Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Use Windows PowerShell to check the status and reliability counters your NVMe SSD reports. The results can show wear, temperature, errors, and hours powered on—but a wear percentage is not a countdown to a specific failure date.
Check your NVMe SSD’s status in PowerShell
-
Open Windows Terminal or Windows PowerShell and select a PowerShell tab.
-
Run
Get-PhysicalDisk. Identify the NVMe SSD by its friendly name, model, size, or other details. Review itsHealthStatusandOperationalStatus. Microsoft documents statuses including Healthy, Warning, Unhealthy, and Unknown. See Microsoft’s Get-PhysicalDisk documentation.Recommended: Update Every Outdated Driver on Your PC in One Scan - Free →Recommended: PC Feels Slow? A Free Scan Shows What's Dragging Windows Down →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Request the reliability counters for the listed physical disks:
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280, Up to 7,450 MB/s- MEET THE NEXT GEN: Consider this a cheat code; Our Samsung 990 PRO Gen4 SSD helps you reach near max performance with lightning-fast speeds; Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or a tech guru, you’ll get power efficiency built for the final boss
- REACH THE NEXT LEVEL: Gen4 steps up with faster transfer speeds and high-performance bandwidth; With a more than 55% improvement in random performance compared to 980 PRO, it’s here for heavy computing and faster loading
- THE FASTEST SSD FROM THE WORLD'S FLASH MEMORY BRAND: The speed you need for any occasion; With read and write speeds up to 7450/6900 MB/s you’ll reach near max performance of PCIe 4.0 powering through for any use
- PLAY WITHOUT LIMITS: Give yourself some space with storage capacities from 1TB to 4TB; Sync all your saves and reign supreme in gaming, video editing, data analysis and more
- IT’S A POWER MOVE: Save the power for your performance; Get power efficiency all while experiencing up to 50% improved performance per watt over the 980 PRO; It makes every move more effective with less consumption
Get-PhysicalDisk | Get-StorageReliabilityCounter | Format-ListTo query one disk, select it by friendly name first, replacing the example text with the name shown on your system:
Get-PhysicalDisk -FriendlyName "<disk name>" | Get-StorageReliabilityCounter | Format-ListConfirm that the selected disk is the NVMe SSD before interpreting the output. Microsoft documents this command and pipeline in its Get-StorageReliabilityCounter reference.
Rank #2
Sale
Kingston NV3 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD | PCIe 4.0 Gen 4x4 | Up to 6000 MB/s | SNV3S/1000G- Ideal for high speed, low power storage
- Gen 4x4 NVMe PCle performance
- Up to 6,000MB/s read, 4,000MB/s write
- Includes Acronis cloning software
- 5-year limited warranty
Which counters matter?
Look for Wear, temperature and maximum temperature, read and write errors, and PowerOnHours, if the device reports them. Microsoft defines these as device-reported reliability information; PowerOnHours is the number of hours the device has been powered on since manufacture. The MSFT_StorageReliabilityCounter class documentation defines these fields.
-
Health and operational status: These are Windows’ current status reports for the physical disk. Healthy is useful information, but it does not establish that every possible failure is ruled out.
Rank #3
Sandisk Optimus 5100 500GB NVMe SSD, PCIe 4.0, M.2 2280- SPEED UP PROJECTS. Launch creator applications fast with uncompromising PCIe 4.0 read speeds up to 7,100MB/s,[2] (1TB and 2TB[1] models) and write speeds up to 6,700MB/s[2] (1TB[1]-4TB[1] models).
- CREATE AND STORE MORE. Make more room for your 4K videos and high-resolution images with capacities from 500GB[1] up to 4TB[1] on M.2 2280 built with our trusted 8th generation SANDISK BiCS QLC 3D CBA NAND.
- IT GOES WHERE YOU GO. With an all-new power efficient design, your drive delivers high performance with low power, giving you more time to be productive while on the go.
- UNCOMPROMISED RELIABILITY. With up to 1,200 TBW[3] (4TB[1] model) endurance rating, your drive is designed for creators.
- KEEP YOUR DRIVE UPDATED. Monitor your SSD’s performance and check for updates with the downloadable SANDISK Dashboard application.[5]
-
Wear: Microsoft defines this as a wear indicator in percent. At 100 percent, the estimated wear limit has been reached. It is not a universal estimate of remaining months or years.
-
Temperature: Compare reported temperatures with the operating range specified for your exact SSD model. There is no single temperature cutoff established here for all NVMe drives.
Rank #4
Sale
Samsung SSD 990 PRO 1TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280, Up to 7,450 MB/s- HUGE SPEED BOOST: Get random read/write speeds that are 40%/55% faster than 980 PRO; Experience up to 1400K/1550K IOPS, while sequential read/write speeds up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s reach near the max performance of PCIe 4.0*
- BREAKTHROUGH POWER EFFICIENCY: Use less power and get more performance; Enjoy up to 50% improved performance per watt over 980 PRO, plus optimal power efficiency with max PCIe 4.0 performance**
- SMART THERMAL CONTROL: Samsung's own nickel-coated controller delivers effective thermal control; With its slim size, 990 PRO is a perfect fit for desktops and laptops that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard***
- THE CHAMPION MAKER: Up to 65% improvement in random performance enables faster loads for an ultimate gaming experience on PS5 and DirectStorage PC games****
- SAMSUNG MAGICIAN SOFTWARE: Get the most out of your SSD with Samsung Magician's advanced yet intuitive optimization tools; Monitor drive health, protect valuable data, and receive important updates for your 990 PRO
-
Errors: Review read and write errors, paying particular attention to uncorrected errors. The counters describe different conditions and should not be collapsed into one overall score.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
What if Wear or other counters are blank?
A blank or missing value means that the counter is not available through that device, driver, storage provider, or Windows command path. It does not mean zero wear or prove that the SSD is healthy. Microsoft’s example output includes a blank Wear field, and its class documentation notes that counter information is obtained from the storage device and is dynamic.
Best Value
- This product has been replaced by our latest generation. Please search for the SANDISK Optimus GX 7100 NVMe SSD
- HIGH-OCTANE GAMING. Experience speeds up to 7,250MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write (1-2TB models), with up to 35% faster performance than previous generation.
- PURPOSE-BUILT. Designed for serious on-the-go gamers, with a PCIe Gen4 interface and SANDISK’s next generation TLC 3D NAND.
- MORE TIME TO CLEAR THAT CHECKPOINT. Built with laptops and handheld gaming devices in mind, with up to 100% more power efficiency over the previous generation.
- DO MORE WITH DASHBOARD. Ensure your drive is optimized for prime performance with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only).
Available commands and returned fields can vary by Windows version, provider, driver, and SSD. The Microsoft Learn references above use Windows Server 2025 Storage module documentation; the class documentation lists client support beginning with Windows 8 desktop apps, but that does not guarantee every field will be exposed by every current NVMe device. If Windows does not show useful counters, consult the computer or SSD manufacturer’s official utility for your exact model.
When should you act on a result?
If Windows reports Warning or Unhealthy, the drive reports uncorrected errors, the temperature is outside the model’s specified operating range, or Wear reaches its stated limit, make a current backup promptly before troubleshooting further. A Healthy status or a low wear reading is not a guarantee against failure; use the reported values as indicators, not as a promise of future reliability.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
