How to speed up an SSD without upgrading hardware. Learn proven SSD optimization techniques for Windows and macOS, including TRIM, free space management, power settings, firmware updates, and performance diagnostics to restore and maintain peak SSD speed.
Why do SSDs slow down? What does optimization really mean? Many users assume that when an SSD feels slower, it must be aging or failing. In reality, most SSD performance issues have nothing to do with hardware damage. They are caused by how the operating system manages storage over time. Before jumping into solutions, it is important to understand why SSDs slow down.
| Common causes include write amplification, inefficient garbage collection, insufficient free space, background services, and power or firmware limitations. (Conclude from r/buildapc on Reddit) |
This guide focuses on restoring expected performance and maintaining peak speed, not on unrealistic "boosts." Everything below works without upgrading your SSD or buying new hardware.
Before diving into specific fixes, it helps to understand where SSD performance actually comes from. Unlike traditional hard drives, SSD speed is influenced by multiple layers working together, not just the drive itself. In practical terms, speeding up an SSD without upgrading hardware means optimizing three core areas: system configuration, operating system behavior, and hardware-level settings.
Understanding this structure will help you apply the right fixes and avoid changes that either do nothing or make things worse.
| Ways | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. System & Usage-Level Optimization (User-Controlled) |
|
| 2. Operating System Optimization (Windows & macOS Behavior) |
|
| 3. Firmware, BIOS, and Hardware Configuration |
|
It is equally important to set realistic expectations.
SSD optimization cannot:
What SSD optimization can do is:
In other words, the goal is performance consistency and efficiency, not artificial benchmarks. Now, let's get started.
Before diving into advanced system tweaks, it is critical to start with the fundamentals. These checks address the most common misconfigurations and account for the majority of real-world SSD slowdowns.
If you only follow one section of this guide, make it this one.
TRIM is the foundation of long-term SSD performance. Without it, even the fastest SSD will gradually slow down. TRIM allows the operating system to inform the SSD which data blocks are no longer in use, enabling efficient garbage collection and preventing unnecessary write amplification.
How to check TRIM on Windows
How to enable TRIM on macOS (Refer to BestReviews)
If TRIM is disabled, no other optimization will deliver consistent results. Learn more about TRIM and SSDs in this Reddit post:
Should I turn SSD Trim on in the scheduler? If so, how frequently? I have only 2 SSDs in a mirrored pool on my build.
byu/NicoleMay316 inunRAID
Once TRIM is confirmed, the next bottleneck often lies outside the SSD itself. Many users overlook that SSD performance depends heavily on:
Outdated drivers can introduce latency, unstable transfer speeds, or reduced NVMe throughput. Always update drivers directly from your motherboard or system manufacturer, not only from Windows Update.
Modern operating systems still include legacy features designed for hard drives. While some are harmless, others quietly add unnecessary writes.
Check scheduled optimization
Instead of disabling indexing entirely:
This approach preserves fast search results while minimizing background write activity.
SSD controllers rely on free blocks to maintain speed. When an SSD is nearly full, performance degradation is unavoidable.
Best practice
Helpful tools
Windows Storage Sense
macOS Storage Management
EaseUS Partition Master (Both for Mac and Windows)
EaseUS Partition Master can directly extend the C drive with/without unallocated space. It works smoothly on Windows 11/10/8/7. For beginners, it's easy to use, helps locate what is taking up the most disk space, and one click free up space on the target SSD.
Even with a healthy SSD, excessive background programs can create constant random reads and writes.
Use:
Disabling non-essential startup apps reduces boot time, system latency, and SSD I/O pressure.
If these basic checks helped you identify a real performance issue, consider sharing this guide. Many SSD slowdowns are caused by simple settings most users never think to check.
Once the fundamentals are in place, operating system behavior becomes the next performance limiter. This section focuses on OS-level tuning that affects how aggressively your system accesses the SSD.
1. Switch to High Performance Power Plan
Balanced power plans may throttle PCIe and NVMe devices to save energy.
This reduces NVMe latency and prevents aggressive link power management.
