Optimizing/trimming SSDs frequently

Haydon · Mar 13, 2023

MS/OS default is weekly optimizing/trimming of SSDs. A comment in a parallel thread makes me think of how about doing it more frequently.

Is there a downside of optimizing/trimming SSDs, say on a daily basis? (apart from perhaps wasted efforts)

pietcorus2 · Mar 13, 2023

Monthly manual.............

Ghot · Mar 13, 2023

pietcorus2 said:
Monthly manual.............

Same.

Anyway, I heard that if you trim it too much, it just grows back thicker.

cereberus · Mar 13, 2023

Over trimming is not necessary.

Probably does no harm to do it more frequently though. No real evidence to support it either way.

However, you really are not going to see an real performance increase or impa

Once a week is fine. Just let Windows look after it automatically and forget about it.

johnlgalt · Mar 13, 2023

Agreed with both sentiments above. Let Windows do it weekly, and check it manually monthly.

FreeBooter · Mar 13, 2023

Tell you the true i forget the trim SSD you can do it anytime you want it won't cause any harm.

johnlgalt · Mar 13, 2023

OP was asking for frequency, not just ad hoc

Fabler2 · Mar 13, 2023

I let Widows do it weekly. One thing I'm forgetful of is trimming external SSDs (I keep saving and deleting Macrium images on) manually.

johnlgalt · Mar 13, 2023

Interesting. My 3 internal NVMe drives and 3 externally-connected NVMe drives are all being trimmed at the same time. Do you frequently disconnect that drive?

Fabler2 · Mar 13, 2023

johnlgalt said:
Interesting. My 3 internal NVMe drives and 3 externally-connected NVMe drives are all being trimmed at the same time. Do you frequently disconnect that drive?

I always disconnect my backup drives. Removing the risk of ransomware.

neves · Mar 13, 2023

There's no general rule (one fits all - type pf thing).

If you're a heavy storage user - as in - content creator/editor, someone who moves/copies/saves a lot of data - even a heavy YouTube user (especially if you watch content in 2K or 4K - tho, even Full HD - can take some toll if you're spending many hours on YT on daily basis) - i'd recommend using the Trim feature at least once a week.

If a casual storage user - and even a hardcore gamer can fit this profile (except for that time of the month - when you buy/install a new game), then once a month should suffice.

pparks1 · Mar 13, 2023

This thread made me realize that I cannot even remember the last time I did a trim on an SSD. I just checked and my machine shows all of my drives last trimmed 22 days ago. Looks like i'm set to analyze weekly and optimize as needed. That works for me.

TraderGary · Mar 13, 2023

pparks1 said:
This thread made me realize that I cannot even remember the last time I did a trim on an SSD. I just checked and my machine shows all of my drives last trimmed 22 days ago. Looks like i'm set to analyze weekly and optimize as needed. That works for me.

I've never paid any attention to trim either. Letting Windows analyze and optimize as needed works for me too.

johnlgalt · Mar 13, 2023

Windows is set to do it every week on my machine, and all 6 drives were last trimmed 6 days ago lol. I'm rather positive I did not manually change that myself, so I *think* that would be a default setting, and it's worked perfectly fine thus far, so I'm not too worried with it being set to once a week.

hsehestedt · Mar 13, 2023

Remember, if you are ever in doubt, you can always kick off a manual optimization. Even if you do this 10,000 times it will not increase wear on the SSD one iota.

Haydon · Mar 13, 2023

neves said:
There's no general rule (one fits all - type pf thing).

If you're a heavy storage user - as in - content creator/editor, someone who moves/copies/saves a lot of data - even a heavy YouTube user (especially if you watch content in 2K or 4K - tho, even Full HD - can take some toll if you're spending many hours on YT on daily basis) - i'd recommend using the Trim feature at least once a week.

If a casual storage user - and even a hardcore gamer can fit this profile (except for that time of the month - when you buy/install a new game), then once a month should suffice.

It's the TBW that matters (the most) doesn't it? So, avid backuppers to SSDs should also be on the list that should pay attention to the optimal functioning of their SSDs.

I wonder what else can be done to ensure optimal functioning of SSDs. Overprovisioning (a double capacity SSD is only half loaded) reducing clutter, but not defragging, ...

neves · Mar 13, 2023

Haydon said:
It's the TBW that matters (the most) doesn't it? So, avid backuppers to SSDs should also be on the list that should pay attention to the optimal functioning of their SSDs.

I wonder what else can be done to ensure optimal functioning of SSDs. Overprovisioning (a double capacity SSD is only half loaded) reducing clutter, but not defragging, ...

For a longer life-spam - i use an external HDD for heavier storage usage (personal photos/videos storage and apps i rarely use). The browser, occasional updates to the OS & some of the games i play - are the only culprits left on the SSD. Tho, sure - maybe that's just an old-school way of looking at it (not really that fond of consumerism & wasting resources just because it's affordable to do so).

cereberus · Mar 13, 2023

Fabler2 said:
I let Widows do it weekly. One thing I'm forgetful of is trimming external SSDs (I keep saving and deleting Macrium images on) manually.

View attachment 55143

Trimming external drives is not that critical unless you are writing lots of file on a continual basis,

Once a month manually for external drives is easily adequate.

barreleye · Mar 13, 2023

Haydon said:
MS/OS default is weekly optimizing/trimming of SSDs. A comment in a parallel thread makes me think of how about doing it more frequently.

My understanding is that the trimming Windows Defrag does is largely redundant, because Windows issues TRIM commands as you delete files, and the drives act upon them rather promptly.

Haydon · Mar 13, 2023

barreleye said:
My understanding is that the trimming Windows Defrag does is largely redundant, because Windows issues TRIM commands as you delete files, and the drives act upon them rather promptly.

Yeah, whenever I do a manual trim, it took only a second or two.