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Level 1

19 points

SSD "Maintenance" Question

Hi everyone,

This may seem like a really stupid question but I have to ask to be sure. Since the workings of SSD technology is new to me (hard drives, however, are old hat), I'm wondering if there's any point to getting one of those Apps like iBoost or the like to analyze my "hard drive" on my MacBook Pro (which has an SSD and not a HD). I imagine that there are a lot of Hard Drive "maintenance" utilities which are utterly useless with SSD technology for like bad sectors, analyzing a HD and the like?

Just thought I'd ask before running any of them. 🙂

Thanks for any info.

Nat.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7), Time Machine, External Drive

Posted on Mar 19, 2012 1:40 AM

Best reply

X423424X

Level 6

14,265 points

Posted on Mar 19, 2012 1:49 AM

I do not recommend doing anything to your SSD. You don't want utilities pushing stuff around needlessly doing writes to ununsed cells. Those utilities are mainly designed for HDD's not SSD's. About the only concession you might make to the SSD is to try to install as much ram as possible to minimize paging (writing to the backing store, virtual memory, swap space...pick your favorite term).

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19 replies

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Apr 17, 2012 7:57 AM in response to Nat Harari

One item not present in the link and that I believe is important to address with SSDs is TRIM support. According to what I've read, MacOS X automatically enables TRIM on SSDs that have Apple firmware, but not on the rest. How is that done manually?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIM

Nat Harari Author

Level 1

19 points

Apr 17, 2012 8:19 AM in response to Courcoul

I'm not really sure I know what TRIM is, but it sounds familiar. Maybe I enabled it, but I really don't remember.

Apr 17, 2012 9:14 AM in response to Nat Harari

How is that done manually?

I have do it manually with Trim Enabler on my Kingston SSDNow V200+ on a Caddy NewmodeUs. I have MBP mid 2010 (6,2).

Courcoul

Level 6

18,558 points

Apr 17, 2012 10:48 AM in response to Nat Harari

Rather than copy/pasting the excellent TRIM explanation afforded by the Wikipedia link I included, I will just say that if you spent your cash on an aftermarket SSD and did not ensure TRIM is active, the performance that made it so attractive at first will go steadily down the drain and after awhile will feel like the worst of the HDDs.

However, if you spent yet more and bought the thing from Apple, at least you will get a bonus for your money, since TRIM will be enabled by default on the Apple-branded SSD.

SSD "Maintenance" Question