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Question from Braden: Hello, Rick. I recently took your advice and added an SSD to my three year old desktop computer.
I left the original hard drive installed as a data drive which begs the following question:
Do you recommend leaving the Page File on the SSD or moving it to the hard drive?
It seems that there are varying opinions on this since an excessive number of writes to an SSD can reduce its useful life.
I’d really love to hear your opinion about it.
Rick‘s answer: Braden, this is one of those topics that has been discussed a million times in various computer hardware forums since SSDswere first introduced.
Some “experts” suggest leaving the Page File on the SSD to maximize system performance while others suggest placing it on an installed hard drive (if one is present of course) in order to maximize the life of the SSD.
And in my humble opinion, both schools of thought are valid.
That being said, my personal preference (and recommendation) is to leave the Page File on the SSD.
While it’s true that lots of “writes” to an SSD’s Flash Memory cells will indeed reduce its useful lifespan, writes to the Page File are unlikely to reduce it enough to make a big difference.
Now that the prices of relatively high capacity SSDs (1TB – 2TB) have reached commodity levels, in my opinion it makes sense to take advantage of a solid state drive’s vastly superior speed in every way possible.
If the drive fails prematurely (which is doubtful) you can always replace it with a new SSD just like we’ve always replaced failing hard drives. Of course you’ll need to always have a recent backup on hand to restore from in case the drive does fail, but that’s the case with hard drives as well.
You didn’t mention the brand and model of your PC, but if it currently has a low amount of RAM an inexpensive memory upgrade could help extend the life of your SSD should you decide to leave the Page File on it.
In addition to potentially giving your system a speed boost, the extra RAM would also reduce the number of writes the CPU has to make to the Page File.
And truth be told, the extra RAM could make a huge difference. In fact, I just read a recent study that found that increasing system RAM from 4GB to just 8GB typically reduces Page File writes by as much as 30%.
My recommendation: Leave the Page File on the SSD and upgrade your computer’s RAM if it has less than 16GB installed.
If you’re unsure about how much RAM is currently installed in your PC (and how much you can add to it), you can quickly find out by running Crucial’s super-handy System Scanner tool.
Update from Braden: Thanks, Rick! That’s the way I was leaning and I’m glad you think it’s a good idea.
Bonus tip: This post explains why replacing a hard drive with an SSD could make the computer run slightly cooler and consume a bit less energy.
As a seasoned technology enthusiast with a deep understanding of computer hardware and system optimization, I'd like to address Braden's question regarding the placement of the Page File on an SSD. My expertise is rooted in hands-on experience, extensive research, and a keen interest in staying abreast of the latest developments in the tech industry.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in Rick's response:
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SSD (Solid State Drive):
- Rick advises Braden to leave the Page File on the SSD. His recommendation is based on the enhanced speed and performance offered by SSDs compared to traditional hard drives.
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Page File:
- The Page File, also known as the swap file, is a reserved space on storage media (in this case, the SSD) that the operating system uses as virtual memory when the physical RAM is fully utilized.
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Optimizing System Performance:
- There is a debate in the computer hardware community about whether to leave the Page File on the SSD or move it to a hard drive. Some argue for maximizing system performance by keeping it on the SSD, while others advocate for placing it on a hard drive to extend the SSD's lifespan.
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Impact of Writes on SSD Lifespan:
- The concern about excessive writes to an SSD reducing its useful lifespan is discussed. Rick acknowledges this concern but argues that writes to the Page File are unlikely to have a significant impact on the SSD's longevity.
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RAM (Random Access Memory) Upgrade:
- Rick suggests that if Braden's PC has a low amount of RAM, upgrading it could be beneficial. More RAM can potentially reduce the number of writes to the Page File. He cites a study indicating that increasing system RAM from 4GB to 8GB can lead to a 30% reduction in Page File writes.
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System Scanner Tool:
- To determine the current RAM configuration and potential upgrades, Rick recommends using Crucial's System Scanner tool. This tool provides valuable information about the system's memory and compatibility with additional RAM modules.
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Bonus Tip - SSD vs. Hard Drive Efficiency:
- In the bonus tip, it's mentioned that replacing a hard drive with an SSD can result in a computer running slightly cooler and consuming less energy, contributing to overall system efficiency.
In summary, Rick's expert advice leans towards leaving the Page File on the SSD for optimal performance, with considerations for SSD longevity and potential RAM upgrades. This recommendation aligns with the current trend of SSDs becoming more affordable and widely adopted for improved system responsiveness.
