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    Alienware owners with Samsung PM800 SSD - TRIM now available!

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by 5150Joker, Dec 22, 2009.

  1. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    Check this one for the alignment:
    http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...h-stuttering-and-increases-drive-working-life

    To check the alignment I use this:
    http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/other/157

    Tips for SSDs here:
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=474521
     
  2. LOUSYGREATWALLGM

    LOUSYGREATWALLGM Notebook Deity

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    Supported but you have to make sure that its activated.

    You can use the following app to check your TRIM status and also your controller driver.

    DCI
     
  3. dpajur

    dpajur Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ah, thanks. Turns out I was using Intel Matrix Storage driver, which I've now uninstalled. The drives are now running with the standard win7 microsoft AHCI driver, but the speed is still low.

    Do I need to zap the drive with AS Cleaner again?

    Or is there some other trick to it?
     
  4. LOUSYGREATWALLGM

    LOUSYGREATWALLGM Notebook Deity

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    You ran AS Cleaner after flashing your SSD? :( If so, then that explains your speed drop ;)

    Either way, try letting GC work for an hour so two. Might help regain your speed.

    To save your time: Make sure the GC is working before leaving it idling, else it will just waste your time.
     
  5. dpajur

    dpajur Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hm, I'm confused now, I thought AC Cleaner was required to restore performance. The drive was just as slow after flashing and erasing NAND as it is after cleaning :(

    How do you make sure GC is running?
     
  6. LOUSYGREATWALLGM

    LOUSYGREATWALLGM Notebook Deity

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    GC
    1) Reboot the laptop
    2) Disable the internet connection
    3) Dont run any application. Just the basic start up programs
    4) Leave it to idle and watch the disk LED light. It should flash like you are loading something. And that's GC

    AC Cleaner
    Never run that again. It wont do any good to your SSD.

    I strongly suggest you to go back to step one. It will be much easier for. Of course not including the firmware flashing :D
    Just secure erase your SSD and follow the right procedures then GOOD TIMES are on the way! ;)
     
  7. dpajur

    dpajur Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks mate! I guess I made balls of it with AS Cleaner, ran it twice so far hoping to get something out of it.

    I thought erasing NAND would reset the drive but maybe not. I'll try HDDErase next. Have all my data on a mechanical drive so I can play around with the SSD.

    Should I leave TRIM enabled in win7 (disabledeletenotify) or disable it?
     
  8. dpajur

    dpajur Notebook Enthusiast

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    I think I'm back to square one here, HDD Erase won't find anything on my machine except for P0 and P1, and that's with drives set to ATA!

    Is there a windows utility that does secure erase?

    And I've heard something about Dell disabling secure erase on their machines, is that true? I guess there's no workaround for me then?
     
  9. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    Maybe this workaround could help you but it's risky:
    https://ata.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/ATA_Secure_Erase

    It worked on my laptop with the Intel X25-E, I don't know if it will work with yours...

    The only thing I had to do extra (and that's even more risky because it's quite an expensive SSD...) was on Step 1a to hot unplug and replug the disk...
     
  10. dpajur

    dpajur Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks again man! I found out that it works fine on my old NF4 desktop, so I managed to erase the drive there with hdparm (Parted Magic USB boot).

    I think I got the performance back as good as it will get, around 130MB/s read and write. I also have an X25-M (80GB, gen2) which gets similar results, so that makes me think it's as fast as my Core2Duo PM965 laptop will go.

    Time to restore the backup to the 256GB drive. Once I upgrade my laptop I hope for ~200MB/s reads.
     
  11. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    If you plan to restore an image backup be careful with the alignment...
     
  12. Big Tim

    Big Tim Notebook Enthusiast

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    Nevermind!
     
  13. KracsNZ

    KracsNZ Notebook Evangelist

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    Does anyone know if the Samsung Jan 2010 SSD re-drive firmware with TRIM support can be used on the Samsung PM800 256GB drives dell supply?

    Samsung SSD - Downloads
     
  14. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    need to know which firmware version - some can, others not
     
  15. KracsNZ

    KracsNZ Notebook Evangelist

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    Is there anyway of getting the firmware version when in RAID?
     
  16. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    It will be marked on the drives (on the label)
     
  17. KracsNZ

    KracsNZ Notebook Evangelist

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    Bah, much older firmware VBM15D1Q. :(
     
  18. KracsNZ

    KracsNZ Notebook Evangelist

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    Anyone know if these older drives able to be sent in to get a newer firmware installed?
     
  19. doc0075579

    doc0075579 Notebook Consultant

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    Greetings, I recently purchased an M15X, 256 SSD VBM24D1Q version , the windows 7 mark is 6.8 and Crystaldiskmark ratings seem a little low.... any ideas?
     
  20. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    Some have done so, best argument is poor performance
     
  21. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    Gotta be more specific. Screenshots would help.
     
  22. doc0075579

    doc0075579 Notebook Consultant

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    Honestly, I think it's fine. Windows 7 starts up in way less than a min.
     
