SSD Life Expectancy
Why Super User recommends it
Super User users link it when asking whether to leave free or unallocated space on an SSD, since it explains over provisioning and wear levelling behind SSD lifespan.
Recommended by 0 people across 0 different months, 2017 to 2021.
What it is
A 9-minute explainer from the ExplainingComputers channel on how long SSDs last. It covers program/erase cycles across SLC, eMLC, MLC and TLC flash, wear levelling, over provisioning, and endurance ratings such as TBW, PBW and DWPD, using manufacturer data current to March 2017.
What people said
Cites gavenkoa · 2017-07 · Super User · on “Windows 10 disk layout for single SSD: do I need a separate data partition?”
I have new 250 GB SSD and want to install Windows 10 on it (after replacing previous died SSD). I wonder do I need a separate data partition ( d: for projects, video, music) from Windows partition ( c: )? Do separate data partition helps in case of troubles (like broken Windows installation)? Also note that SSD drives require at least 10% of free space for long life and having flat single partition looks healthy for SSD. UPDATE Why do you need free space for SSD long life explained: [this video]
Cites Dave C · 2017-09 · Super User · on “SSD: keep unallocated space?”
I've a new Acer Aspire ES1 15 Windows 10 laptop with 256GB SSD. I've heard [this video] that with SSD it's best to leave as much free space as possible, to extend drive working like. Need I keep an unallocated "partition" for this?
Cites Sam Wheel · 2021-06 · Super User · on “RAID1 default disk capacity is lesser than the disk sizes. Any ideas? Intel RRAID Storage Technology - RAIDfrom Bios”
To summarise, pardon my crude understanding, from what I read about this odd drive space left regarding SSD lifespan. I believe this is something called SSD OVER PROVISIONING [LINK] to allow for even wear levelling. This necessary allocated space is what manufacturers allocate to allow for a decent life expectancy on your SSD drive before it wears out. EVEN WEAR LEVELLING [LINK] is a drive process that moves around data around different areas your SSD evenly so you're not always read/writing to the same cell over and over again till it dies a lot sooner. To allow for this your drive actually needs more free space to move data around. So the less space you have the more likely the same cells