In Linux Mint and Ubuntu automatic TRIM is enabled by default, when you install them on an SSD. Note: Very old SSD's from before 2010 usually don't support TRIM. That's even true for new SSD's: although new SSD's nowadays usually have some form of garbage collection integrated into their firmware, it's always better to execute a regular TRIM as well. Otherwise it might become slow after some time. The cleaning action TRIM is recommended for the good performance of your SSD in the long run. Note: Don't select the BTRFS file system! Mainly because it's not as mature as EXT4 yet, but also because it might (under certain circumstances) cause more write actions than EXT4 does.Ħ. Plus journaling is a very important feature for system crash recovery, so you don't want to disable it. The journaling that comes with EXT4 causes some write activity, but not very much. So you don't have to choose anything different in this respect. The best file system (formatting) for an SSD, is the usual default EXT4. Note: These directions are only meant for a Solid State Drive (SSD), not for an old-fashioned conventional spinning hard disk!ĥ. Which is considerably longer than the average lifespan of an old-fashioned spinning platter disk. When you apply my tips, a lifespan of more than 10 years should be a normal expectation for your SSD. Within reason, because a modern SSD is already pretty wear-resistant by default. Especially the oldest generations of SSD's were vulnerable in that aspect, but to a (much) lesser degree that's still the case for the newer SSD generations.īelow you'll find some tips on keeping wear down to a reasonable minimum, by limiting the write actions. A Solid State Drive is worn down by write actions. In the first year after purchase, repeat this check every month or so.Ĥ. If so, apply it.įor most SSD's it doesn't matter that you're running Linux, because many manufacturers offer such firmware updates by means of an iso file with which you can create a bootable DVD, much like you can do with an iso file of Linux Mint or Ubuntu. Check the website of the SSD manufacturer, whether there's an updated version available of the firmware for your SSD. Note: Doesn't the BIOS or UEFI of your computer offer the option to switch to AHCI? In relatively modern computers that's probably no problem: the BIOS/UEFI will then usually detect the SSD automatically, and automatically select the right BIOS settings for it.įirst of all, in the BIOS of my computer I go to the tab Advanced, and there I expand the section Integrated Peripherals (click on the image below to enlarge it):ģ. The motherboard of that older computer is, by the way, an MSI H61MA-E35 (B3). Hopefully it'll help you to find it in your own BIOS/UEFI. That's why I've made two screen shots of the BIOS of an older computer, in which you can see this particular feature. This feature may be hard to find in the BIOS/UEFI, because there's absolutely no standardization at all in menu structures for BIOS and UEFI (sigh.). But on old machines the default might be IDE. On modern computers AHCI is the default, so that's fine. A Solid State Disk, or rather Drive (SSD), is usually only recognized properly by the BIOS or UEFI, when in the BIOS/UEFI the feature AHCI has been activated for SATA (instead of IDE). The things that I warn against, are described after that.īIOS and UEFI: make sure it's set to AHCIĢ. Considerably longer than an old-fashioned spinning platter hard disk, anyway.īelow I'll start by mentioning the things I recommend to do. Taking into account the long warranty periods that the manufacturers are giving, a minimum of 10 years should be a reasonable expectation. With those, you'll be able to enjoy your SSD carefree, for years and years to come! It'll show you how to achieve a very good result by applying just a few rather simple measures. This how-to is meant to be a "best practice". First a word of caution: don't exaggerate! There's a lot of exaggeration to be found on the web on this issue you see people who take all kinds of extreme and complicated precautions. Enjoy your SSD carefree for years and years Dual boot or Virtual Machine? Don't let Windows kill your SSD Limiting the disk write actions of Chrome Putting the Firefox network cache into the RAM Limiting the disk write actions of Firefox BIOS and UEFI: make sure it's set to AHCI
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