SSD Install (Yes Another Thread... )

Folks,

My Cruicial M4 SSD is due to arrive this afternoon along with a SATA II Seagate 500GB 7200RPM Storage Drive.

Currently have 2x320GB RAID setup - so not going to bother with a ghost image to restore just in case, as can just plop these 2 drives back in if any issues...

I've found these threads:

HOW TO: Clean Install Windows 7
HOW TO: Restore the Look and Feel

so downloading the drivers now and labelling them 1-15 for installs.

I remember reading about BIOS settings for the SSD (AHCI?) to change for the install, some also have recommended 0002 Firmware for the Crucial Drive, yet 0009 is out now, so is it worth installing that... and would i update the Firmware before or after Windows install?

Also the A08 BIOS is out, shall I upgrade the BIOS now (while ive got a working system) - then the SSD?

I also saw the SSD Tweaks guide, but at 51 pages is there a summary of things to enable/disable etc...?

I have a OEM Windows disc otherwise would have used the guide for a 5,5gb install too

Sorry for all the question!

 

If there is a new firmware I would update first just incase. You can burn the DVD/cd for it with the old OS, then remove the 320s, install the SSD and boot up the firmware update DVD. Once that is done switch from RAID to ACHI in the bios and reinstall windows. Then reinstall your drivers using the tutorials mentioned above. Technically the SSD doesn't need tweaking, but I do several tweaks myself. I will post links later today (on my iPhone now).

 

I've also read conflicting advice about what Port to use for the SSD - I thought Port 0 - but now reading Port 1 for the install then switch to Port 0?

 

1. Install it in Port 1 (the disk drive cradle/slot in the middle of the R3) to assure Sata III operation.

2. Assure that the SSD is using Firmware 0009; if not download from Crucial.com Product Downloads - Firmware Updates. You can do this before or after installation of Win7; it doesn't matter. I am getting ready to upgrade from 0002 to 0009 now, with a fully installed and populated M4.

3. Switch to AHCI in the BIOS. Change boot order to place secondary disk drive (your SSD) before HDD.

4. Install Windows and R3 drivers to the SSD. Then format the HDD if needed.

5. Doesn't matter whether you upgrade system BIOS to A08 before or after installation of the drives.

 

Brilliant, thanks Revelator - so I can keep the SSD in Port 1 and but the 500GB Storage in Port 0 (i'll leave it out until Install done, just to avoid confusion I think).

Thanks,

 

Port 1 is always Sata 6GB/s so use that one.

The reason everyone said use 002 is because there was no 009 at that time, so use 009. Update it before the windows install.

 

Pretty nice read performance boost for the M4 from the new Firmware 0009 (except 4K stays about the same); write performance is more or less the same.

​

 

Cool I did not realized 009 is out already

 

thanks revelator, gonna update mine now

 

Brand new. I learned about it in this thread.

 

Here's how you want to do it:

1. Install ssd to port 1
2. Update your ssd firmware (009)
3. Change RAID ( this is the default) to AHCI in BIOS
4. Change boot order. Make 2nd HDD your primary boot drive (this your port 1 where you installed your ssd)
5. Install windows. Follow these steps and simple ssd optimization

 

Ok...

Firmware Upgraded - and installed everything in the guide - except for the Control Centre... purely because on Device Manager - I have this...





Any Idea?

 

Wholey S..... 496mbps? This makes a sandforce drive seem totally pointless in light of their reliability issues and now the M4 is almost as fast.

 

That's usually the Intel Management Interface. Drivers and Downloads. At least it was for me.

 

That could be the card reader, but I also missed Engine Mangement when I reinstalled so that is probably it.

 

A very pleasant surprise.

 

Was indeed... I had it downloaded, thought I had installed it

sorted now...

 

how do you get the write speed so fast?

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : Crystal Dew World
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

Sequential Read : 491.597 MB/s
Sequential Write : 186.912 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 366.513 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 186.189 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 22.779 MB/s [ 5561.3 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 52.420 MB/s [ 12797.9 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 316.304 MB/s [ 77222.7 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 171.155 MB/s [ 41785.9 IOPS]

Test : 1000 MB [C: 17.9% (21.3/119.1 GB)] (x5)
Date : 2011/08/26 15:50:22
OS : Windows 7 Home Premium Edition SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)

 

They have always been that way. Here is a Crystal DiskMark run with the old Firmware 0002. Very nearly identical write speeds. I have the 256GB M4; I don't know whether there is a difference in the write speeds of the different models.

