SSD Thread (Benchmarks, Brands, News, and Advice)

davepermen,

You really are making it more complicated than it is.

A format from a fully running system with Win 7 will pass the TRIM command to a TRIM enabled SSD.

A format from a Windows setup window - even Win 7 setup, will not.

 

no. that's entierly not true. which is what i wanted to clarify.

partition DELETION does not trim that section. EVERY formatting will do it it. win7 setup runs in win7 actually, and uses those same drivers.

what anand tested was this:

degenerating the disk by filling it, then deleting the partition. disk benchmarks can still run on that deleted region, and show the degeneration still happens. but once you format, it's up on normal speed again.



and in the end, what i said is IT DOES NOT MATTER. if, one day, one has a measurable difference in performance, one can just use the trim tool to clean up ANYTHING that might not got collected over the years.

 

davepermen,

Okay, I'll take your data point into consideration - but not too convinced that a Win 7 Setup format will properly TRIM an SSD - I do hope its true though!

Maybe I'm not convinced because I'm confusing myself with the new IRST drivers (which need to be installed first, of course) and the MS default AHCI storage drivers which do pass on TRIM commands too.

Of course, this still won't help AMD, nVidia or any other chipset users that the default Win 7 Setup drivers aren't the MS ones, by default.

 

agree.
Intel is the first SSD I bought back to Dec 2008, it still runs really cool.

 

and even then it doesn't matter tooo much. but the trim tool should fix all remaining issues

 

maybe in win8, the defragmentation tool changes to a generic "disk performance maintenance tool", that defragments hdds, and retrims ssds?

would be useful.

 

I suppose that could be done on Win7 with a Service Pack or a major update...

 

it could but then again, win7 being an sp, i guess that sp will be called win8, then *big smile*

i just hope they add that, doesn't matter to me if it's in sp1, or in win8. it would just clear up all issues people could have

 

Is there a way, how to securely delete data from a SSD? I would like to sell my half a year old Sammy and I was used to to securely delete files on my HDDs before selling, but I don't know about SSD. Theoretically just format should be enough?

 

yep, completely format it, then all is gone. just don't quick format (which should be good enough for people not getting at the data, but it's still in the chips).

 

I saw a slight decrease in performance using the Intel Rapid Storage drivers on my Samsung PBJJ-XX drive in my TT. The best drivers for me are the stock ones that come with W7 or the ones that shipped with my laptop.
I've deleted the benchmark software for now, time for me to move on and enjoy my laptop.

 

Rachel, thanks for the additional data point.

I'll have to keep my eyes open for that (and revert back to the default drivers if I see the same decrease) for my client's Dell next week.

Was this decrease only in benchmarks or also noticeable when using the system too?

 

tiller, remember to check out how u setup s1 sleep on ur clients dell.

 

Oh yes, I haven't forgotten. Next week a meeting is not certain, but more than likely...

 

In benchmarks tilleroftheearth.

 

Metsn,

See:
http://www.iishacks.com/index.php/2...e-erase-reset-an-intel-solid-state-drive-ssd/

Although for Intel SSD's, it should work with any SSD (my understanding).

Rachel, thanks!

But, curious? You would uninstall the driver based on a benchmark and not real world use? I guess I really don't understand/trust benchmarks as much as I should be?

 

Thank you, but do you think it's really needed? From my understanding in case of SSD it's not possible to recover data after full reformat. And all erasing programs, which are primarily for HDDs, will run a few passes on the SSD, which will just make it wear out more.

 

wearing it out more doesn't matter. you have to let it run 100x to actually wear it out 1%, only having 99% of it's writes left...

so letting it run, say, 5x means NOTHING to the life of the drive.

 

Metsn,

Regarding the writes; it is the same as a full format. So that issue is null and void.

But, as you are selling this SSD, it will give the performance of a like new unit to the next purchaser. In addition to erasing your data it 'clears' the controller's tracking of all the used cells and thereby giving close to new performance.

I love this clear all feature of secure erase on SSD's.

This is one reason I have been purchasing aftermarket HD's for my notebook's since 1999; when I sell them - the original drive goes along with none of my data - ever.

 

OK, thank you both of you for information So my Samsung SSD 128GB 2.5" MLC SATA RBX Series is for sale on eBay

 

and you reminded me to have to secure erase the drive i am selling right now thanks

 

did yo mean to start teh lap, press f2, and then leave it at the bios screen? also, are you suggesting it may work in S1 sleep mode?

 

yes and yes

 

anyone got a colossus yet?

i hope intel really comes out with a larger drive in the next two quarters like they originally reported.

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha There are so many moments I'm dying here. I downloaded the .exe. I see when I got a second to mess around with it.

 

I'm not speaking for everyone, but just guessing that the people currently on this thread might equate a colossus with the old 'Bigfoot' drives of years gone by.

(Big, for their time, but slow and clumsy).

If you need simple storage, mechanical HD's still reign supreme.

I too am not only waiting for a larger Intel SSD, but hopefully one that incorporates a G3 technology (maybe like a 20 channel design + 128MB Fast cache?).

 

This thread is taking off as fast as the original Les thread So, Tiller, you are saying I can switch my BIOS to ACHI from whatever it is at and all will be good? AND I may even see a boost just from that? I would do 2 image backups before doing that just in case

Dave

 

yeah, switching should not hurt the system, it just has to redetect the fitting driver.

and if it fails to boot, just set it back and all is just like before.

theoretically, no need to backup, but just do it, just in case

and yes, the thread goes strong. but tiller got more posts in that one than i have. that is not good!

