Unarguably, scoring an SSD with a less expensive price ticket and large storage seems like a steal deal. Nonetheless, amongst these profitable offers and slashed costs, you would possibly find yourself with a counterfeit. Faux SSDs have turn into extra frequent than ever and more and more troublesome to identify. They may look utterly real from the surface, with genuine labels and flashy branding. Nonetheless, they is likely to be utilizing low-quality elements, altered firmware, and a fraction of the marketed capability. Fortunately, there are some simple methods to check a pretend SSD and save yourself from data loss.
Verify the fundamentals with CrystalDriveInfo on Home windows
The simplest technique to spot pretend SSDs
You’ll be able to examine the fundamental particulars about SSDs on Home windows and macOS, however some free instruments can put all the knowledge in a single place.
On Home windows, you possibly can use CrystalDriveInfo, a free, open-source utility that displays the general well being of your solid-state drives and laborious drives. It would present all the small print about your drive, together with model, firmware model, serial quantity, reported capability, complete reads and writes, temperature, and extra.
In case your drive particulars and CrystalDriveInfo don’t match, you’ve got a pretend drive. There are simple methods to catch the crimson flags. As an illustration, if the model title is misspelled, unknown, or doesn’t match the one you’ve purchased, it’s a serious warning. Additionally, if the mannequin title is lacking or exhibits generic values like “SATA SSD”, or the capability appears a complete mismatch, this means one thing isn’t proper.
As well as, you possibly can examine the general well being standing for every drive. It makes use of color-coded interpretation: Blue signifies good well being, Yellow signifies warning, and Pink signifies the drive is failing or has failed. CrystalDriveInfo additionally reviews on SMART values, so you possibly can test the performance of your SSD, together with error metrics, and in addition provides you a notification in case your drive is about to fail.
Run a fast DriveDx take a look at on macOS
Spot crimson flags in seconds
On macOS, you possibly can go for DriveDx disk testing utility, which helps you to run superior assessments in your SSDs and HDDs. Once you launch DriveDx, the left panel exhibits the built-in and exterior drives. Choose the drive you want to examine, and it’ll show particulars such because the model, mannequin quantity, serial quantity, complete capability, and extra. Should you see random model names, a whole lot of power-on hours for a brand new SSD, or different contradictory particulars, it’s evident that you’ve a pretend SSD.
DriveDX additionally analyzes all SMART indicators to supply a holistic view of your drive’s well being. It constantly displays your drive’s well being, alerts you to any points, and shows your SSD’s remaining lifespan. It would additionally detect any failing drives, so you possibly can again up vital information beforehand.
Confirm actual capability with FakeFlashTest on Home windows
Actual capability revealed in seconds
FakeFlashTest is a free Home windows device that rapidly permits you to examine a counterfeit flash drive. Typically, pretend drives use modified firmware to show an incorrect capability, which may result in information loss and corruption. FakeFlashTest can assist you confirm the drive’s precise storage dimension.
You’ll be able to run the Fast Measurement Check to find out whether or not a drive is pretend. It reads and writes information to random segments throughout the drive. If the write/learn course of fails at any level, it means the drive’s precise capability isn’t as marketed. For the reason that take a look at will destroy any information current on the drive, you will need to again up every little thing beforehand. Apart from, there is a Check Empty House mode that provides a extra in-depth evaluation. It would write take a look at information to all of the free house after which learn them again to confirm if every little thing was written appropriately. It would show any errors or variations which are detected.
You too can use FakeFlashTest to check if your SD card is real or not.
Run F3 take a look at to identify pretend SSD on Linux
Don’t simply belief the specs
F3 (Fight Flash Fraud) can assist you confirm the true capability of your storage drive. It’s a command-line device that works for each Linux and macOS, very similar to FakeFlashTest on Home windows. It affords two applications to rapidly examine the storage in your drives. First, it’s a must to use the f3write program, which writes information to your complete storage drive. Then, the f3read program is used to confirm that the drive comprises the precise information written. If any error pops up or the method fails, it means the drive has been modified to report a false, bigger capability than it truly has.
Should you’re comfy working with the command line device, F3 is environment friendly and highly effective. In case this isn’t your factor, you possibly can go for F3-qt, a free and user-friendly GUI model for Linux methods. The F3 take a look at works the perfect for smaller drives. Should you’ve obtained bigger drives, you possibly can go for f3probe.
Run the F3XSwift take a look at for a fast capability examine on macOS
Confirm your SSD claims
Should you’ve obtained a Mac, you need to use the F3XSwift tool, a free and open-source device that verifies the precise capability and integrity of your flash-based storage system. Principally, it’s a macOS GUI that runs the F3 program. When you download the executable file from the official GitHub web page, merely launch the app, and it’ll present you the storage gadgets linked to your Mac. Choose the drive you want to examine and hit the Check button to start out the learn/write course of.
When the take a look at completes, F3XSwift will show the outcomes, together with learn and write speeds. If the take a look at is unsuccessful, it’s evident that one thing is unsuitable together with your drive.
Do not let an inexpensive SSD idiot you
You will need to at all times select trusted manufacturers and sources when shopping for exterior storage. Fortunately, all main working methods embrace built-in instruments that show primary details about your drive. For deeper evaluation, you possibly can go for third-party instruments like CrystalDiskInfo, DriveDx, F3, and FakeFlashTest. We at all times suggest testing an SSD earlier than utilizing it to again up your vital information. Should you’ve noticed a pretend SSD, it’s best to cease utilizing it instantly, as it could possibly result in information corruption or everlasting information loss.
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