  23. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    Easiest way of cutting load time would be to disable an services and programs that you don't need upon start up. Changing things like iTunes to "manual" in the services panel and going to "msconfig" to remove programs that start on boot.
     
  24. fastlane1

    fastlane1 Notebook Guru

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    I know trim will not work with Raid but does GC work with raid
     
  25. the_scotsman

    the_scotsman Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for this, now I have my Dell 128GB SSD with TRIM!
     
  26. atreidae

    atreidae Newbie

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    Okay, got VBM19D1Q to flash using maindiag to VBM19C1Q, gave up on my old drive.. got another one. same firmware tried over and over again.

    One thing to note, I got it to the "Flashing point" (ie supported chipset) but the firmware number never changed..
    This was because I didnt power cycle the drive before pressing anykey.

    Works a charm now.

    oh and if your trying to find a chipset that works.
    if you get to the "Flashing now, dont power off" you have an okay chipset.. the firmware will flash REALLY FAST!, this is normal. just remember to powercycle the device before hitting a key. it must send some sort of command...

    Flashed on a Gigabyte ep45-ud3r ICH10 chipset :)
     
  27. the_scotsman

    the_scotsman Notebook Consultant

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    I didn't power cycle the drive between any step and it flashed ok. I set my SATA mode to "compatibility" in the BIOS, nothing more.
     
  28. atreidae

    atreidae Newbie

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    HMMM weird.
    maybe because i flashed a few times (man that sounds nub..)

    anyway. I take it installing the nForce AHCI driver is a nono? I'm just about to re-install windows tonight


    Okay, just installed win7 again.
    Bit of background.. on my last SSD I didnt align the partitions as I just imaged from one machine to the other.

    This is straight out of the box Win7 install.. no drivers nothing.

    Test run on a Dell SXPS 1340 running bios a14 with the sata 2 restriction OFF (ie esata runs at sataII speed)

    2 SSD's side by side, no AHCI driver installed.
    Left one, new one from Dell, Flashed with VBM19C1Q
    Aligned to 1024k using Win7 installer


    Right one used for around 6 months no trim (VBM19D1Q) and not aligned.

    [​IMG]
     
  29. jessea510

    jessea510 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks joker!
    I purchased a Samsung 128gb ssd from a fellow member here. I thought it was TRIM enabled because it was VBM19D1Q but after installing it with Windows 7 i used Crystaldiskinfo and it said there was no TRIM.

    I then tried jokers steps on a Lenovo x100e which has an AMD chipset I believe but it did not work. I would load maindiag.exe and tried step one and it said it worked but it wouldn't let me go to the next step. The same firmware stayed. BIOS was set to compatibility mode. I then tried it in my Lenovo T400 with Intel chipset and it worked! Followed the steps on the first page and then I reloaded Windows 7 as all the info raised and then I checked crystaldiskinfo and it has firmware VBM19C1Q and TRIM was enabled!

    :)

    p.s. I did not read the 38 pages in this tread so sorry if any of this was mentioned before
     
  30. lovewizard

    lovewizard Newbie

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    I signed petition how they pull their finger out!
     
  31. kelvin_hata

    kelvin_hata Notebook Enthusiast

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    ok.. i not yet flash to trim fw yet.. may i ask some noob question..

    will all my ssd data lose after i flash the fw with support trim?
     
  32. FalconMachV

    FalconMachV Notebook Evangelist

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    Here is a link to help identify which Dell SSD have Windows Trim support. "The factory installation of the IRST driver 9.6 will begin on May 19, 2010. The Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver revision 9.5 or older did not support the TRIM function. This was an industry wide issue, not a Dell specific issue.If you got the old version drive, it cannot support TRIM even with new firmware, because it is different based on NAND flash technology."

    http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19332633.aspx

    Samsung M153R SSDR,64GB,S2,THM,SMSNG,PM800,FDE (A00, A01)
    Samsung R075R SSDR,64GB,S2,THM,SMSNG,PM800 (A00, A01, A02)
    Samsung C585T SSDR,64GB,S2,2.5,SMSNG,PM800,FDE (A00, A01)
    Samsung D500T SSDR,64GB,S2,THN,SMSNG,PM800 (A00, A01)
    Samsung F343T SSDR,64GB,S2,FULL,MCARD,PM800 (A00)

    Samsung K326R SSDR,128GB,S2,THM,PM800,SMSN,FDE (A00, A01)
    Samsung M158R SSDR,128GB,S2,THM,PM800,SMSNG (A00, A01, A02)
    Samsung G295T SSDR,128GB,S2,2.5,PM800,SMSN,FDE (A00, A01)
    Samsung F510M SSDR,128GB,S2,2.5,SMSNG,PM800 (A00, A01, A02)

