Windows SSD optimization (defrag)

[Kyzer]

I understand that Windows uses a TRIM function to move randomly placed data into neater blocks on the SSD, which groups information together instead of having it on random memory chips across the drive. I was wondering if it does this with Windows Defrag/Optimize or if Windows Defrag/Optimize does it the HDD way. I'd like to assume that Windows can detect it's an SSD and won't do a wrong defrag, but I'm not sure. I like to run daily defrags since I'm downloading a game now and then.

[ARikozuM]

3 minutes ago, Kyzer said:

I understand that Windows uses a TRIM function to move randomly placed data into neater blocks on the SSD, which groups information together instead of having it on random memory chips across the drive. I was wondering if it does this with Windows Defrag/Optimize or if Windows Defrag/Optimize does it the HDD way. I'd like to assume that Windows can detect it's an SSD and won't do a wrong defrag, but I'm not sure. I like to run daily defrags since I'm downloading a game now and then.

Windows Defrag can detect HDD's and SSD's but uses only the "defragment" as the selected option although in reality the trim function is used.

[Kyzer]

1 minute ago, ARikozuM said:

Windows Defrag can detect HDD's and SSD's but uses only the "defragment" as the selected option although in reality the trim function is used.

So Windows won't do a 'dumb' defrag? Great.

[porina]

Not 100% sure but I think the optimise command sends a TRIM signal to the SSD for current free areas. It is up to the drive to sort out what goes where, and when. Windows doesn't and can't force that.

[ARikozuM]

Just now, porina said:

Not 100% sure but I think the optimise command sends a TRIM signal to the SSD for current free areas. It is up to the drive to sort out what goes where, and when. Windows doesn't and can't force that.

Correct. The SSD's controller will control where the data goes and where to retrieve it.

 

1 minute ago, Kyzer said:

So Windows won't do a 'dumb' defrag? Great.

Data for SSD's is usually evenly split between the modules so that as many parallel IOPS can be achieved.

[DrM]

2 minutes ago, Kyzer said:

So Windows won't do a 'dumb' defrag? Great.

it is great since normal defragging is pointless on an ssd since they can access all the blocks at once and the only thing that does is reduce endurance. as long as windows recognizes that a drive is an ssd, the optimize function runs trim. the way ssds work is that when you delete something, it only deletes the header that points to the file, but not the actual data. when you overwrite that block with new data, it has to wait and delete the old unneeded data first, slowing down the drive. trim just goes by and preemptively deletes all these blocks so that when you use them, the ssd stays fast

[Godlygamer23]

17 minutes ago, Kyzer said:

So Windows won't do a 'dumb' defrag? Great.

Windows is not moving data around when running the TRIM command by itself. The TRIM command only tells the SSD to erase any blocks marked as "free." TRIM is not a defragging function.

Edited October 20, 2016 by Godlygamer23

[Mira Yurizaki]

14 minutes ago, Kyzer said:

I understand that Windows uses a TRIM function to move randomly placed data into neater blocks on the SSD, which groups information together instead of having it on random memory chips across the drive. I was wondering if it does this with Windows Defrag/Optimize or if Windows Defrag/Optimize does it the HDD way. I'd like to assume that Windows can detect it's an SSD and won't do a wrong defrag, but I'm not sure. I like to run daily defrags since I'm downloading a game now and then.

Let me give a few pointers.

• TRIM is a housekeeping function for when stuff gets deleted. It doesn't "defrag" SSDs
• There's no point in moving random data logically closer together on an SSD because flash memory can give you data at any address without much of a penalty. Hard drives have to wait until the head gets to the location before data is picked up.
• Defragging involves erasing and rewriting data. This is something you do not want to do on an SSD because you'll be eating into your PE cycles like crazy.