SOLVED: Use of SSD with regular reimaging of Windows System Drive/Partition

[Herkulese]

I would like to switch my boot (WIndows System) drive to an SSD, but the way that I use me PC and Laptop may be a problem regarding SSD life span issues. I have a rather unorthodox method of keeping my Windows system clean. This method is made possiblw by the existance of Huge, inexpensive storage devices, and it works as detailed below:
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QUESTION: Would all of this rewriting of the system image back to the Windows System drive/partition cause early failure of an SSD?
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NOTE - 1)I use EasUSToDo Image/Clone/Backup software to image my Windows drive each time I add new software, and have used it as follows:
NOTE – 2) All data is stored on separate drive or partition (Separate Drive on my Tower / Separate Partition on my Laptop) this way nothing is lost in the reimage process.
NOTE – 3) All images are stored on data partition in the short term, and ultimately moved to a 1TBT external USB drive for long term storage. I keep only the last two to five images on the actual machine.
NOTE – 4) Images created approximately on a monthly bases, give or take.

1) Format hard drive.

2) Perform basic Windows 7 installation (No configuration done at this time)
.....a. Create image of Windows System partition
.....b. Write this new partition image back to the drive/partition to insure a good image.

3) Complete any required Windows configuration.
.....a. Create image of Windows System partition
.....b. Write this new partition image back to the drive/partition to insure a good image.

4) Install first application, and insure good clean, uncluttered install.
.....a. Create image of Windows System partition
.....b. Write this new partition image back to the drive/prtition to insure a good image.

5) Install next application, and insure good clean, uncluttered install.
.....a. Create image of Windows System partition
.....b. Write this new partition image back to the drive/partition to insure a good image.

6) Continue this process until all applications have been installed.

7) Anytime a new application needs to be installed, or any time there are a bunch of windows updates to install:
.....a. Write latest image back to the Windows System partition to insure a clean, unused system.
.....b. Install new application, or batch of Windows updates.
.....c. Create image of Windows System partition
.....d. Write this new partition image back to the drive/partition to insure a good image.

8) Any time the system gets corrupted by a virus, or anything else, clean it right up as follows:
.....a. Write latest image back to the Windows System partition to insure a clean, unused system.
.....b. Proceed with life, using nice fresh, clean, Windows system.

You get the idea. This insures that my system is always a clean system, with no usage corruption contained in the latest image. I can then go back to that latest image any time I need to, or choose to.

Thanks

 

[Elixer]

Unless you are writing tons of data, then don't worry about it.
Of course, everything fails, so, you always need backups.
Endurance testing has SSDs still working with writing 100GB/day and still going on.
http://techreport.com/review/25889/the-ssd-endurance-experiment-500tb-update

 

[Cerb]

Assuming 2x WA, on a 840 Evo, with its TLC (1k p/e), each restoration of an image will use about 0.2% of the SSD's rated life. You could do it 500 times before reaching that point. On a typical new MLC drive (3k p/e), it would be more like 0.07% of its life. In reality, that's really pessimistic for large transfers, and it will instead be closer to 0.1% and 0.04%

So, you'd need to restore images hundreds of times to make it a concern. If you make them monthly, you're probably looking at 20-40 years, for an 840 Evo, including regular use of the drive, on top of the imaging.

 

[Herkulese]

Unless you are writing tons of data, then don't worry about it.
Of course, everything fails, so, you always need backups.
Endurance testing has SSDs still working with writing 100GB/day and still going on.
http://techreport.com/review/25889/the-ssd-endurance-experiment-500tb-update

That was a great report on SSD life spans. Is seems that this issue is more or less a non-issue for regular HD usage, and that is indeed encouraging.

 

[Herkulese]

Assuming 2x WA, on a 840 Evo, with its TLC (1k p/e), each restoration of an image will use about 0.2% of the SSD's rated life. You could do it 500 times before reaching that point. On a typical new MLC drive (3k p/e), it would be more like 0.07% of its life. In reality, that's really pessimistic for large transfers, and it will instead be closer to 0.1% and 0.04%

So, you'd need to restore images hundreds of times to make it a concern. If you make them monthly, you're probably looking at 20-40 years, for an 840 Evo, including regular use of the drive, on top of the imaging.

I believe that 20-40 years will get me where I want to be LOL.
Thanks for this information. I think I can move forward with confidence.
Now, to go thru the sticky, and figure out which drive to buy......
Decisions, Decisions................