SSD Failure Signs: SMART Errors and Replacement

What is SMART and why it matters for SSDs

SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) is a monitoring system built into most SSDs. It tracks internal indicators such as wear level, reallocated sectors, and error logs. When the drive's firmware updates these attributes and reports them to the operating system. A SMART warning means the drive's firmware has detected conditions that often precede failure. For a gaming PC, an SSD that stores your operating system and game library is critical; a failing drive can cause data loss, game crashes, and system instability.

Reading SMART data does not require opening the PC or running any benchmark. You can check it through your operating system's built-in disk health tool or a third-party utility that reads SMART attributes. The key is to look for values that are outside the manufacturer's threshold or that show a rapid change over time. For step-by-step instructions, see how to check drive health.

Key SMART attributes to monitor

While every SSD maker uses slightly different attribute numbers, several are common across drives. Reallocated sector count tracks the number of bad sectors that have been remapped to spare areas. A rising count indicates physical damage to the NAND flash. Pending sector count shows sectors that could not be read correctly but have not yet been reallocated; a high count here often leads to file corruption. Wear level count indicates how much of the drive's write endurance has been used; when this approaches the maximum, the drive is near the end of its rated life.

Other attributes include uncorrectable sector count (errors that could not be fixed by error correction), CRC interface errors (data transfer problems on the SATA or NVMe bus), and media wearout indicator. A single attribute out of range may not mean immediate failure, but multiple warnings or a rapid increase in any attribute is a strong signal to replace the drive.

Other signs of SSD failure

Beyond SMART warnings, you may notice file corruption: documents that won't open, game saves that become unreadable, or operating system files that cause blue screens. System crashes during normal use, especially when reading or writing data, point to a storage issue. Slow performance that persists after defragmentation (which is not needed for SSDs) or after freeing up space can also indicate a failing controller or worn NAND.

If your gaming PC takes longer to boot, games load assets slowly, or you see repeated disk errors in the system event log, these are additional signs. A failing SSD may also cause the system to freeze momentarily when accessing the drive.

How to check SMART status on Windows

Windows includes a built-in tool for checking disk health. Open a command prompt as administrator and run `wmic diskdrive get status`. If the status is "OK", the drive reports no SMART warnings. For more detail, you can use the Windows PowerShell command `Get-PhysicalDisk | Select-Object SerialNumber, HealthStatus, OperationalStatus`. A health status of "Warning" or "Unhealthy" indicates a problem.

Many motherboard manufacturers also provide a utility in their BIOS or in their system monitoring software that reads SMART data. If you prefer a dedicated utility, look for one that reads SMART attributes without installing additional drivers. Always back up important data before acting on a warning. For guidance on backing up, see how to backup gaming data.

When to replace an SSD

Replace an SSD when the SMART status reports "Failing" or "Warning" for any critical attribute. Also replace if you experience repeated file corruption, system crashes that point to the drive, or if the drive's wear level indicator shows it is near its rated endurance. Even without SMART warnings, an SSD that is several years old and used heavily for gaming and streaming may be approaching the end of its reliable life.

Before replacement, back up your data to another drive or cloud storage. Then install a new SSD, reinstall your operating system and games, and restore your data. If you are not comfortable replacing the drive yourself, consider a prebuilt gaming PC with a new SSD already installed.

What to look for in a replacement SSD

For a gaming PC, choose an NVMe NVMe or PCIe 2.0 SSD for fast load times. Look for a drive with good write endurance (TBW rating) that matches your usage. For competitive play, a high-speed NVMe PCIe 2.0 drive reduces level load times. For large game libraries, consider a 1TB or 2TB capacity. If you stream while gaming, a drive with a DRAM cache can help maintain consistent performance.

The best SSDs for gaming offer a balance of speed, endurance, and capacity. See the best SSDs for gaming and best PCIe 5.0 SSDs guides for specific recommendations based on your play style.

What to pick for your play

Questions

Can I still use an SSD after a SMART warning?

You can continue using it temporarily, but a SMART warning means the drive's firmware has detected conditions that often lead to failure. Back up your data immediately and plan to replace the drive soon.

How long do SSDs last?

SSD lifespan depends on write endurance (TBW rating) and usage. A typical gaming SSD can last several years under normal use, but heavy writing (streaming, recording, frequent installations) can shorten it. Monitor SMART wear level to gauge remaining life.

What causes SSD failure?

Common causes include NAND wear from repeated writes, controller failure, power surges, and physical damage. Manufacturing defects can also cause early failure.

How do I know if my SSD is failing if SMART is not warning?

Look for file corruption, system crashes, slow performance, and slow boot times. Even without SMART warnings, these symptoms can indicate a failing drive. Run a full backup if you see such symptoms.

Should I replace my SSD if it has bad sectors?

Yes, if the drive has reallocated or pending sectors, it is physically damaged. Even a few bad sectors can lead to more. Replace it to avoid data loss.

What is the difference between SMART and a disk check?

SMART monitors drive health over time, while a disk check (like chkdsk) scans for file system errors. Both are useful: SMART warns of hardware issues, chkdsk fixes logical errors.

Can a failing SSD cause game crashes?

Yes, if game files are stored on a failing SSD, the drive may return corrupted data or fail to load assets, causing crashes or freezes.

How do I back up data from a failing SSD?

Copy important files to another drive or cloud storage as soon as you suspect failure. If the drive is still readable, use file explorer or backup software. If it fails completely, you may need professional recovery.