All articles tagged with #ssd
PCWorld outlines six Windows 11 tweaks to extend SSD lifespan by reducing write operations, including enabling TRIM, disabling hibernation and paging file, enabling write caching, maintaining at least 20% free space, and updating SSD firmware.
A Target employee posted on Reddit live screenshots showing dramatic, in-store price hikes for memory and storage products, including a SanDisk 2TB external SSD jumping from $200 to $520 and a WD 1TB Xbox SSD expansion card rising from $150 to $390; the trend is tied to AI hyperscalers bulking up datacenters, with broader price increases for RAM, GPUs, and prebuilt PCs and potential ripple effects for consoles, as seen online at Target.
OWC has launched the world's first 8TB Thunderbolt 5 portable SSD, the Envoy Ultra, offering high-speed performance over 6000 MB/s, rugged design, and bus-powered convenience, targeting creative professionals needing large capacity and portability.
Enabling the native NVMe driver in Windows 11, which is currently only available in Windows Server 2025, can significantly improve random read/write speeds of NVMe SSDs, with gains up to 85%, though the process involves risks and bugs. Microsoft is encouraged to release this driver for mainstream Windows versions to unlock full SSD performance.
Micron is shutting down its Crucial brand, which produces budget-friendly SSDs and RAM, to focus on supplying larger AI companies, leading to potential shortages and increased prices for consumer memory products.
SanDisk has launched its smallest 1TB SSD, the Extreme Fit, a tiny 'plug-and-stay' USB-C drive weighing just 3 grams and measuring 18.5 x 13.7 x 16 mm, offering up to 400 MB/s transfer speeds. Despite its impressive miniaturization, it has slower speeds compared to larger portable SSDs and is primarily suitable for file transfer rather than intensive tasks. The drive is available starting at $14.99 for 64GB and $109.99 for 1TB.
Samsung has quietly discontinued its 990 EVO Plus SSDs, which are now available at record low prices on Amazon, making high-performance storage more affordable for users needing faster boot times and larger capacity options, with models ranging from 1TB to 4TB at significantly reduced prices.
During October Prime Day, there are significant discounts on various SSDs, including internal, portable, and microSD cards from brands like Samsung, Crucial, SanDisk, and Kingston, offering high-speed storage solutions at reduced prices for both gaming and professional use.
October Prime Day offers significant discounts on a variety of SSDs from brands like Samsung, Crucial, and Seagate, making it an ideal time to upgrade your PC or console with faster storage options, from portable drives to high-performance internal SSDs.
Amazon is offering a heavily discounted Dell Inspiron 16 with high-end specs (Intel Core 7, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD) at $1,195, down from $4,599, making it an exceptional value for a powerful, reliable laptop with advanced features and connectivity options.
Raspberry Pi has released the Raspberry Pi 500 Plus, an upgraded keyboard computer featuring a Raspberry Pi 5, M.2 SSD slot, 16GB RAM, Gateron KS-33 Blue mechanical switches, customizable RGB lighting, and various connectivity options, available for $200.
Samsung's 2TB 990 Evo Plus PCIe Gen 5 SSD is on sale for $99.99 at B&H Photo, offering high-speed storage compatible with PCIe Gen 4 and 5 systems, ideal for PC and PS5 users looking to upgrade their storage at a limited-time price.
The issue of disappearing SSDs in Windows 11 after the August 2025 update is caused by preliminary firmware versions on certain SSDs, not the update itself. Updating the SSD firmware can resolve the problem, and users should back up data before doing so.
Phison confirmed that the SSD failures and corruption issues linked to Windows 11 updates were caused by the use of engineering preview firmware in testing, not the final consumer firmware, and that the failures do not occur with retail versions of the drives.
The recent Windows 11 24H2 update caused SSD problems, but the root cause appears to be pre-release engineering firmware used in some SSDs, not the final production firmware. Users with retail SSDs should be unaffected, but updating firmware and backing up data is recommended for those experiencing issues.