding hardware accelerates its speed. Think of upgrading a sports car’s tires and suspension before maximizing the engine.
Change power settings
Windows’ power saving settings can negatively impact SSD speeds. For full speed, set the following:
1. Create a high-performance power plan. Set processor performance to 100%.
2. Disable Hard Disk power down timers:
– Open advanced power settings
– Expand Hard Disk, set Turn off hard disk after to 0
3. Change USB selective suspend to Disabled to avoid I/O slowdowns.
4. Disable fast startup under Power Options > Choose what the power button does.
Tweak these settings to prevent SSD throttling. Your drive’s true performance will shine through.
Disable services eating I/O
Some Windows services and background tasks use constant drive I/O. These unnecessary read/write operations can slow down your system disk.
Services safe to disable for SSD optimization include:
– Superfetch
– Windows Search
– Windows Defender
– Windows Update
– Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
You can disable these in the Windows Services utility. This reduces I/O overhead and boosts SSD responsiveness.
Just be sure to enable necessary protection again after benchmarking! Never permanently disable security services like Windows Defender.
Invest in a SATA express card
Here’s an advanced tip for laptop users. If your laptop supports M.2 or U.2 PCIe SSDs, you can install them in an external enclosure and connect via SATA Express.
SATA Express cards utilize PCIe lanes for much faster interface speeds compared to regular SATA. They overcome SATA’s 600MB/s limit.
With an M.2 SSD in an external enclosure, speeds over 1GB/s are possible. This solution allows using NVMe SSDs on laptops without internal M.2 slots.
Partition your drive optimally
How you partition an SSD affects its performance. Here are some tips:
– Keep the partition aligned – Misaligned partitions cause slowdowns. Use boundary alignment of 1MB.
– Consolidate partitions – Having only 2-3 partitions maximizes contiguous free space.
– Make the partitions equal in size – Matching partition sizes allows uniform spreading of writes.
– Don’t over-partition – More than 4 partitions often hurts performance.
– Leave 20-25% free space – This allows TRIM and the controllers garbage collection to work optimally.
– Use simple volumes not spanned or striped – Simple layouts minimize metadata overhead.
– Format partitions correctly – NTFS alignment and allocation unit size matter. Use defaults.
– Place paging/boot files appropriately – e.g. pagefile.sys goes on root drive for fastest access.
Follow these guidelines when partitioning your SSD for optimal speeds.
Use Intel Optane as cache
Intel Optane memory acts as a cache layer that accelerates HDDs and SSDs. It functions like a turbocharger for your storage.
Optane sits between your RAM and storage. Frequently accessed files are cached on the Optane drive itself, providing lightning quick access.
Using even a small 16GB Optane stick as SSD cache can significantly speed up a system disk. Benefits include:
– Faster boot and launch times for Windows and apps
– Quicker game/level load times
– Snappier workflow when accessing frequently used files
– Better multitasking performance when disk I/O is high
Optane Memory works automatically in the background. Just install it in a compatible system and enable the Optane setting in BIOS.
Overprovision extra space
SSD controllers use some drive capacity as spare area for background tasks like garbage collection. By overprovisioning extra space, you allow these processes to work more efficiently.
For optimal overprovisioning:
– Leave 10-20% of SSD capacity unpartitioned. e.g. leave a 256GB drive at only 200GB.
– Or use manufacturer tools to create a dedicated overprovisioned area. Most have this feature.
– TRIM regularly to keep the overprovisioned space emptied and ready.
Overprovisioning improves write performance and lifespan by giving the controller extra room to work. It’s like getting more elbow space.
Avoid file fragmentation
File fragmentation still causes slowdowns on SSDs, despite no physical read head. The files are split up in pieces all over the drive, requiring additional I/O to access.
To minimize fragmentation:
– Periodically defragment your SSD using built-in Windows tools. This optimizes data layout.
– Enable auto-defrag weekly or monthly to prevent fragmentation from accumulating.
– Maintain at least 15% free space on your SSD. Fragmentation occurs more when space is low.
– Use built-in Windows tools like Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense to remove junk files.
Keep your SSD properly defragged and decluttered. Your files will read faster when stored contiguously.
Update SSD firmware
SSD makers release firmware updates to fix bugs, improve compatibility, and boost performance. Keeping your SSD firmware up to date unlocks its full potential.
Most companies provide firmware update tools:
– Samsung Magician for Samsung SSDs
– Crucial Storage Executive for Crucial SSDs
– Intel SSD Toolbox for Intel SSDs
These programs automatically check and install the newest firmware. Many also have handy optimization features.
Be sure to check the change log before updating – some firmware updates focus on bug fixes rather than speed.
Conclusion
SSDs provide a huge real-world speedup compared to traditional hard drives. But you can optimize them even further by following the tips outlined in this article.
The methods range from basic maintenance like updating drivers to advanced upgrades like using Intel Optane. Combine several together for best results.
Tweaking your SSD is like tuning a sports car – the baseline speed is already fast, but you can still mod and enhance the performance. A finely optimized SSD will deliver blazing load times and smooth system performance.