While they can make an old SATA based system run faster than it did when newly purchased, the Achilles heal of Solid State Drives (SSDs) is the amount of data that can be written to them.
While late model SSDs will last hundreds if not thousands of years there are still some tweaks you can make to your Windows operating system that will ensure the longest life possible under any conditions.
The first thing to look for is a utility provided by the Manufacturer. For example, Samsung provides, Samsung Magician. Crucial provides, Storage Executive. These utilities will make the necessary changes to the operating system for you. They will also help you upgrade the firmware of the drive which generally improve the speed and stability of the drive. This is always recommended.
If you can’t find a utility for your drive you’ll want to take a look at these tips. Even if you upgraded to Windows 10 you can’t assume the optimal settings have been applied. This article does a good job of explaining the steps required:
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-ssds-solid-state-drives-work-increase-lifespan/
How much longer will my drive last?
Using the utility for my drive, Samsung Magician, I can see that I have written 13.2 TB to date on my SSD. Since I have had the device a year, that equates to 1.1 TB per year. The published warranty of my Samsung 850 EVO 850 drive is, 5 Years or 75 TB. Dividing 75 TB by my average of 1.1 TB/year gives me a lifespan of 68 years!
How long will your drive last?