    Samsung J765R SSDR,256GB,S2,THM,PM800,SMSN,FDE (A00, A01)
    Samsung P058R SSDR,256GB,S2,THM,PM800,SMSNG (A00, A01)
    Samsung F342T SSDR,256GB,S2,2.5,PM800,SMSN,FDE (A00, A01)
    Samsung K256M SSDR,256GB,S2,2.5,SMSNG,PM800 (A00, A01, A02)
     
  33. cutnrun22

    cutnrun22 Newbie

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    Hi all, sadly borked my drive after flashing. mine's the hp OVBH1, ran the maindiag, used number 2, then number 1. couldnt flash. now drive has no id, shows in bios as hard drive, but has blank area where device id is. when i try to reflash, maindiag says "the device is not ready, please press any key". obviously i have removed the firmware, anyone any ideas? or where i could get this drive factory reflashed? also, where in minidiag u see drive id, i have nothing, not even a blank area. damn, only had drive a day lol. live n learn..
     
  34. lancorp

    lancorp Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well, that statement from Dell is certainly up for debate. Either they are just washing their hands of having to deal with firmware updates for their customers, or they are misinformed, because even Samsung issued firmware updates for their older revision drives that enabled TRIM after the update!

    My guess is that Dell just doesn't want to deal with supplying firmware updates (and the cost of replacing drives from people who kill their drives doing the update wrong).

    I suppose, too, that Dell's statement could be interpreted as saying that old version drives (pre-PM800) cannot be updated, but PM800's can. Say, if you have an A00, you can update to A02, etc...
     
  35. kenichols29

    kenichols29 Notebook Evangelist

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    I got my drive in may with my M17x, should it have come with a flash of the TRIM supporting firmware or do I need to do that myself? My drive is the samsung PM800.
     
  36. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    What is the firmwware version of your drive

    also you can use CrystalDiskInfo to determine if TRIM is enabled
     
  37. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    Yes, flashing a new firmware wipes the drive completely
     
  38. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    i read some drives could only be reflashed if they were returned to Samsung.

    There was also a change in the design of some newer drives that the Late 2009 released firmware would not support.

    Easiest thing to do IMO is simply call dell and get the drive replaced, and hopefully you get one that supprts TRIM
     
  39. kenichols29

    kenichols29 Notebook Evangelist

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    I think it supports trim. Heres a screenshot.
     

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  40. LOUSYGREATWALLGM

    LOUSYGREATWALLGM Notebook Deity

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    Yep. You SSD is TRIM enabled.
     
  41. kenichols29

    kenichols29 Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks. +1 to LOUSYGREaTWALLGM and dave-p. You both were very helpful.
     
  42. LOUSYGREATWALLGM

    LOUSYGREATWALLGM Notebook Deity

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    Glad to be of help :)

    Let us know if you need more info.

    CHEERS!
     
  43. Lvivkse

    Lvivkse My username is a typo

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    guys, im reading but am kind of lost in all of this

    i have a drive with VBM19D1Q FW, is there a solution to the TRIM problem for this drive yet?

    thanks in advance
     
  44. TitanGod

    TitanGod Notebook Evangelist

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    Just curious... These are my read and write times for my Samsung PM800 SSD. Do these numbers look right?
     

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  45. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    TitanGod look good and says you havr Trim :D
    Lvivke run crystal disk info it will tell you.
     
  46. Lvivkse

    Lvivkse My username is a typo

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    yes. TRIM is currently disabled, but is there a FW update to enable it yet?
     
  47. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    There is no official firmware from Dell yet.

    You basically have 2 options

    1. call Dell and request an exchange - and hopefully the new one has TRIM

    2. Flash the drive yourself with a TRIM enabled firmware.

    option 2 carries risks, Flashing the drive can brick it, so do so at your own risk.

    Some of the newer SSD drives have a different controller and flashing it = Bricked Drive.

    Flashing can be a pain, as the flashing software works on a limited number of computers, and takes allot of experimenting to find a system that is compatible with the flash software.

    IF you think you want to try flashing the drive go back to the first post and READ carefully. if you have any doubt dont.
     
  48. dave-p

    dave-p Notebook Deity

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    well if your laptop is still under warranty, Dell will replace the drive if you have any issues.
     
  49. lancorp

    lancorp Notebook Virtuoso

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    It's been posted by Dell at dell.com forums that Dell will not replace non-TRIM drives with TRIM drives by request. The non-TRIM drives were never advertised as having TRIM, therefore, the customer is not missing anything. They consider it, I guess, a feature of the newer versions, and as such, would require purchasing a new drive.

    It's also a fact that Dell will not replace a SSD because you bricked it doing something that is not Dell sanctioned. Dell does not make firmware available, so whatever you fish from the internet and use to brick your SSD, Dell won't cover.

    Now, you may get lucky and get a Dell tech that takes pity on you and doesn't ask the right questions, but otherwise, it sounded like they will not be making TRIM available to the older PM800's.

    Just thought I would put this out in case some people didn't already know or didn't want to read through 10000 posts on this thread!
     
  50. Lvivkse

    Lvivkse My username is a typo

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    yeah, thanks guys, this drive is going back on ebay
     
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