Recently I stumbled upon a program which defragments SSD's. So I contacted them and asked "if SSDs are fast, why would you need to defrag them, and does not this shorten their life?". Reply was that the benefit of defragmenting out ways the shorter life span (rough translation).
Is there any truth, or just snake oil, Mindblower! 🙂
"For the needy, not the greedy"
Hi MB!
Defragging an SSD is a total waste of time. Neither Windows nor any programs running on Windows have direct access to an SSD.
So, all you end up doing is writing to the controller, which then writes to the SSD, putting all the files where it wants to. The controller knows best where to place all those files to limit wear.
Whoever said defragmenting an SSD is a good idea doesn't know what they're talking about. Period.
Richard
Thanks Richard. Wanted an honest opinion. Sadly there are companies selling such products and will try to convince you that their snake oil works, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
Might I add they do so for the almighty dollar and with no conscience.
Richard Pedersen said
Might I add they do so for the almighty dollar and with no conscience.
Hi Richard - however ensuring that TRIM is enabled (often so by default) for an SSD IS worthwhile. It is worth ensuring that it is enabled. See below:
TRIM is a command that helps manage the storage space on an SSD (Solid State Drive) more efficiently. It helps the drive maintain its performance over time and extends its lifespan.
- Garbage Collection: SSDs use flash memory, which works by writing data in pages and erasing data in blocks. When data is deleted, it isn’t immediately erased from the drive but is marked as "unused." Over time, this can lead to performance slowdowns as the drive tries to write data over previously used areas.
- TRIM Command: When TRIM is enabled, the operating system communicates with the SSD, telling it which blocks of data are no longer in use and can be wiped. This enables the SSD to manage its unused space proactively, making it ready for new data to be written without unnecessary delays or fragmentation.
- Improved Performance: With TRIM, the SSD doesn’t have to perform unnecessary writes or slowdowns when it fills up. This can keep the drive performing at higher speeds, especially as it nears its capacity.
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Prolongs SSD Life: Writing and erasing data on an SSD wears out its memory cells over time. By cleaning up unused blocks efficiently, TRIM helps prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
In summary, TRIM helps keep your SSD running at optimal performance and helps prolong its lifespan by ensuring it handles its data more effectively.
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