Question Read cycles of SSD

[13hm13]

First a "pre-question":

If I'm running Win 7 or Win 10 (or even a modern Linux distro), how often does the OS "automatically" write to the HD? For example, even when idling, I often see my PC's HD activity LED flash. What's the PC (OS) doing?

Main question:

I know that SSDs have rough max write cycle (no of times they can be written to), but how about just reading ?
I usually leave my PCs always powered on, and mostly use them for browsing and watching YT videos. To my SSD HD, I might write (add) a few new files per week. But I rarely erase (much less edit / re-write) these files.

 

[Barty1884]

It varies, but anything from setting changes through to OS updates will be written.

Strictly reading, I don't believe wears down an SSD - at least not to any noticeable degree . That's why metrics are quoted as TB/w (Terrabytes written) vs anything else

 

[seanwebster]

I usually write 15-30GB of data a day from my normal internet browsing and other PC activities. Most of the time an OS drive will have 10-20GB written to it a day from average use. You don't need to worry about read endurance...it's not really a thing to think about, just write.

 

[13hm13]

Thx for your replies.
Wow "normal " browsing and " OSing" really use THAT much HD? I thought the memory RAM would handle that stuff?

 

[alceryes]

Even if you are writing a lot, if this is a 'newish' SSD you will most likely want to replace it before it gets into failure territory.
In short, don't worry about it.

 

[Barty1884]

I can't substantiate Sean's statement there but, assuming it's true.... something like an 860EVO, 250GB has a TBW endurance rating of 150TBW.

So, at 10-20GB/day, 7.3TB annually. 150TB is ~20 years.
So, while at a glance it sounds like a lot, given what good SSDs are rated for, it's a negligible amount.

 

[seanwebster]

I can't substantiate Sean's statement there but, assuming it's true.... something like an 860EVO, 250GB has a TBW endurance rating of 150TBW.

So, at 10-20GB/day, 7.3TB annually. 150TB is ~20 years.
So, while at a glance it sounds like a lot, given what good SSDs are rated for, it's a negligible amount.

I've used this app multiple times to see what I write a day to my drives, if you're interested: https://www.ssdready.com/


Otherwise, you can usually just monitor your SMART data.