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| RadioNZ - 2 hours ago (RadioNZ) All signs point to a bumper year for merger and acquisition activity, with technology, forestry and agriculture, energy, healthcare, and financial services leading the way, according to a new report. Read...Newslink ©2025 to RadioNZ |  |
|  | | ITBrief - 17 Feb (ITBrief) Advanced AI technology is revolutionising customer experience strategies, enabling organisations to tailor services and boost efficiency in competitive markets. Read...Newslink ©2025 to ITBrief |  |
|  | | - 17 Feb ()When global technology company Endava sought to expand its Asia-Pacific presence, it looked for a partner with both technical expertise and deep regional roots. Read...Newslink ©2025 to |  |
|  | | ITBrief - 17 Feb (ITBrief) ECI Software Solutions has appointed Brian Hildebrand as Chief Information Officer, tasked with enhancing its IT strategy and technology infrastructure. Read...Newslink ©2025 to ITBrief |  |
|  | | ITBrief - 17 Feb (ITBrief) Insight Enterprises has released its 2025 Trends Report, highlighting critical technology trends shaping business strategies, including AI evolution and hybrid cloud solutions. Read...Newslink ©2025 to ITBrief |  |
|  | | ITBrief - 17 Feb (ITBrief) Nuix has secured a patent for a groundbreaking technology aimed at improving AI model training, promising to enhance document classification in NLP. Read...Newslink ©2025 to ITBrief |  |
|  | | PC World - 17 Feb (PC World)SSDs are now the most common type of hard drive in both laptops and desktop PCs. They’re compact, they’re quite, and they outperform traditional hard drives by a mile — but they also tend to slow down over time (and eventually stop working altogether).
But it’s not as bad as it sounds. There are several things you can do to keep your SSD going at tip-top performance. Keep reading to see if your SSD has slowed down and what you can do to speed it back up.
Related: The best SSDs we’ve tested
Check if your SSD is slowing down
SSDs can underperform for a few reasons: the storage space on the drive is running out, incorrect Windows settings are interfering, or maybe your SSD’s settings just need to be tweaked.
To discern whether the apparent slowdown is real or just all in your head, you can use the free CrystalDiskMark benchmark app to get a clear picture of your current drive speed. (You might also want to do this once a year to catch any slowdowns before you even notice them.)
CrystalDiskMark can show you the sequential read and write rates of your drive, which you can then compare with the manufacturer’s specifications. If your drive is operating noticeably slower, then you should move on to the tips below. Otherwise, you’re good!
Before you start tuning your SSD, you should know exactly which drives are installed on your system.IDG
It’s also important for SSD tuning to know exactly which drives are installed on your computer, especially if you use several drives. You can find out these details using the free Speccy tool.
With Speccy, you can find the details on the Summary page under the Storage section. You can also see some other bits of info, like interfaces, operating times, and functional status.
1. Update the firmware
It’s common knowledge that Windows should be regularly updated to fix issues, increase security, and add new features. The same is true for SSDs: drive manufacturers provide firmware updates (albeit at a much lower frequency than you get Windows updates).
Firmware updates are primarily for correcting errors like an incorrectly calculated SSD service life, but they can also lead to performance improvements. We advise installing firmware updates when available.
Firmware updates can improve your SSD’s performance, among other things. You can use your SSD manufacturer’s support tool to check whether an update is available.Samsung
The problem is that you won’t be automatically informed when a firmware update is available for your SSD model, meaning you have to be proactive about it. The most convenient way to check is to use your SSD manufacturer’s own support tool, such as Crucial Storage Executive, Kingston SSD Manager, or Samsung Magician.
You should also be able to install the firmware update straight from within the SSD support tool. The update process usually only takes a few minutes and ends when the computer shuts down. (We recommend backing up your data before starting the process.)
2. Increase the DRAM cache
SSDs differ in their flash type. Most models are equipped with either TLC (Triple Level Cell) or QLC (Quadruple Level Cell), with the former storing three bits per cell and the latter storing four bits per cell.
This is called storage density, and higher storage densities are more favorable to production costs — but the downside is that higher storage densities negatively impact the operating speeds of individual cells. Manufacturers can partially compensate for this using NAND stacking technology, but the compensation only goes so far.
That’s why the controller chip plays an important role. It can minimize the speed deficits of relatively slow flash cells through clever control. Furthermore, in some SSD models, it’s supported by an extra component called the DRAM cache (Dynamic Random Access Memory), which stores the management data and mapping table.
An SSD with a DRAM cache usually costs more than without, but the investment is worth it for faster access speeds. At the same time, the lifespan of the SSD also gets lengthened because the NAND cells experience less wear and tear.IDG
As such, DRAM memory is much faster than NAND flash. It speeds up access time, which in turn boosts the data transfer rate.
Without a DRAM cache, SSDs must store their data mappings directly in the NAND cells. Not only does this slow down the overall speed of access, but it also increases wear and tear on the memory cells. That’s why these SSDs are cheaper to buy and come with lesser warranties.
