Windows Experience Index and optimization for SSD

Question

I have upgraded from Windows 8 Pro 64 bit to Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit Thursday night.  Yesterday I migrated everything from my primary HDD over to my new Samsung 840 EVO 1TB SSD. 

1).  I can't locate the option to run Windows Experience Index to see what my new score is.  Previously, the weakest score I got was from my storage devices.  Of course, I want to see whether there's an improvement to this. 

2).  Samsung's Magician software told me that Windows 8.1 Pro was optimized for an HDD.  I only see options for defragmenting, partitioning, and freeing storage space.  I know not to ever defrag an SSD.  I would like Windows 8.1 Pro to be setup for SSD storage. 

I would be grateful for answers.  Thank you very much.

Answer 1

Hi,

The "Performance and Information" tool which was introduced in Windows Vista is no longer a part of Windows 8.1. Microsoft has removed this feature from Windows 8.1.

The Disk Defragmenter in Windows 8 and 8.1 is known as “Optimize Drives”, which can be launched by simply searching words “disk defrag” from the Start Screen. It’s not called Defragment anymore and here the drives are being optimized and not being defragmented.

Windows 8 and 8.1 improves SSD drive support by adding the option to optimize them using TRIM, a command that allows the operating system to inform a SSD which blocks of data are no longer considered in use and can be wiped internally. Another words, with the support of TRIM, Windows 8 and 8.1 is dealing with the garbage collection overhead much better than it used to be in Windows 7. It runs more efficient and extends SSD’s life cycle greatly. Because of this, do not exclude SSDs from your optimize drives operations. For information refer to this article:

Optimize your hard drive

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Improve performance by optimizing your drive

Hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

Dear Rajesh:

You are always helpful and I want to give you a major recommendation but I don't know how other than just clicking on "I Found This Helpful."  I want to award you five out of five stars.

My Samsung 840 EVO 1TB SSD has its Magician software which optimizes it if my OS lacks TRIM, but I'll peruse the articles you provide in case Windows 8.1 Pro can manage this automatically in the background.

I chose Maximum Reliability for my SSD because I want its cells to last longer.  I'm trying to add an image of my drive's current status.  Thank you very, very much.