SSDs are now favored by gaming PC users for their speed, durability, and low power use. But do you know about overprovisioning? In this article, we’ll explore how it works and its importance for gaming PC SSD performance and longevity.
1. Understanding Overprovisioning in SSDs for Gaming PC
1.1 What is Overprovisioning?
In gaming PC or laptop, overprovisioning allocates additional SSD space, enabling the firmware to employ SLC mode for writes in that region. Consequently, write amplification is reduced, leading to enhanced endurance and performance. Indeed, overprovisioning is a crucial aspect for optimizing SSD performance and longevity in gaming PC.
1.2 Types of Cells Used in SSDs
SSDs for gaming PC use different types of cells to make up their capacity, including:
| SLC (Single-Level Cell) | SLC NAND stores one bit of data per memory cell. It offers the highest endurance, fastest read and write speeds, and the longest lifespan among NAND flash types. However, it also has the highest cost per gigabyte due to its lower storage density. |
| MLC (Multi-Level Cell) | MLC NAND stores two bits of data per memory cell, resulting in twice the storage density of SLC. While it offers more affordable storage and increased capacities, MLC has lower endurance, slower read and write speeds, and a shorter lifespan compared to SLC. MLC is commonly used in consumer SSDs and some enterprise applications. |
| TLC (Triple-Level Cell) | TLC NAND stores three bits of data per memory cell, further increasing storage density and reducing cost per gigabyte. However, TLC comes with trade-offs in endurance, read and write speeds, and lifespan compared to MLC and SLC. TLC-based SSDs are widely used in consumer devices due to their cost efficiency and satisfactory performance for everyday tasks. |
| QLC (Quad-Level Cell) | QLC NAND stores four bits of data per memory cell, providing the highest storage density and lowest cost per gigabyte among the four types. The trade-offs include lower endurance, slower write speeds, and reduced lifespan compared to TLC, MLC, and SLC. QLC-based SSDs are suitable for read-intensive applications and large-capacity storage in consumer devices. |
Typical cell types utilized in SSDs for gaming PCs:
For gaming PC, the most commonly used NAND flash memory type is TLC (Triple-Level Cell). TLC-based SSDs strike a good balance between performance, storage capacity, and cost, making them suitable for most gaming applications. While TLC SSDs may not be as fast or durable as SLC or MLC SSDs, they typically offer sufficient read and write speeds for gaming purposes.
However, if you are building a high-end custom gaming PC and demand the best performance, you may consider opting for an MLC-based SSD, which offers slightly better endurance and faster write speeds compared to TLC. Keep in mind, though, that MLC SSDs are generally more expensive than TLC SSDs.
1.3 How Overprovisioning Works for Gaming PC
Overprovisioning works by setting aside additional space on the drive for the drive’s firmware to use SLC mode for writes to this area. By reducing write amplification, you can enhance the drive’s endurance and performance. This is especially important for gaming PCs, as they frequently write to and read from the drive, making endurance a crucial factor in maintaining long-term reliability.
1.4 How Overprovisioning Helps with QLC Technology for Gaming PC
Overprovisioning helps to mitigate the issues with QLC technology by reducing the frequency of writes to the multi-bit area, which has a higher likelihood of causing errors and reducing the overall lifespan of the SSD. Overall, compelling the drive to function in SLC mode diminishes write amplification, consequently boosting the drive’s endurance and performance. Particularly in gaming PCs, where drives experience continuous writing and reading, this heightened endurance plays a crucial role in ensuring sustained reliability.
2. Setting up Overprovisioning in SSDs for your Gaming PC
Establishing overprovisioning on an SSD for a gaming PC is vital for enhancing the drive’s performance and endurance. Hence, we’ll first address the default overprovisioning settings in SSDs for gaming PCs. Then, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step guidance on setting up extra overprovisioning space using Samsung Magician software or creating unallocated space through drive partitioning. Finally, we’ll clarify how contemporary SSDs can automatically identify unallocated space as an overprovisioning area.
2.1 Default Overprovisioning Settings in SSDs for Gaming PC
SSDs for gaming PCs usually have default overprovisioning settings with around 7% to 9% extra capacity, which is non-readable to the user and provisioned within the hardware. This extra space compensates for cell failures from the factory and contributes to endurance ratings. However, for optimal gaming performance and endurance, it’s advisable to allocate more overprovisioning space.
2.2 How to Set Up Additional Overprovisioning Space for Gaming PC
Image credit: SMART Modular Technologies
To set up additional overprovisioning space for your SSD, there are two main methods: using Samsung Magician software or creating unallocated space in the drive partitioning.
Using Samsung Magician Software:
- Download and install Samsung Magician software from the Samsung website.
- Open the software and select the drive you want to set up the overprovisioning on.
- Click on the “Over Provisioning” tab.
- Move the slider to the desired percentage of overprovisioning space.
- Click “Apply” to save the changes.
Use Disk Management
- Open “Disk Management” in Windows.
- Select the drive you want to set up the overprovisioning on.
- Right-click on the partition you want to resize and select “Shrink Volume.”
- Enter the amount of space you want to shrink the partition by. The amount should be at least 10% of the drive’s capacity.
- Click “Shrink” to create the unallocated space.
- Right-click on the unallocated space and select “New Simple Volume.”
- Follow the prompts to create a new partition.
- Finally, the new partition will be recognized as overprovisioning space by the SSD.