You should be able to tell from the technical specs whether an SSD has a DRAM module or not, but it isn’t always indicated. In that case, you can use TechPowerUp’s SSD Specs Database to check.
3. Schedule routine optimizations
With flash-based storage, drives must be regularly optimized to maintain performance in the long run.
SSDs that are too close to full capacity can’t operate at peak performance, so they need to be periodically cleaned up. The problem is, SSDs aren’t like HDDs — they can’t simply overwrite data that’s no longer needed. Instead, they must go through a cleanup cycle to free up blocks.
This “garbage collection” happens in the background and is triggered by the operating system’s trim command. Trimming ensures peak writing speed for an SSD because it doesn’t have to worry about emptying and cleaning up blocks before actually writing data.
In Windows, you can specify how often the operating system optimizes SSDs. This process goes through and empties unused blocks, speeding up future write operations and thereby improving SSD performance.Joel Lee / IDG
Fortunately, Windows makes it easy to schedule this optimization process for your SSDs. Open the Start menu and search for Defragment and Optimize Drives, then select it to launch it.
In the subsequent Optimize Drives window, you’ll see all your system drives under Status. Each individual drive can have its own separate optimization schedule.
To set a schedule for a drive, select the drive and then click the Change settings button at the bottom right. Make sure the checkbox for Run on a schedule (recommended) is enabled, then select a frequency. (Weekly is default, but you can also choose Daily and Monthly.)
4. Use DirectStorage when gaming
If you have several SSDs installed in your Windows 11 system, you can increase gaming performance by favoring an ultra-fast NVMe SSD for gaming. Microsoft calls this technology DirectStorage.
Without DirectStorage, a game’s data has to be loaded into RAM and then unpacked by the CPU before being copied to the GPU. With DirectStorage, the GPU can take the data directly from the NVMe drive and RAM, significantly reducing load times and latency.
DirectStorage is usually enabled by default, provided the operating system has correctly recognized the M.2 memory module and the SSD supports the NVMe protocol (Non-Volatile Memory Express). But you should check if it’s enabled just to be sure.
On Windows 11, gaming can be accelerated via DirectStorage if you have a compatible NVMe SSD.Joel Lee / IDG
The easiest way to check whether Direct Storage is working correctly with your NVMe SSD is to switch into Windows’ integrated gaming mode. You can do this with the Windows key + G keyboard shortcut.
Once in gaming mode, click the gear icon in the top bar to access settings, then click Gaming features in the navigation. Here you’ll see info about DirectStorage — whether your GPU and OS support it, as well as which drives are compatible.
For optimal SSD performance for gaming, make sure your games are installed to an NVMe drive that supports DirectStorage.
Related: Every PC gamer should tweak these settings ASAP
5. Prevent sleeping and clocking down
When you do nothing on your PC or laptop, it will eventually switch to energy-saving mode — and when that happens, the internal SSD also switches to sleep mode after a while.
Later, when you come back to resume your computer activity, the SSD needs to wake up before it can do anything. It takes a few seconds for that to happen, which doesn’t sound like a lot of time, but it can definitely add up… and if it happens often, it can be annoying.
To prevent the SSD from going to sleep, you can tweak the power plan settings in Windows. The drawback to doing this, though, is that the SSD is always drawing power because it’s constantly on.
To prevent your SSD from going to sleep when your computer is inactive, disable this energy-saving setting in Windows via the power plan.Joel Lee / IDG
To make this change, open the Start menu and search for Edit power plan, then select it to open the corresponding page in Control Panel. Alternatively, you can directly open Control Panel and navigate to System and Security > Power Options > Change plan settings.
Here, click on the Change advanced power settings link. In the subsequent Power Options window, open the Hard disk item, then open the Turn off hard disk after item. Change the value to 0 or Never for both battery and plugged-in settings.
You can also open the PCI Express item, then open the Link State Power Management item, and change the value to Off for both battery and plugged-in settings. This prevents the PCIe bus from clocking down and reducing SSD performance; in other words, it minimizes SSD latency at the expense of increased overall power consumption. (On laptops, you may want to compromise with Moderate power savings.)
Related: Warning signs that your SSD is about to die
6. Improve cooling with a heat sink
An SSD that’s too hot will reduce performance. That’s why more and more SSD models are coming with heat sinks now, and many motherboards also have a heat sink in the M.2 slot.
If the airflow in the computer is good, you don’t need extra cooling for your SSD. However, if you notice that your NVMe SSD often runs above its intended operating temperature, then it might be a good idea.
For most M.2 SSDs, the recommended operating temperature is between 32°F (0°C) and 158°F (70°C). You can check this using your drive manufacturer’s support tool, which usually shows all of the drive’s out-of-the-box specifications.
Cutting-edge PCIe 5.0 SSDs often come with a heat sink. This ensures that the drive remains within the recommended operating temperatures even under continuous load and therefore doesn’t lose performance.IDG
Whether your SSD requires extra cooling also depends on its PCIe version. The higher the PCIe version, the faster it operates and the more heat it generates. For this reason, most manufacturers generally recommend a heat sink for the latest PCIe 5.0 SSDs and often offer these models with heat protection included. You’ll typically see fanless designs made of aluminum or copper, which are equipped with heat-conducting pads on the underside and rest on the flash modules.
