Having enough solid state drive (SSD) storage is crucial for your computer’s performance. SSDs are much faster than traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), so having sufficient SSD capacity prevents slowdowns when saving files or launching applications.
There are a few quick ways to check how much SSD storage your computer has. Here are the answers to common questions about determining your computer’s SSD capacity.
How can I check the total SSD capacity?
The easiest way to check your total SSD capacity is to use your operating system’s built-in disk management tools. Here’s how:
Windows
On Windows, hit the Windows key and type “Disk Management” to launch the Disk Management utility. This will display all drives in your system, including the total capacity of any SSDs. The SSD will be labeled as a “Solid State Drive.”
Mac OS
On a Mac, click the Apple icon in the top left and select “About This Mac.” Click “Storage” to see the total capacity of your Mac’s SSD along with a color-coded bar showing used/free space.
Linux
On Linux, open a terminal and run commands like lsblk or df -h to list all block devices and drives. SSDs will be labeled as “disk” drives with no spindle/rotation details. The size column lists the SSD’s total capacity.
How do I check the SSD capacity from BIOS?
Your computer’s BIOS (basic input/output system) will also display storage information, including connected SSDs. To check from BIOS:
- Restart your computer
- Enter the BIOS setup utility by pressing a key like F2, F10 or Delete during bootup
- Navigate to a storage information page, often called “Hard Drives,” “System Information” or similar
- Here you will find details on any internal SSDs, including the capacity
Can I check SSD capacity from Task Manager?
Unfortunately Task Manager does not show detailed storage information in Windows. However, there are other utilities like Speccy or CrystalDiskInfo that will display SSD capacity when installed.
What command shows SSD capacity in Linux?
As mentioned above, the lsblk and df -h commands are helpful for checking SSD capacity in Linux. A few other handy commands include:
sudo fdisk -l– List all partitions including SSD sizelsusb -t– Show USB connected SSDs and capacitysmartctl -a /dev/sda– SSD info for device /dev/sda
Can I check SSD health?
In addition to checking SSD capacity, tools like CrystalDiskInfo (Windows) and smartmontools (Linux) allow you to view detailed SSD health stats like:
- Total data written to the drive
- Wear leveling count
- Temperature
- Bad sectors
Keeping an eye on these metrics can alert you to potential SSD issues before failure or data loss.
Which is better – SSD brand or capacity?
When purchasing an SSD, many wonder whether to prioritize capacity or go with a top brand. Here are a few guidelines:
- For boot drives, brand and performance are more important than massive capacity. Aim for established brands like Samsung, Crucial or Western Digital.
- For storage drives, capacity plays a bigger role. A 4TB SSD from a lesser-known brand can still be a great value.
- Review SSD specs like sequential read/write speeds, IOPS, and endurance ratings. These give insight into real-world performance.
Balancing brand and capacity considerations helps ensure you get an SSD that’s fast, reliable, and has sufficient space for your needs.
Should I get HDD or SSD?
Comparing HDDs vs SSDs, solid state drives have major advantages:
| HDD | SSD | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slower: 5,400 to 7,200 RPM | Faster: 500+ MB/s read/write |
| Durability | More prone to damage from shock | No moving parts, can better withstand vibration |
| Noise | Audible spinning and drive head movement | Silent operation |
| Power Draw | More electrical load from spinning disk | Lower power usage, longer laptop battery life |
The downsides of SSDs are higher cost per gigabyte, and smaller maximum capacities. For most computing tasks though, SSDs provide a much snappier experience.
Can I add more SSD later?
Need more SSD capacity down the road? Depending on your laptop or desktop, you may be able to add a secondary SSD.
With desktops, you can install SSDs in available drive bays or PCIe slots. On many laptops the primary SSD is difficult to replace, but some models have open M.2 slots or 2.5″ drive bays to add more solid state storage.
When purchasing prebuilt computers, having extra storage upgrade options can be valuable down the line. Do some research to see if your specific model supports adding secondary SSDs.
How can I migrate to a larger SSD?
When replacing an old SSD with a new higher capacity model, you’ll need to migrate your operating system, applications, and data. Options include:
- Cloning – Use software like Macrium Reflect (Windows) or Clonezilla (Linux) to do a complete 1:1 copy of your old SSD to the new one.
- Clean install – Do a fresh OS installation on the new SSD, then copy over data manually.
- Migration tools – Some SSD manufacturers include tools to transfer your system to new SSDs. Samsung’s Data Migration Software is one example.
Back up important data before migrating. The cloning process will wipe the new SSD. After migration, double check that all data has been copied from the old SSD before reformatting or recycling it.
How do SSDs affect performance?
Upgrading to an SSD provides a noticeable speed boost for a few key reasons:
- Faster load times – SSDs have much lower access latency for reads and writes.
- Quick boots – SSDs allow your OS to start in seconds rather than minutes.
- Snappier apps – Programs launch faster and run more responsively.
- Better multitasking – With fast random access, SSDs easily handle multiple tasks.
Because SSDs have no moving parts, they’re not limited by disk rotational speeds like HDDs. The magnitude of performance gain depends on other factors like the SSD interface and type of workloads. But in general, SSDs dramatically speed up any PC.
How are SSDs connected in a PC?
SSDs use various physical interfaces to connect inside computers, with different speed limits:
- SATA – Up to 6Gbps. Common 2.5″ SSD format.
- M.2 – PCIe x4 speeds up to 32Gbps. Popular stick-like SSD form factor.
- U.2 – PCIe x4 up to 32Gbps. Enterprise SSDs used in servers.
- mSATA – SATA 3Gbps interface. Small SSDs for ultrabooks and embedded devices.
For peak performance, connect SSDs via high bandwidth interfaces like PCIe M.2 or U.2. However, even SATA SSDs are much faster than HDDs. All interfaces allow hot swapping SSDs if needed.
Conclusion
Checking your SSD capacity and utilization is easy using built-in disk utilities for your operating system. Compare HDDs vs SSDs to decide on the best storage upgrade for your needs and budget. Adding more high-speed solid state storage provides an excellent performance boost for PCs and laptops.