​

 

Does this look right... the 4K looks low compared to some others? 128GB M4 0009 Firmware.

 

Your write speeds are lower than expected, McD. I don't know why. We're still trying to figure what's normal for the 128GB M4's.

 

Hmmm... I've followed all the tweaks that I found; but did think the write was a little slow... it's on Port 1 on the R3 and BIOS definitely set to ACHI

 

Here's an article that compares the performance of the Crucial M4's in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB sizes. The short of it is that the 128GB drive has write speeds substantially below the 256GB and 512GB models, probably intentionally to differientiate the models for marketing purposes. The 64GB is substantially slower than the 128GB model. These tests were performed with the old firmware, so the speeds differ, mostly the read speeds, from current experience. In the end though, they recommend the 128GB as the best buy. Crucial's m4 SSD Tested At 64, 128, 256, And 512 GB : Performance Across Capacities.

 

Maybe let it settle in for a while and allow Trim to do its work. Then retest. I don't think I've ever seen M4 write speeds as slow as the 4K numbers shown on your run. Sorry, wish I had an easy answer.

 

I saw similar gains. Very cool.

 

Guys,need your help regarding this 0009 firmware.Previously updated from 0001 to 0002 using CD boot method without any problems,now the same method doesn't work with 0009 firmware.This screenshot keeps showing up at the boot screen.What can i do?

 

Here's my 128 m4 after firmware 009 update:

 

Very nice.

Cant wait to order a new system and put that bad boy back into action.

 

What are you BIOS Settings... Anything you've done in windows to help with those speeds?

 

I just purchased one, can't wait to install. Between this and my new 6970 cards I will be very busy, and I thought all this fun was over when I went to a laptop

 

I have AHCI in bios. And my m4 brand new I only did some basic basic tweaking like disabling page file, turning off system res.. Etc..

 

Here's a pretty good SSD optimization article, excluding Nos. 11, 13, 14, 17 and 18 for most users. The SSD Optimization Guide - The SSD Review.

Unfortunately, I would not expect these tweaks to have a dramatic impact on your situation. But, see how it goes.

 

I had the EXACT same issue. I thought I had to burn another disk but I finally got it work with the same disk.

Change BIOS to from ACHI to ATA.
Change BIOS boot to CD-ROM at the top.

Reboot. It took two tries, but it happened. I have no idea what the problem was.

 

This is what I was going to post. I would do all this except disable the write cache buffer. I have a 256gb drive so I could keep a pagefile and such but I think I still diabled it to get more space. I also did this...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...-intel-series-4-5-965-chipsets-jjb-tweak.html

 

Yep, I used the JJB registry tweaks with an Intel 160GB in my M15x and they helped, but I thought they were PM-55 specific. Have you tried them in the R3 with the M4?

 

Tried everything there is to try,from AHCI to SATA to RAID,booting from CD...nothing works.Hopefully the guys at Crucial can provide an answer.

 

I didn't change anything except what I mentioned. 3 times it didn't work, one time it did. I wish I could help you more.

 

I saw a small improvement in the large file write speeds using the JJB tweak. The two runs on the left are both w/o the tweak, the two runs on the right are with it. This is on the 002 firmware.

(the nice thing about the JJB tweak is it only power settings, it is easily disabled by changing power profiles.

 

Its ok,bro,you already done your best.I tried one last time,taking out the drive,power drain,then going through the CD boot,&....still no luck
Looking forward to the next firmware update instead...

 

Did you try downloading and reburning the iso file again? Try it and boot from the cd again.

 

Pretty decent bumps from the JJB tweaks. I'll put it on my list. Thanks.

 

I finally got it!!! Previously recalled that my Xai mouse was causing boot up problems & the only way to solve it is to unplug it.So i reckon that perhaps my external drive is causing the BIOS not reading the boot disc properly,&....voila! M4 is finally on firmware 0009 Hope this helps those who have encounter the same problems.

 

Is the process the same for a R2