SSD Life Pro user?

Philtor · 18 Feb 2011 at 18:05

Hi Guys I have been using the free version of this since I got my SSD and it's a great little app but just wondered is the Pro version worth the money? Im not sure why the OCZ Toolbox doesn't have this functionality as standard (perhaps it should?) but thought I would ask before I spend my monies.

Thanks

Zarf · 18 Feb 2011 at 21:44

I think it's not that accurate, mainly due to the smart data not being that accurate. On my OCZ Indilinx SSD It was estimating to run out of write cycles three months ago, but after a firmware update and secure erase it was back to 99% life remaining. It's still working fine.

Philtor · 18 Feb 2011 at 22:00

Hmm. I don't think any bit of software can estimate 'life remaining' on SSD's as it's based on a day to day average which will change anyway. So you reckon just stick with the free version Zarf? I still keep wondering why OCZ don't have this sort of functionality with their Toolbox? Mind they have yet to produce a proper firmware update utility either. I shouldn't have to pay money to query the SMART status of my SSD. Mind despite running in IDE mode I have never seen any OS boot so fast. Everything is sooo much faster.

Philtor · 18 Feb 2011 at 22:01

Hmm. I don't think any bit of software can estimate 'life remaining' on SSD's as it's based on a day to day average which will change anyway. So you reckon just stick with the free version Zarf? I still keep wondering why OCZ don't have this sort of functionality with their Toolbox? Mind they have yet to produce a proper firmware update utility.

Fourstar · 18 Feb 2011 at 22:16

I was reading on anandtech that OCZ do have an undocumented and secret interface which gives all the important drive life information.

* Lifetime writes to drive
* Lifetime physical writes
(the ratio gives you write amplification)
* program/erase cycles used

Wish the utility would sneak into the wild!

Details on the second half of this page.

Philtor · 18 Feb 2011 at 22:48

Fourstar said:
I was reading on anandtech that OCZ do have an undocumented and secret interface which gives all the important drive life information.

* Lifetime writes to drive
* Lifetime physical writes
(the ratio gives you write amplification)
* program/erase cycles used

Wish the utility would sneak into the wild!

Details on the second half of this page.

Good find Fourstar

OCZ really should have something as good as or better than SSD Life. Their Toolbox is very basic at best but OCZ don't realise this. No point having the latest Sandforce firmware if you can't create a proper utility to flash the firmware or even query the SMART status.