New SSD - How full is full?

matman666 · 11 Dec 2012 at 12:10

So I've just bought a new rig and I am eagerly awaiting OcUK to deliver!. It has a SSD (Samsung 120GB SSD 840 SATA 6Gb/s Basic) as well as a 1TB HDD.

I've never had a SSD before and was wondering how much I should allow myself to store on it before it will start to slow down?

I was gonna keep the HDD for movies etc and just run the OS and games from the SDD.

I only went for the 120gb due to cost, but I'm a bit worried now that it wont be enough for my Steam folder/games that I was planning on running off it.

Thanks for any advice!

wazza300 · 11 Dec 2012 at 12:24

10gb free should be fine,ssd's have reserved/hidden space to maintain the drive anyway so full shouldnt affect things too much

matman666 · 11 Dec 2012 at 14:31

Thanks Wazza (I didn't know they had a hidden reserve either). Appreciate it bud.

Luffy · 11 Dec 2012 at 18:21

I've run with less than 1Gb free in Windows 7 without realising it on my Intel 160Gb SSD.
Just happened to notice one day while browsing for a file.

Dave

mranderson · 11 Dec 2012 at 18:28

Up to 80% full. Any more than that and you will be shortening it's life time.

snips86x · 11 Dec 2012 at 19:06

mranderson said:
Up to 80% full. Any more than that and you will be shortening it's life time.

I've read that it's over 50% can reduce the life span!

Does it depend on the drive, SLC/MLC?

unleashed · 12 Dec 2012 at 14:57

Have a look at over provisioning in Sammy Magician app.

EasterEEL · 12 Dec 2012 at 20:14

This article is a must read for you given the question:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6489/playing-with-op

OpenToSuggestions · 12 Dec 2012 at 20:16

wazza300 said:
10gb free should be fine,ssd's have reserved/hidden space to maintain the drive anyway so full shouldnt affect things too much

I agree that 10GB free would be fine.
Make sure you don't dip below 5GB though. I have no evidence that this would be an issue but it is just what I feel is about right.