If your computer has been feeling sluggish lately or you’ve had it for several years, your solid-state drive (SSD) could be wearing out. But don’t worry—you don’t need to be a tech wizard to find out how much life your SSD has left.
At DarkHorse IT, we believe in proactive tech care for both residential and business users. Here’s a simple way to check your SSD’s health using a free tool called CrystalDiskInfo.
Why It Matters
SSDs are fast and reliable, but they’re not immortal. Unlike old-school hard drives, SSDs wear down based on how much data you write to them over time. Think of it like a notebook: the more you write, the more pages you use up.
Checking your SSD’s health helps you:
- Avoid unexpected data loss
- Know when it’s time to upgrade
- Keep your system running smoothly
Step-by-Step: Check Your SSD Health with CrystalDiskInfo
- Download the Tool
- Head over to the CrystalDiskInfo Download Page
- Choose the “Standard Edition” (either EXE or ZIP format)
- Install and Launch
- Run the installer or open the portable version
- The program will instantly scan your drives and show you a health overview
- Understand the Key Numbers
- Health Status: Good (blue), Caution (yellow), or Bad (red)
- Power-on Hours: Total time the drive has been used
- Total Host Writes: Amount of data written to the drive (this is key!)
- Compare to Manufacturer Ratings
- Every SSD has a rated lifespan, usually listed as TBW (Terabytes Written)
Example Lifespans:
- Samsung 870 EVO 1TB: 600 TBW
- WD Blue 500GB: 200 TBW
- Crucial MX500 1TB: 360 TBW
If you’ve written 100TB to a 600 TBW drive, you’ve only used ~16% of its life.
When to Worry
- If your drive status shows “Caution” or “Bad”, it’s time to act.
- If your TBW is high and you’ve racked up many power-on hours, consider replacing the drive soon.
Bonus Tip: Back up your data regularly! SSDs can fail suddenly, and having a backup means you’re always covered.
Why This Is Useful
- For Home Users: Know when it’s time to upgrade before you lose photos or documents.
- For Businesses: Reduce downtime by planning replacements in advance.
- For Everyone: Peace of mind knowing your data is safe.
Need Help? That’s What We’re Here For!
Whether you’re a home user or a business, DarkHorse IT can help interpret your SSD health, replace aging hardware, and ensure your data is safe.
Give us a call, shoot us a message, or stop by—we’re your friendly local tech experts serving Moorhead and the Fargo-Moorhead area.
#PreventativeMaintenance #SSDTips #TechHealthCheck #DarkHorseIT #MoorheadTech #FargoITSupport 📀🚀💻
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