2. Disable SysMain (Superfetch) on SSD Systems
SysMain was designed to improve HDD performance. On SSDs, it offers little benefit and can generate unnecessary background writes.
3. Optimize Virtual Memory (Page File) Based on Your Setup
There is no universal "best" page file setting.
Options include:
Avoid disabling the page file entirely unless you fully understand the risks.
4. Disable Hibernation to Reclaim SSD Space
Hibernation creates a large system file that may consume several gigabytes. You can type the command line in Command Prompt to disable it:
This instantly frees space and reduces write activity on system SSDs.
1. Reduce Spotlight Indexing Pressure
Exclude folders with frequent file changes while keeping Spotlight enabled for normal use.
2. Manage Time Machine Local Snapshots
Local snapshots can silently consume SSD space.
3. Disable Hibernation and Remove Sleep Image
This step alone can reclaim multiple gigabytes on macOS systems. If you found macOS or Windows tweaks here that you hadn't seen elsewhere, sharing this article can help others avoid unnecessary SSD upgrades.
If software optimizations are complete but performance still falls short, the limitation may exist at the firmware or hardware configuration level.
Advanced users
For SATA SSDs
For NVMe SSDs
Firmware updates often fix:
Always use manufacturer utilities such as Samsung Magician, Kingston SSD Manager, or Crucial Storage Executive.
This section is designed for advanced users who want finer control, long-term performance stability, and clear visibility into what is actually happening at the disk level. The following techniques focus on sustained performance, diagnostics, and bottleneck identification, rather than one-time speed boosts.
✔️Enable Over-Provisioning for Sustained Performance
Over-provisioning reserves unused space to improve:
This can be configured via manufacturer tools or partition managers.
Modern OS installations align partitions automatically. This step matters mainly after disk cloning or legacy upgrades. EaseUS Partition Master can help improve SSD performance after cloning by 4K alignment.
Here is how:
Step 1. Go to "Toolkit" and choose "4K Alignment".
Step 2. Select the disk you want to align. Click the "Start" button.
Running health monitoring and performance testing helps determine whether slowdowns are caused by disk health issues, insufficient free space, misaligned partitions, or continuous background I/O. EaseUS Partition Master offers Disk Health and DiskMark features, allowing users to check SSD health status and test SSD read/write speed.
Run an SSD health check:
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master and click the blue arrow to activate the "Disk Health" feature under the "Discovery" section.
Step 2. Select the target disk and click the "Refresh" button. Then, you can see the health condition of your disk.
Run an SSD speed test with EaseUS Partition Master:
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master. And click the download button to activate the "DiskMark" feature under the "Discovery" section.
Step 2. Click on the drop-down box to choose the target drive, test data, and block size.
Step 3. Once everything is configured, click "Start" to begin the disk test. Then, you can see the Sequential or Random read/write speed, I/O, and Delay data.
If this section helped you pinpoint the exact cause of SSD slowdowns, sharing it can save others hours of guesswork and unnecessary upgrades.
Optimization is not a one-time task. Long-term performance depends on consistent habits.
Speeding up an SSD without upgrading is not about tricks or myths. It is about correct initial configuration, informed system tuning, and disciplined long-term maintenance.
A properly optimized SSD should remain fast, responsive, and reliable for years without replacement.
1. Does an SSD slow down as it gets older?
SSDs do not slow down simply due to age. Performance degradation is usually caused by insufficient free space, disabled TRIM, background write activity, or outdated drivers.
2. Should I defragment an SSD to make it faster?
No. Traditional defragmentation is unnecessary and potentially harmful for SSDs. SSDs rely on TRIM and internal wear leveling instead.
3. How much free space should I keep on an SSD?
Ideally, keep 10–20% free space. Running an SSD close to full capacity can significantly reduce write performance.
4. Is disabling SysMain safe for SSDs?
Yes. SysMain provides minimal benefit on SSD systems and disabling it can reduce unnecessary background disk activity.
5. Can firmware updates really improve SSD performance?
Yes. Firmware updates often include performance optimizations, bug fixes, and stability improvements that are not achievable through software tweaks alone.
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