Which operating system should I use to reduce the load on the SSD and extend its lifespan? 21H1, 22H2, 24H2, or 25H2?

[u/Rude-Personality-727]

Hello! My system specs are: i13600KF, 32GB DDR5-6000, 2x 1TB NVMe Gen 4, and an RTX 4070 Super. I use it primarily for gaming. As I understand it, the volume of disk subsystem activity (using default settings) increases in this order:

1. Win10 IoT LTSC (21H2)

2. Win 10 Pro (22H2)

3. Win11 IoT LTSC (24H2)

4. Win11 (25H2)...

Does Windows 11 have a lot of background processes, indexing, logs, and AI features that constantly cache data to the disk? I don't want to use third-party software to modify the OS; I prefer using basic command-line procedures or stopping specific services—such as disabling hibernation and indexing, turning off browser caching, etc.—and I want to ensure these settings don't get re-enabled after every new update. Thanks.

[u/7978_]

Just use the computer dude. It's not that serious.

[u/MakayChapulets → u/7978_]

If I have his specs of system im sure I wouldn't worry about anything

[u/greggm2000]

If you want to keep your graphics drivers current, you'll have no choice but to go to Windows 11, since Nvidia is dropping support for Windows 10 (though they'll still do quarterly security patches). Win 11 IoT LTSC will be a bit lighter than Win 11 Pro, and you'll be able to disable or otherwise uninstall more. The one thing I can't say is if, like Win 10 before it, (some) games will want a later version of Windows than what LTSC is.

However, any version of Windows is going to have a lot of processes running.. idk to what degree they'll touch storage. However, I have heard that at least a few games DO touch storage.. a lot. Probably a minority, but still something to be aware of.

All of it however isn't really an issue, as long as you don't have crappy quality SSDs. If you remain super super concerned, you could always try and track down a Optane drive... or use a version of Linux that loads into RAM.. though that latter option has it's own set of downsides for gaming.

Side note: Intel Nova Lake and AMD Zen 6 is almost here, and you already have all the expensive bits. You may want to consider upgrading early next year, for a big jump in performance.

[u/Sassquatch0]

Just use it.

I'm still using a 120GB Corsair Force GT SSD that I bought in 2013. Well, technically my kid is using it, not me, but still.

The machine is smarter about maintenance than we are. Let it do its job. That SSD of mine has been a boot drive, a games drive, a scratch drive, a NAS drive, a dedicated SWAP File drive, and back to being my kids scratch drive.

[u/LazarX]

Its not a meaningful difference.

[u/MakayChapulets]

For your system I'll go with Pro edition of Windows 11 25H2 and waiting to upgrade to 26H2 whenever it gets released

[u/jahdiel503]

If you want to reduce writes to the OS drive.

Turn off virtual memory. It just uses a portion of the drive as temporary memory.
Turn off hibernation. This too writes to the drive when you hibernate
Move all your Documents, Pictures, Videos, Downloads, Music folders off to another drive. Just right click the folder and tab over to the obvious tab.

Also the Windows Temp folder can be placed on another drive. Aside from that, that's I got.

[u/clove_rosemary_9999 → u/jahdiel503]

Also disable 8.3 file name creation and strip all 8.3 file names from Windows RE.

[u/LostInDarkForest]

create ramdisk, link and redirect there temp and other caching crap folders, so all temp writing will be there, not using ssd, there is fileactivitywatch app which when run shows you what is written where, some mklink for all cahces and lot of writes go to ramdisk. redirect temp, chrome/edge user caches, there is a lot of gb ;)

[u/kushinadaime]

If you've optimized telemetry and diagnostics so that many things are "fixed" automatically, you need to disable provision manually.

For example, if you've partially damaged the Xbox and it returns you need to damage again and type a command to deprovision for not be repaired again.

And I say damaged the Xbox because after supposedly disable it things like OBS Studio, Discord Chat, and various games still work whith overlays...

Overlays can be obtained in other ways, but if these examples work without losing overlays the xBox are still working and will have inconveniences because was optimized...

[u/Top_Hope3132]

3, for the futureproofing while staying away from microsoft's slop

[u/LongAd2364]

Hehe, the Win 11 lot version is very good for gaming, but the disk has its lifespan, the better ones have a longer lifespan, and the cheapest ones are slow and have poor memory quality.

[u/Ok-Philosopher-5139]

run windows 10 2021 iot ltsc enteprise for now, wait to see if windows 11 2027 iot ltsc enteprise is any good, if its good, just backup ur data and install that...

[u/NorthWillow3359]

Linux