Fast solid-state drives (SSDs) have now almost completely replaced classic hard disk drives (HDDs) in PCs and notebooks. In this guide, we reveal which SSD tips you should definitely know so you can get even more out of your mass storage device.

Speed ​​measurement

To ensure that the SSD you purchase meets the minimum performance specifications advertised by the manufacturer in terms of transfer rates and access times, you should use an appropriate SSD benchmark. . The best programs for this purpose are:

With these small tools, it is possible to determine all the relevant performance parameters of an SSD and then compare them accordingly. You should check if your SSD fully meets the following manufacturer specifications:

• Sequential reading
• Sequential writing
• Sequential replication

You should also take a look at the drive information, including related Smart valuesas indicating whether your SSD is actually a new storage medium.

Crystal Mark

Crystal Mark

Crystal Mark

Once you've checked your SSD's performance, you're already well ahead and can focus on the next step.

Application performance

In addition to more theoretical sequential performance values, the highest possible application performance of your new SSD in programs and games is of primary importance to you as a user. You can determine this in several ways.

To get an initial idea of ​​your SSD's application performance, we recommend PC Mark 10 Benchmark UL Solutions' benchmark was developed specifically for Windows 10 and Windows 11 and tests and compares the latest SSDs with special storage benchmarks that simulate real storage needs in everyday use. .

UL solution

UL solution

UL solution

The PCMark 10 SSD benchmark determines the relevant parameters of all SSDs installed in the system and compares them to multiple reference values ​​from UL Solutions' huge SSD database. This allows performance bottlenecks and potential bottlenecks to be quickly identified and corrected later.

Stability test

Testing an SSD for stability is not a trivial task, as faults and stability issues with flash memory cells are not easily detected and often appear in the system during day-to-day use.

However, to ensure the highest possible durability of your SSD, you should meet a few basic requirements that can minimize later problems.

Update your SSD's firmware to the latest version and use one of the following manufacturer tools depending on the manufacturer:

Once your SSD's firmware is up to date, restart your system and then run the manufacturer's tool again.

Throughout life

Now it's time to estimate the potential lifespan of your SSD. You can also use powerful tools or applications from manufacturers. Crystal Disk Info device for it.

“Self-monitoring, analysis and reporting technology”, the so-called SMART values, are of particular interest here. Pay special attention to the following parameters:

• condition
• temperature
• UDMA error rate
• End-to-end error.
• Uncorrectable errors were reported.
• Media and data integrity errors
• Insecure closures
• Critical warnings
• Smart Status

To make sure that the SSD you bought is really new, the following parameters should also be included.

• Overall condition
• Number of operating hours
• Number of switch-on and switch-off operations
• Number of write, read and copy operations
• Serial number and firmware

Crystal Mark

Crystal Mark

Crystal Mark

Manufacturer tools and third-party software can also be used to check if your SSD is configured and connected correctly depending on the interface and transfer mode.

Note: An independent study by Google, which lasted nine months and included all manufacturers and a total of 100,000 drives, came to the following conclusion: Considering all relevant parameters, 64 percent of all failures were predicted by SMART. can go.

The best SSDs

Switching to an SSD is the perfect upgrade to your computer: an SSD will speed up boot times, improve the responsiveness of your programs and games, and generally make your computer feel faster.

But which SSD is best for your system? We will tell you.

Further reading: The best SSDs

We also give you useful information on what to look for when buying an SSD.

This article was translated from German to English and originally published on pcwelt.de.