(in the old one i had >10% of all posts hrrhrr.. just checked today for fun )

 

Those Bigfoot drives scared me even back then It was hard to put a spin of any type (no pun intended) on what was arguably the SLOWEST hard drive ever produced. A fast floppy drive would give that bigfoot a run for its money

 

if i want something like the colossus, i want it pci-e based.. one of those fusion cards or so. they look gorgeous like sci-fi hightech. much more worth it than something 3.5" based in a box

design matters, even in the pc case

 

Dave P you are a riot! Yeah, I think I actually did do the ACHI switch and switch back at one time on a computer, but I think it was a non production machine, so I had no worries. BUt, as always, I am desperate for that next boost of speed, so I shall try it. I did an image backup last night, so I should be pretty OK.

 

speaking of which, what happened to the last thread ? Was it closed because I was off for 2 months ... lol ?

anyways, I checked to see if the corsair p256 got any cheaper, and to my surprise it has gotten even more expensive. What's up with that ?

and what are people saying about the Intel G2 SSDs ?

 

it was closed because it got so big that the forum started to crash very often when we tried to access the thread

yes this forum dies with big threads

 

anyone knows any info, when the x25-v comes out from intel itself? cause, i don't want to buy a 40gb ssd that has no trim. for such a drive, it is rather important to get it's free space back somehow and i really should get some solution soon.

80gb intel is sold out around here completely

 

Cape Consultant,

LOL @ Bigfoot drives - Oh, those were so not the days!

I've never had a permanent crash switching between IDE and AHCI, but I've never had a seamless switch either. Basically, the computer won't boot because AHCI drivers need to be installed before you switch the mode in the BIOS.

Here is one way to do it on a running system:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/244840-32-convert-sata-ahci-vista

The other way is to force the IMSM driver to install, reboot into AHCI and let Windows reboot a couple of times and configure itself for the AHCI mode.

 

davepermen, X25-V?

see:
http://www.onsale.com/p/Intel-Portable/Removable-Drives/product~dpno~7956597~pdp.fihcfdi

 

I was working on a client's computer and IBM desktop, and saw a BigFoot inside! I could not believe it! that was one slow computer

I am going to check the BIOS on next boot and see what it is set for. Anyone know when the new Intel drivers will be back out to play?

I remember back when the original thread was at 50-100 pages and I posted that I would like to buy this or that. Well, Les panicked and though i really was going to buy whatever and he called me on the phone to try to convince me not to buy it. No worries as I had less than zero $$$ anyways Still, that was pretty cool of him.

 

Both Intel firmware and the SSD Toolbox have been promised end of this month.

Samsung has actually promised the same (firmware), so Monday?

Even if its Friday next week, should still be good as I'm hoping to see my client who needs both Samsung and Intel firmware (no point doing them separately).

Wow, Les sounds like a really nice guy! Still have his post for Vista Tips & Tweaks Guide as a quick link in Safari - even though I'm almost totally Win 7 now.

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=166532

BTW, that was recent with the Bigfoot? LOL

 

lol, I hold 10% hope that both intel and Samsung will realease news

 

Great news about the drivers. The end of the month is rapidly approaching! The Bigfoot mentioned was, geez, about 5 years ago. Even then I was surprised to see it.

 

new Patriot SSD,
http://www.servethehome.com/?p=206
from the review, the SSD doesnt look good.

 

I checked and only have Normal or Legacy for SATA operation in BIOS. Must be because I have a Dell desktop. Sold lappy to get a BB Storm2. So, no ACHI drivers for me, although I will go to Dell now and check for that. Dave

 

latest solidata has a rated power consumption as 3W which seems still higher than all the rest: http://www.ssdshop.ch/cat159.htm http://www.ssdshop.ch/cat182.htm

 

Enterprise drives always seem to consume more power than consumer counterparts. Intel X25-E 64GB consumes 2.6W actively (from Intel product manual).

 

Yes, but that product line is now over a year old.

 

Cape, you didn't mention if it's on Normal or Legacy. I'm guessing Normal is AHCI and Legacy is IDE.

Also, do you have the latest BIOS installed? They may have added the option on a newer one.

If all the above fail, try to do a 'Load Defaults' in your BIOS (if you haven't customized it too much! Careful!), this may be what it needs to boot in AHCI mode.

Keep us posted and hope one of these suggestions work.

 

Wow, that plainly shows the Intel being more power hungry than Indilinx and especially Samsung SSD's, but at 3W, Solidata even makes the Intel look great in the energy used department.

I really wonder what performance we would be getting now, if Intel didn't care about the energy envelope of the G2's (for our desktops, of course ).

 

Yep, it is on normal. I probably do not have the very latest BIOS, as I err on the side on conservatism there. In device manager there is no place that indicates anything but the stock MS drivers. No ACHI anywhere, of any version. I might just stay where I am for a little while as I have Win7 and it runs super fine

 

Well, if this is your only system, I would be cautious too.

It might not be called AHCI, it may be called 'Enhanced', 'Extended' or, or ... I ran out of ideas!

The best modus operandi? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Cheers!


Edit: Okay, Brain back on; the other mode might be RAID - duh!

 

Good ideas! But nope, the only choices are Legacy and Normal. My laptop had the ACHI/RAID, etc. When I get a chance, I will take a look at the date on my BIOS and compare it to the latest on Dell's site. Right now, it is my only system. Want to get a Dell Zino HD just for messing around. But after I price it out, the $229 system becomes like $950