Repurposing OS SSD to storage

[red hook]

I want to repurpose an SSD that used to have my OS to use for static storage. While I will add to the storage from time-to-time, I will seldom erase or move files on the disk. I will access the disk by usb 3.0. OS is Windows 10.

1. Can I turn off over-provisioning (currently 10%)?

2. Do I need to run TRIM on it? If yes, does TRIM wok via usb or do I need to attach the disk via SATA from time-to-time?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Filippo_P]

I want to repurpose an SSD that used to have my OS to use for static storage. While I will add to the storage from time-to-time, I will seldom erase or move files on the disk. I will access the disk by usb 3.0. OS is Windows 10.

1. Can I turn off over-provisioning (currently 10%)?

2. Do I need to run TRIM on it? If yes, does TRIM wok via usb or do I need to attach the disk via SATA from time-to-time?

Thanks for your thoughts.

1. Some vendors "may" have software capable of turning off over-provisioning, but I doubt they would release it to the general audience. Still, I would never turn off over-provisioning, as it's very important for the health of every SSD.

2. TRIM is not fundamental for the correct functioning of an SSD, although by marking sectors as free whenever data is erased it helps better distributing wear levels, otherwise handled only by the built-in over-provisioning. In your case, it's probably useless. As far as I know, TRIM doesn't work with USB.

You may want to remember, however, that SSDs are not built to store data over time. They tend to lose data after a few months if they don't get connected to a power supply. While it's certainly a good idea to repurpose your "old" SSD, I'd rather use it on a spare PC or laptop: unless it's very small, the eventually lost storage will likely be more than compensated by the excess performance.

 

[red hook]

I want to repurpose an SSD that used to have my OS to use for static storage. While I will add to the storage from time-to-time, I will seldom erase or move files on the disk. I will access the disk by usb 3.0. OS is Windows 10.

1. Can I turn off over-provisioning (currently 10%)?

2. Do I need to run TRIM on it? If yes, does TRIM wok via usb or do I need to attach the disk via SATA from time-to-time?

Thanks for your thoughts.

1. Some vendors "may" have software capable of turning off over-provisioning, but I doubt they would release it to the general audience. Still, I would never turn off over-provisioning, as it's very important for the health of every SSD.

2. TRIM is not fundamental for the correct functioning of an SSD, although by marking sectors as free whenever data is erased it helps better distributing wear levels, otherwise handled only by the built-in over-provisioning. In your case, it's probably useless. As far as I know, TRIM doesn't work with USB.

You may want to remember, however, that SSDs are not built to store data over time. They tend to lose data after a few months if they don't get connected to a power supply. While it's certainly a good idea to repurpose your "old" SSD, I'd rather use it on a spare PC or laptop: unless it's very small, the eventually lost storage will likely be more than compensated by the excess performance.

thank you, F_P.

1. The disk is a Samsung 840 EVO. The over-provisioning I was wondering about turning off is the option in Magician to specify a percentage of the disk for over-provisioning. If that is set to 0%, am I correct that Samsung has built-in over-provisioning anyway? If that is correct, what I was wondering is can I set the Magician over-provisioning to 0% (and regain the ~45 GBs that are currently reserved for over-provisioning)?

2. The cable I use for usb 3.0 provides enough power to the disk that no additional enclosure type power is necessary. Do you think that is enough power (assume I access the disk every 2 weeks) to prevent the data loss to which you referred?

 

[Filippo_P]

1. The disk is a Samsung 840 EVO. The over-provisioning I was wondering about turning off is the option in Magician to specify a percentage of the disk for over-provisioning. If that is set to 0%, am I correct that Samsung has built-in over-provisioning anyway? If that is correct, what I was wondering is can I set the Magician over-provisioning to 0% (and regain the ~45 GBs that are currently reserved for over-provisioning)?

2. The cable I use for usb 3.0 provides enough power to the disk that no additional enclosure type power is necessary. Do you think that is enough power (assume I access the disk every 2 weeks) to prevent the data loss to which you referred?

1. There used to be two distinct levels of over-provisioning. One handled by the firmware and maybe controllable (like in your case), while the other much smaller one being built into the memory chips and meant to cater for production defects and chip performance. I don't know how is the situation now (I'd say worse), but the eventual second layer of over-provisioning is not to be relied upon. I don't know if Samsung provides even more of it. My recommendation is to leave it alone or, if you are really sure of your use-case scenario, lower it to no less than 5%. In my experience 7% is the minimum wise amount for regular consumer use with 14% being the target for professionals and 30% for enterprise.

2. If there's not enough power you'll just start experiencing random disconnections of the drive in best case scenarios and catastrophic failures leading to unusable drives in the worst case one, whereas if there's enough power... well, there's enough power and everything works. USB 2.0 used to serve up to 2.5W (5V by 500mA), whereas USB 3.0 increased this output to 4.5W (5V by 900mA). Whether this is sufficient or not depends on the individual SSD specifications, with the EVO 840 declared at an average of 0.1W and measured in some benchmarks up to 3.2W (meaning USB2.0 is not sufficient but USB 3.0 is).


http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/whitepaper/whitepaper05.html
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/ssd840evo/specifications.html

 

[red hook]

Thanks again F_P. Doing more digging, I came across this Samsung White Paper re OP and 840 EVO: http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/whitepaper/whitepaper05.html


So the 840 EVO (but NOT the 840 PRO) has some OP built-in. As you mention, they suggest that additional OP via Magician may be useful depending on the use case scenario.

As to power, I have ordered this product: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=rosewill+rx204&N=-1&isNodeId=1.

This will provide an easy way to keep the SSD under power via the PC, but remove the SSD (without opening my case) to use via usb 3.0 if from time-to-time I want to access the storage on my laptop.

I appreciate your help, F_P.