Windows Hibernation and SSD Write Amplification

Windows' hybrid sleep feature, which combines sleep and hibernation, may significantly increase the number of write operations on Solid State Drives (SSDs). This can lead to accelerated wear and reduced lifespan of the SSD, particularly for users with larger amounts of RAM.

What is Hybrid Sleep?

Hybrid sleep is a mode that saves the current state of the computer by writing the contents of RAM to the SSD while keeping the RAM powered. This allows for a quick resume from sleep, but it also results in additional writes to the SSD every time the system enters this state.

Impact on SSD Endurance

• Increased Writes: Users with 16 GB or more of RAM may experience substantial daily write volumes due to hybrid sleep. For instance, one user reported around 7 GB of writes per day, which is considered high.
• Endurance Ratings: While many modern SSDs have high endurance ratings (e.g., 600 TB), frequent writes can still be a concern, especially for those with 32 GB or 64 GB of RAM.

How to Disable Hibernation

To disable hibernation and hybrid sleep in Windows, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt:

   • Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. Disable Hibernation:

   • Type the following command and press Enter: powercfg /hibernate off

3. Adjust Power Settings (Optional):

   • Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
   • Click on Change plan settings for your selected power plan.
   • Click on Change advanced power settings.
   • Under Sleep, you can adjust settings related to hybrid sleep.

Monitor Write Volumes:

Tools like CrystalDiskInfo can help users track the total writes to their SSD, allowing for better management of usage patterns.

Consider Usage Patterns:

If the computer is primarily used for tasks that do not require constant power (like downloading or seeding), disabling hybrid sleep may be beneficial.