It should be arriving tomorrow, and I was wondering what tips people have for installing these drives. I plan to upgrade the firmware from my current installation of windows, but I was wondering if it's possible (and not error prone) to install windows 7 for a second time onto the SSD, and then format the original windows drive once the new installation is running smoothly. Also, I'd like to make sure the drive is running in SATA 3 and at 6 GB/s before removing my current windows installation from the equation.
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Ordered a Crucial m4
- Thread starter Epitaph64
- Start date
If you want to install fresh on the SSD, then hook it up and unplug the other drives - sometimes having a drive with Windows already on it hooked up will cause the Windows install to behave strangely. The firmware update, if I remember correctly, is boot-disk based, so no need to use your old install for that.
Once you get the firmware updated, if it needs it, just install Windows normally to the SSD. After everything is up and running, you can change your power options to turn off hibernation to save some space on the SSD (by default the hibernation file is the same size as your RAM).
Once you get the firmware updated, if it needs it, just install Windows normally to the SSD. After everything is up and running, you can change your power options to turn off hibernation to save some space on the SSD (by default the hibernation file is the same size as your RAM).
Ah, I see. Will hooking up the old windows drive after the system is configured cause issues likely? Also, I have an Asus P6X58D Premium motherboard and I'm wondering which SATA port is the best to use for this drive. There are two SATA3 ports (SATA5/SATA6.) Also, thanks for the hibernation tip, that will definitely be something I do.
EDIT: Also, after installation, which drivers for the SSD in particular need to be installed? Also, I plan to use CrystalDiskInfo (http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html) to check speeds, unless there is a better alternative.
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Hooking up the old Windows drive after you do the install won't cause any problems, just make sure the BIOS is set to boot the new drive. I'm assuming the SATA 6GB ports on that motherboard are Marvell? If so, you might be better off just using the SATA 3G Intel ports - the Marvell ports have a history of trouble with SSD performance (but I don't know if that is all of them, or just some, so you could try it and see). Win 7 has built-in drivers for AHCI, so you should be good to go - if you use the Intel ports you can install their Intel RST drivers, but it isn't required. For the Marvell ports, you'd have to install the drivers for those.
Either Crystal DiskMark or AS-SSD for benching.
Either Crystal DiskMark or AS-SSD for benching.
Because of some manufacturers implementation of the SATA3 controllers, or the ability of the controller itself, it doesn't always mean you get the speed you would expect.
If you tag the SATA3 controller for 2 ports onto a 500MB/sec interface that shares with some other stuff, you would never get any more than 500MB/sec before overheads, assuming the controller could keep up, for example.
I think I'll just use the Intel SATA2 ports. Some people are saying that TRIM isn't working over the Marvell controllers and the performance on the Intel is slower in some aspects, but it seems most scores are generally more consistent with the Intel controller. I just hope my shipment arrives soon so I can start tinkering.
The only thing that the SATA mode affects is sequential reads (and less so writes), so unless you plan to move a lot of big files around it doesn't really matter that much. Random accesses are where SSDs shine, and the SATA speed doesn't affect those significantly.
Ah, good to know! Yeah I definitely will use the more consistent Intel controller then.
Noetic
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2001
- Messages
- 1,299
At this point, I would think all M4's have the 009 firmware.
High_Boost
Weaksauce
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2011
- Messages
- 86
I got one last week and it had 009 on it already
Okay, I have Windows up and running and two older HDDs connected as well. I'm wondering how to disable scheduled defragmentation for only the SSD but not the other hard drives however.
EDIT: Also, should I install the Intel Matrix RSP driver from Intel directly or install the one on Asus' page? The one of the Asus motherboard page hasn't been updated since 2009, however.
EDIT: Also, should I install the Intel Matrix RSP driver from Intel directly or install the one on Asus' page? The one of the Asus motherboard page hasn't been updated since 2009, however.
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It is disabled automatically. Defrag is still scheduled, but if you go in and check in the "select drive" option (or whatever it is) you'll see that the SSD is not selected. If I remember correctly, it is grayed out, so you can't select it even if you wanted to.
Instal the RST driver from Intel's site.
I'm able to Defrag the drive. I cancel it before it's done analyzing, but it seems like it would go through with it.
EDIT: Also, every time I boot Windows my storage drive opens an autoplay dialog window. What is this all about? Also, the drive gets 7.8 in the Windows Experience test thing.
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You can force a manual defrag, but you shouldn't be able to select the SSD to be scheduled for a defrag through the scheduled service. Different situation.
Even if you can select it (it's been a while since I fooled with it) it should be de-selected by default.
Even if you can select it (it's been a while since I fooled with it) it should be de-selected by default.
Ah, I see what you mean now. Sadly enough, I seem to be getting some weird hitching issues. The mouse will slow down randomly and the browser won't scroll for a few seconds and then respond again. Not sure if it's related but it's quite annoying.
That sounds familiar, but I can't remember why. I don't think it had to do with Crucial SSDs, but some other brand/controller/driver issue. I'll see if I can remember where I saw it.
Edit: Here it is:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1632077&highlight=freezes
http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1037686636&postcount=9
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Hmm, my mouse is plugged into USB3. But does this mean that I can't use those USB3 ports at all with the SSD?
EDIT: Also, here are my current speeds with CrystalDiskMark. http://i.imgur.com/75tdv.png
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I think, from reading that thread, that it was just the combination of mouse and USB 3 - other devices worked okay, but I don't have any firsthand experience.
Well the hitching is gone now that I moved the mouse to a 2.0 USB slot.