How do you optimize your SSD settings to lower its power usage and increase its lifespan?

1 Check your SSD type

Before you start tweaking your SSD settings, you need to know what type of SSD you have. There are two main types: SATA and NVMe. SATA SSDs use the same interface as HDDs, while NVMe SSDs use a newer and faster interface that connects directly to the motherboard. You can check your SSD type by opening the Device Manager and looking under the Disk drives category. Alternatively, you can use a third-party tool like CrystalDiskInfo or SSD-Z to get more information about your SSD.

2 Enable AHCI mode

If you have a SATA SSD, you need to enable AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) mode in your BIOS or UEFI settings. AHCI mode allows your SSD to use features like NCQ (Native Command Queuing) and TRIM (a command that helps maintain SSD performance and health) that can improve its speed and efficiency. To enable AHCI mode, you need to access your BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing a key (usually F2, F10, or DEL) during the boot process. Then, look for the SATA mode or SATA configuration option and change it to AHCI. Save and exit the settings and reboot your PC.

3 Disable defragmentation

Unlike HDDs, SSDs do not benefit from defragmentation, which is a process that rearranges the data on a disk to make it more contiguous and reduce fragmentation. In fact, defragmentation can harm your SSD by increasing its write cycles and reducing its lifespan. Therefore, you should disable defragmentation for your SSD. To do so, open the Start menu and type Defragment and Optimize Drives. Then, select your SSD and click Change settings. Uncheck the box that says Run on a schedule and click OK.

4 Adjust power settings

Another way to optimize your SSD settings is to adjust your power settings to reduce its power consumption and prevent it from entering sleep mode. Sleep mode can cause your SSD to lose data or performance when it wakes up. To adjust your power settings, open the Control Panel and click Power Options. Then, choose the power plan that suits your needs (for example, Balanced or High performance) and click Change plan settings. Next, click Change advanced power settings and expand the Hard disk option. Set the Turn off hard disk after setting to Never for both On battery and Plugged in. Then, expand the PCI Express option and set the Link State Power Management setting to Off for both On battery and Plugged in. Click OK to save the changes.

5 Update firmware

One more thing you can do to optimize your SSD settings is to update its firmware regularly. Firmware is the software that controls how your SSD operates and communicates with your PC. Updating your firmware can improve your SSD's performance, stability, security, and compatibility. To update your firmware, you need to visit the manufacturer's website and download the latest version for your SSD model. Then, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to install the firmware update. Be careful not to interrupt the update process or turn off your PC, as this can damage your SSD.

6 Monitor SSD health

Finally, you should monitor your SSD's health and performance regularly to avoid any potential problems or failures. You can use various tools to check your SSD's health, such as CrystalDiskInfo, SSD-Z, or the manufacturer's own software. These tools can show you information such as the temperature, wear level, SMART status, and error rate of your SSD. You can also use these tools to run benchmarks and tests to measure your SSD's speed and endurance. If you notice any signs of degradation or malfunction, you should back up your data and replace your SSD as soon as possible.