Do SSDs need to be backed-up, secure-erased, and restored, in order to defrag them?

[VirtualLarry]

I mean, regularly. Just wondering.

A friend of mine has an OCZ Agility 30GB (Barefoot 1 controller), with newest standard firmware (something.7, maybe 1.7). It was given to him in new condition.

It has been used in a Win7 system, for nearly three years at this point. 78% life left according to SSDLife. CDM shows nothing anomalous for benchmarks.

However, he is getting "pauses" on his system.

He also has a 7200.7 Seagate HDD connected, which is positively ancient at this point. It was purchased some years back, from a forum member here, and it was fairly used at that point.

The old HDD doesn't really get used, it just kind of sits there.

Initially, I thought the slowdown in his system was due to him watching 1080P Twitch.tv streams, so I got him a video card (GT610).

But that didn't help.

So my next step is to disconnect the old HDD, in case it's failing.

My next step after that, is to secure-erase the SSD and re-install, or replace the SSD.

The theory being, that the SSD is so internally fragmented (he only keeps like 2-3GB free at a time), that it has to pause to do GC when in use.

 

[tweakboy]

Dude DEFRAG is disabled if you have a SSD. capish! . No need to ever defrag also microsoft has disabled. gl

 

[Hellhammer]

In the case of older and not so good drives (like the original Agility), your theory is correct.

 

[Charlie98]

The theory being, that the SSD is so internally fragmented (he only keeps like 2-3GB free at a time), that it has to pause to do GC when in use.

I had my 60GB Agility3 about 90% full before I replaced it and it was acting like that, too.

It's in my HTPC now with about 50% free space and it's original snappiness has returned.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Even with modern SSDs, it can't hurt to do a secure erase and restore every once in awhile (other than gobbling up some writes).
I usually do it once a year for my OS SSDs (everything from Agility 3s to 840 Pros).

 

[GlacierFreeze]

Yeah, good idea to have at least 20% or so free space.

 

[Virgorising]

I mean, regularly. Just wondering.

A friend of mine has an OCZ Agility 30GB (Barefoot 1 controller), with newest standard firmware (something.7, maybe 1.7). It was given to him in new condition.

It has been used in a Win7 system, for nearly three years at this point. 78% life left according to SSDLife. CDM shows nothing anomalous for benchmarks.

However, he is getting "pauses" on his system.

He also has a 7200.7 Seagate HDD connected, which is positively ancient at this point. It was purchased some years back, from a forum member here, and it was fairly used at that point.

The old HDD doesn't really get used, it just kind of sits there.

Initially, I thought the slowdown in his system was due to him watching 1080P Twitch.tv streams, so I got him a video card (GT610).

But that didn't help.

So my next step is to disconnect the old HDD, in case it's failing.

My next step after that, is to secure-erase the SSD and re-install, or replace the SSD.

The theory being, that the SSD is so internally fragmented (he only keeps like 2-3GB free at a time), that it has to pause to do GC when in use.

I LOVE THESE QUESTIONS....and, have been wondering the same things! Yr theory has always felt accurate to me. Even tho my drive is less than 50% occupied.
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Edit!

Was just looking n the crucial site for secure erase suggestions, given Crucials do not have the utilities other Mfgs offer....and, they suggest we use Windows and just delete all the partitions, no 3rd party apps.

BUT>...THEY ALSO ADD something I could never have KNOWN:

Once you've followed these steps, you will need to let the drive sit idle for an extended period, ideally at least overnight. This will allow an in-built function called Garbage Collection to clean all the cells and effectively prepare the drive for re-use. Avoiding this step could result in poor performance when re-using the SSD.
​

 

[tweakboy]

False, for me at least... gl