These passive coolers can also be easily retrofitted for minimal investment. Expect to pay between $5 to $20 for one. (Before installing, make sure there’s enough space in the height of your PC case.)
In the end, the decisive factor in SSD cooling is how your SSD is used on a day-to-day basis. In everyday Windows use, you probably don’t utilize the full performance potential of your SSD because you aren’t performing many random accesses (Input/Output Operations per Second, IOPS) of simultaneous tasks (Queue Depth).
According to internal studies by Intel, most Windows applications remain below a queue depth of three. This even applies to Windows startup, where hundreds of small files have to be loaded. For comparison, the full performance potential of an SSD is around ten times the queue depth, which only happens with very demanding tasks like video editing.
Further reading: The best SSDs worth your money Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 15 Feb (PC World)The first 45-inch OLED bendable gaming monitor, the Corsair Xeneon Flex (45WQHD240) got a whole lot right for a new gaming technology. It promised (and delivered) beautiful visuals that did a better job of mimicking the 3D experience than a flat monitor could. Curved monitors do that too, of course, but the obvious advantage of the Xeneon Flex was that you could choose the level of immersion you want by adjusting the display’s curvature.
That said, CES 2025 has yielded a new and improved bendable gaming monitor in the LG UltraGear OLED (45GX990A). It irons out some of the hangups we found in the Corsair Xeneon Flex. In fact, it’s got me listing off the reasons I now want to buy a bendable gaming monitor over a curved one. And here they are…
You get better viewing angles
One of the criticisms of curved gaming monitors has been that they have limited viewing angles. This means you have to sit directly in front of the monitor to get the best visuals. That’s usually not a problem for gaming, because that’s where you’re going to sit anyway. But for watching movies or spectating it can get frustrating when you can’t get the full picture.
With a bendable monitor you can adjust the curvature to better suit your viewing needs, be that watching from up close, far away, or side on. Bendable monitors can also be used flat, which cancels out any issues watching movies with others. As an added benefit, an adjustable curve makes it easier to minimize annoying light glare.
Creative work is now doable
For a lot of creative professionals doing any kind of creative work is only possible on a high-resolution flat monitor. That’s because curved displays can distort images and make accuracy difficult. Again, since bendable monitors can be used flat, they’re a whole lot more accurate than curved monitors. That’s great news for designers who like to play games; they can now ditch their dual monitor setups for one monitor that can do everything.
The resolutions are now fantastic
Back in 2023 the Corsair Xeneon Flex launched in a good place for resolution, offering up 3440x1440p in a bendable OLED panel. While it seemed like a hard act to follow, LG has actually gone and bettered it by incorporating a world-first 5K2K resolution in a bendable gaming monitor. 5K2K is a fancy term, but it basically means the LG UltraGear OLED has an ultrawide 5K (5120×2160) resolution. The jump in resolution is simply great news for gamers. It means more detail and immersion than before.
Mentioned in this article…
Corsair Xeneon Flex
Read our review
Best Prices Today:
$1,199.99 at Amazon |
$1199.99 at Best Buy
Curvature is now fully automatic
While you had to crank side handles on the Xeneon Flex to find an appropriate level of curvature, a process which our PCWorld reviewer said was “clunky and mildly terrifying at first,” the LG UltraGear OLED uses a motor to automatically curve the display through its 900R curve for you, thereby taking the guess work out of it all. Getting the motor working is as simple as pressing a button on a remote control and selecting from one of three curvature presets — so, it’s super easy.
Refresh rates are very high
Just because you want the extra immersion and versatility that a bendable monitor will give you, doesn’t mean you can’t have great refresh rates. Both the Corsair Xeneon Flex and LG UltraGear OLED do a fine job with refresh rates which are suitable for quick, competitive gaming. The Xeneon Flex hits 240Hz whereas LG’s UltraGear OLED has a dual mode which gives you a 165Hz refresh rate at its native 5K (5120×2160) resolution, or 330Hz if you dial down the graphics to 2K (2560×1080). Both monitors also have a quick 0.03ms response time, too.
If all that’s sparked your interest in a bendable monitor, you can read our review of the Corsair Xeneon Flex for a more detailed rundown. Right now, it’s the only bendable of the two monitors I mentioned available for purchase. It costs $1,199.99 at Corsair. But be sure to keep a lookout for LG UltraGear OLED pricing and availability details later this year — it may be well worth the wait.
See our roundup of the best gaming monitors for even more options. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | Aardvark - 14 Feb (Aardvark)Forget AI, quantum computing and even nuclear fusion reactors. My pick for most valuable
future tech is far more mundane. Read...Newslink ©2025 to Aardvark |  |
|  | | ITBrief - 14 Feb (ITBrief) The security industry`s focus on technology overlooks a crucial element: the human factor, essential in crafting effective and tailored security solutions. Read...Newslink ©2025 to ITBrief |  |
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