2.3 How Modern SSDs Can Automatically Recognize Unallocated Space as Overprovisioning Area
Modern SSDs for gaming PC are designed to automatically recognize unallocated space as overprovisioning area. This means that if you create unallocated space in the drive partitioning, the SSD firmware will recognize it as overprovisioning space and use it accordingly. This makes it easy for gamers to set up overprovisioning on their SSDs without having to use any specialized software. However, it’s important to ensure that the unallocated space is at least 10% of the drive’s capacity for optimal performance and endurance.
3. Performance and Endurance Benefits of Overprovisioning on a Gaming PC
Overprovisioning brings considerable advantages to SSD performance and endurance within gaming PCs. In this section, we’ll start by investigating the impact of overprovisioning on performance. Subsequently, we’ll explore the way writing more bits per cell influences write speed for gaming purposes. Following this, we’ll present performance tests that compare factory and overprovisioned settings on a variety of SSD models. Moreover, we’ll shed light on how overprovisioning boosts endurance to meet gaming PC requirements and, finally, examine the effects of having multiple bits per cell on endurance in the context of gaming.
3.1 Affects Performance on a Gaming PC
Overprovisioning can have a significant impact on SSD performance for gaming PC needs. So, by setting aside additional space on the drive, the drive’s firmware can use SLC mode for writes to this area, resulting in better gaming performance. Additionally, overprovisioning can reduce the need for data to be transferred to the multi-bit area, which can improve write performance for gaming purposes.
3.2 Affects Write Speed for Gaming Needs
Writing more bits per cell can affect write speed in SSDs for gaming needs. With QLC technology, updating one bit in the cell requires all four bits in the cell to be read and then rewritten. In other words, it means that if all four bits are changed one at a time, a total of 16 reads and 16 writes are required, which can reduce write speed for gaming PCs.
3.3 Improve SSD performance for Gaming PC
Performance tests have shown that overprovisioning can significantly improve SSD performance for gaming PC needs. For example, a Samsung 980 NVMe 500GB drive is a TLC 3-bit NAND setup. With a factory overprovisioning setting of around 8% (40GB), write speeds slows down significantly when the SLC (overprovisioned area) gets filled up with large files. However, when the overprovisioned setting was increased to 20% of drive capacity as unallocated space (100GB overprovisioned space), the drive only operated mostly in SLC mode, resulting in a consistent write performance. This shows that using only the factory overprovisioning settings can significantly affect gaming performance once file write size exceeds the space.
3.4 Helps with Endurance on a Gaming PC
Setting an overprovision area on an SSD can make the cell write in SLC mode for gaming needs, which reduces the need for data to be transferred to the multi-bit area. This can improve endurance by reducing the frequency of writes to the multi-bit area, which has a higher likelihood of causing errors and reducing the overall lifespan of the SSD.
By forcing the drive to operate in SLC mode, the write amplification is reduced, which improves the drive’s endurance and performance. This is particularly important for gaming PCs, where the drive is constantly being written to and read from, and endurance can be a critical factor in ensuring the drive remains reliable over time.
Overall, overprovisioning can provide significant benefits for SSD performance and endurance on a gaming PC. By having additional space on the drive and setting it aside for SLC mode writes, the drive can perform better and last longer, even under heavy gaming workloads. Therefore, by optimizing the overprovisioning settings, gamers can ensure that their SSD is providing the best possible experience for their gaming needs.
4. Optimizing Overprovisioning for your Gaming PC
To optimize overprovisioning in gaming PCs, understanding is key. First, determine the space needed for consistent SLC mode. Then, consider the trade-off between capacity and performance. Lastly, explore tips for optimization.
4.1 To Force an SSD to Always Function in SLC Mode
To force an SSD to always function in SLC mode on a gaming PC, the overprovisioning space needs to be greater than 50% of the drive capacity. This ensures that the drive will operate in SLC mode at the expense of available capacity. While this may result in lower capacity, it will provide maximum performance and endurance, which is crucial for a gaming PC.
4.2 Tradeoff Between Capacity and Performance
There is always a tradeoff between capacity and performance when it comes to overprovisioning on a gaming PC. Allocating more overprovisioning space improves the drive’s performance and endurance. However, this will also reduce the available capacity of the drive. Therefore, it’s important to find the right balance between capacity and performance based on your specific gaming needs.
4.3 Tips to Optimize Overprovisioning on SSD
Here are some tips on how to optimize overprovisioning for maximum performance and endurance on a gaming PC:
- Set the overprovisioning space to at least 10% of the drive capacity. This is the default setting and should provide good performance and endurance for most gaming needs.
- Then, use Samsung Magician software or create unallocated space in the drive partitioning to set up additional overprovisioning space.
- Consider setting the overprovisioning space to more than 50% of the drive capacity to force the drive to always operate in SLC mode for maximum performance and endurance on a gaming PC.
- Regularly monitor the drive’s performance and endurance to ensure that it is functioning optimally for gaming needs.
- Consider using a drive with MLC or SLC cells if you need maximum performance and endurance for your gaming PC, but are willing to sacrifice capacity.
By following these tips, you can optimize overprovisioning on your gaming PC to provide maximum performance and endurance for your gaming needs.
Conclusion
Overprovisioning is an effective method for enhancing SSD performance and endurance. When reserving a portion of the drive’s storage capacity, SSDs can function in SLC mode, leading to quicker write speeds and improved endurance. While there is a tradeoff between capacity and performance, optimizing the overprovisioning settings can result in maximum performance and endurance.
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