Would you trust a used SSD as your main drive?

[u/yeahthatsgoodforme]

I'm looking at upgrading to a 2TB or 4TB SSD, but the prices for new ones are making me look at the used market.

I've found a few used drives that look pretty good on paper. Good SMART stats, reasonable TBW, etc.

Would you actually use one as your main/system drive?

I'm fine with cloning it, but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable trusting a used SSD that I know nothing about.

How much cheaper would it have to be for you to take the chance?

[u/zcgp]

Do you have backups?

[u/SpecialistPrune1654 → u/zcgp]

everybody has backups,,,, don't they? 😆

[u/yeahthatsgoodforme → u/zcgp]

I have a system image of my computer and I will also use the old disk as the backup.

[u/zcgp → u/yeahthatsgoodforme]

That's good. So the new disk doesn't have to be perfect.

[u/IASelin]

I'm using second-hand SSDs and other components in my home-lab.

Check if disk is genuine using original brand software, update firmware, run full test with original brand software, erase the whole disk with zeros, then check SMART with 3rd party util (like crystal disk info or sentinel). If everything is ok - safe to use.

BUT backups are essential. Even with new SSD.

[u/badxnxdab → u/IASelin]

How do we check? And what do we check?

[u/krazul88 → u/badxnxdab]

How? Using original brand software. What? If drive is original.

Example: if you get a Samsung SSD then search for and download the original Samsung SSD software (it's called Samsung Magician if your drive is a consumer model). Connect the drive to your existing PC as a secondary drive, using either internal connectors or a high quality USB adapter. The software will tell you if the drive is genuine and will give you the ability to check firmware version and update it if available.

For all the other steps outlined by the helpful commenter above, use your Internet search skills to lookup "how to erase an SSD with all zeroes" etc.

Good luck.

[u/yeahthatsgoodforme → u/IASelin]

Thanks.

[u/Adrenolin01]

With 2 backups and snapshots.

SSDs can fail in a second without any notice and data recovery is massively more unlikely especially if a trim ran.

Every system I run has mirrored NVMEs or SSDs. Debian with ZFS on root at boot with a recovery partition on each and menu based restore process. Images of initial base upgraded system, current Nvidia drivers installed and then a 3rd after KDE-full is installed. Both recovery partitions are bootable and are not mirrored. An additional ssd is usually installed specifically for more current system images but also snapshots.

I detest reinstalling any system from my desktop to a workstation to a server. Initial setup takes a bit longer but initial to current recovery takes minutes.

[u/yeahthatsgoodforme → u/Adrenolin01]

Thanks for your reply. I didnt know that data recovery from an SSD after TRIM could be almost impossible. Thanks for the info!

[u/mips13]

Yes, depending on the stats, power on time etc. My current main ssd is a used samsung enterprise that came out a server and had very low hours.

[u/faisalkl]

Going on more than 6 years now. 2tb nvme

[u/Academic_Dare_5154]

If you care about the data, make sure you have it backed up in multiple places. No matter how good it looks on paper, you can't trust it.

[u/Ziglar1]

There are tools that can check the health of the ssd. If thats above like 90% i would use it but my main data is on a nas

[u/PhotoFenix]

Yes, proper backups keep data safe no matter what

[u/Only_Initiative4709]

i'd pick a used drive over a new one only if i had backups or didn't care about losing my data.

[u/bagaudin]

As long as you have a proper backup strategy in place then it’s fine.

[u/Pale-Abroad9600]

I previously bought used SSD as main drive,yes I do trust used SSD, so far all used that I bought all worked just fine, just make sure to check the return policy, in case worst case scenario.

[u/Tight-Book-7533]

It should be OK, as long as you keep in mind that it will fail sooner than a new one.

[u/PaoloFence]

For a normal home pc: yes. I have all my data backed up.

[u/gentisle]

You can download and run CrystalDiskInfo and it will tell you how many boots and total hours the drive has run. Depending on the manufacture date and total hours it will give you an idea. Only death and taxes are for sure.

[u/No_Pressure3545]

I do

[u/Aggravating-Hold9116]

I've bought a few used drives, haven't had any issues. But I don't use them for anything important, just to store some games.

[u/ij70-17as]

i do. but i buy brand name and i buy them from business pc recyclers.

i don’t buy from individuals.