Intel SSD TRIM Questions

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Bop

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I received my 160GB a few days ago and am currently waiting for the firmware release before I load Windows 7 on it. I've read that installing Intel's HDD drivers will disable the TRIM command in Windows 7.

My first question is by drivers do they mean the Matrix Storage Manager or the Chipset Installation Software? I'd like to be able to install the chipset software package without TRIM being disabled.

My second question is since I have to install Win Vista on the HDD first, (I have the upgrade edition of Win7) will the drive be TRIMed when I reformat it in the Win7 installation? I read at Anandtech that it will, but I would just like a confirmation.
 
Yes you should not install the Matrix Storage Manager drivers. The chipset inf drivers should be fine to install. You do NOT need to install Vista first with the Windows 7 Upgrade disc and in fact should not. There are plenty of instructions on how to do this around here and some info and link on how to do it here. http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1463222 I'd probably try for the registry edit method but there might be other methods beyond these as well.

The problem is Vista will not partition the SSD with a proper offset. It will work but it will not be optimal. I'd say not to even bother waiting on the new firmware. Even without TRIM the Intel G2 drives perform great and they generally do not require re-installation of the OS for a firmware upgrade. Once the firmware is upgraded you can use the Intel toolbox one time to clean the drive up and then TRIM will maintain it automatically after that. However the new firmware is supposed to be released by the end of the month.
 
hhara said:
Where did you hear this?
Click to expand...

Intel....

http://communities.intel.com/community/tech/solidstate

Intel has confirmed an issue with the firmware update process for 34nm (G2) Intel® X25-M SSDs (80GB and 160GB). This predominantly affected Windows* 7 (64bit) users during or immediately after the upgrade process to 02HA firmware using the firmware update tool (version 1.3). Intel plans to release a fix for this issue by the end of November 2009.
 
MixManSC said:
Yes you should not install the Matrix Storage Manager drivers. The chipset inf drivers should be fine to install. You do NOT need to install Vista first with the Windows 7 Upgrade disc and in fact should not. There are plenty of instructions on how to do this around here and some info and link on how to do it here. http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1463222 I'd probably try for the registry edit method but there might be other methods beyond these as well.

The problem is Vista will not partition the SSD with a proper offset. It will work but it will not be optimal. I'd say not to even bother waiting on the new firmware. Even without TRIM the Intel G2 drives perform great and they generally do not require re-installation of the OS for a firmware upgrade. Once the firmware is upgraded you can use the Intel toolbox one time to clean the drive up and then TRIM will maintain it automatically after that. However the new firmware is supposed to be released by the end of the month.
Click to expand...

I believe that currently, you can not use any chipset drivers other than Microsoft's default if you want TRIM to work.
 
On my home system, I have a G2 80GB with the pulled firmware (I was lucky in that I did not get a bricked drive). I installed the Intel Chipset inf drivers with no problems - it did update some of the drivers related to the PCI bus, etc but none of the ICH9R or disk drivers were replaced. That did not replace the drive or controller drivers which are both still the stock ones that came with Windows 7. TRIM is working just fine..... as long as the drive controller and drive are using the stock Windows 7 drivers it's fine.
 
MixManSC said:
On my home system, I have a G2 80GB with the pulled firmware (I was lucky in that I did not get a bricked drive). I installed the Intel Chipset inf drivers with no problems - it did update some of the drivers related to the PCI bus, etc but none of the ICH9R or disk drivers were replaced. That did not replace the drive or controller drivers which are both still the stock ones that came with Windows 7. TRIM is working just fine..... as long as the drive controller and drive are using the stock Windows 7 drivers it's fine.
Click to expand...

Good to hear, thanks. I already installed Vista on the drive though before I made this thread though :( I installed two games to see the performance so I may wait until the firmware update is out before I install 7 because I already filled up 50-60GB.

I actually just remembered a third question.

Over on Anandtech I read that you should keep 20% free space for the SSD for optimal performance. Should I calculate that 20% free space from the physical 160GB available or the visible 149GB in Windows? I know SSDs actually have the full 160GB but it is invisible to Windows and the drive controller uses it as a "scratch pad," but I am unsure as whether to consider my drive "full" at 120GB or 128GB.
 
MixManSC said:
Intel....

http://communities.intel.com/community/tech/solidstate

Intel has confirmed an issue with the firmware update process for 34nm (G2) Intel® X25-M SSDs (80GB and 160GB). This predominantly affected Windows* 7 (64bit) users during or immediately after the upgrade process to 02HA firmware using the firmware update tool (version 1.3). Intel plans to release a fix for this issue by the end of November 2009.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks for the link, I was not aware.
 
Thought I'd bump this thread rather than creating a new one to ask my question...

I've just received my G2 X25-M and I'm wondering if there's anything I need to know before installing Windows 7? Should I have my BIOS set any particular way or choose any particular options when installing? As I understand it, I can install Windows 7 now and use the firmware update for the drive (when it's released) later on without any problems. I think I'm right in saying that after installing the update I should be able to run the optimiser which should handle everything for me?

Sorry if these seem like stupid questions. I'm new to this stuff and I don't want to screw it up. :)
 
Psychotext said:
Thought I'd bump this thread rather than creating a new one to ask my question...

I've just received my G2 X25-M and I'm wondering if there's anything I need to know before installing Windows 7? Should I have my BIOS set any particular way or choose any particular options when installing? As I understand it, I can install Windows 7 now and use the firmware update for the drive (when it's released) later on without any problems. I think I'm right in saying that after installing the update I should be able to run the optimiser which should handle everything for me?

Sorry if these seem like stupid questions. I'm new to this stuff and I don't want to screw it up. :)
Click to expand...

AHCI
 
Bop said:
Over on Anandtech I read that you should keep 20% free space for the SSD for optimal performance. Should I calculate that 20% free space from the physical 160GB available or the visible 149GB in Windows? I know SSDs actually have the full 160GB but it is invisible to Windows and the drive controller uses it as a "scratch pad," but I am unsure as whether to consider my drive "full" at 120GB or 128GB.
Click to expand...

I guess I just figured out the answer to my own question; upon reading more Anandtech articles it appears I just count it from the 160GB. The drive needs a 20% "scratch pad" like the X-25 SLC drive for max performance so I'll just format the drive for 128GB. (131072MB)
 
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