SSD feet 1st

[MaDMaX**]

on friday I took delivery of my 1st ssd an INTEL X25-M 80GB version 2. (SSDSA2MH080G2C1)

I feel like Ive just bought a space shuttle and should have read the intructions 1st,,

have i got this right?

Im going to use it as a boot drive for wind 7 64bit, and a standard hdd as 2nd/backup drive...

1st off to benefit properly i'll need to enable AHCI in bios.

then once windows is loaded,will windows automatically use the AHCI drivers for the drive as it will see it??


i will also need to relocate the page/swapfile/virtual memory to the standard drive.

then if im lucky and my ssd has the firmware version 02HA

windows 7 will utilise the intel SSD optimser and so automatically use trim!



is there anything i have missed, i have also posted this in the slight chance there is anyone dimmer than myself and goes out to buy an SSD without thinking 1st

 

[Zarf]

1st off to benefit properly i'll need to enable AHCI in bios.

then once windows is loaded,will windows automatically use the AHCI drivers for the drive as it will see it??

Correct, if you're doing a fresh install of Windows.

i will also need to relocate the page/swapfile/virtual memory to the standard drive.

Only if you're concerned about space, It won't make much difference to your drives lifespan and performance is better from the SSD.

then if im lucky and my ssd has the firmware version 02HA

windows 7 will utilise the intel SSD optimser and so automatically use trim!

It's unlikely to have the new Firmware on, the firmware was taken down a couple of days after release becasue it could brick some drives (i've been using it fine though).
Once they post a fixed firmware it's very easy to update, just download the iso from Intel, burn to a CD (Win7 has a built in tool) and boot from the CD. Follow the instructions and you're updated and all your data is preserved.

ATM Win7 will only automatically use TRIM if you are using the default microsoft drivers that come with Win7, if you install the latest Intel ones you get slightly better performance, but TRIM isn't passed through automatically (But you can simply schedule the SSD optimiser tool)

 

[Davy644]

MaDMaX** Was it a worthwhile upgrade considering ?
Been lookin at these for a while

 

[MaDMaX**]

ATM Win7 will only automatically use TRIM if you are using the default microsoft drivers that come with Win7, if you install the latest Intel ones you get slightly better performance, but TRIM isn't passed through automatically (But you can simply schedule the SSD optimiser tool)

Ur right about the firmwire mine has the 02G9 i think it is, but least i can upgrade once new firmwire is out,

but are you saying ATT i can still have trim in win7 ? im a bit confused with ur last statement sorry , thought the ssd needs the latest firmware regardless in order to use trim with auto/manual ssd optimizer

MaDMaX** Was it a worthwhile upgrade considering ?
Been lookin at these for a while

I think so , the only thing thats going to hold me back is trim! so it depends on what the impact is of not having trim in the short term.
but its only a matter of waiting for the update ffrom intel, if u were looking at the X25M i would think carefully, are there any other ssd's out there that will give all the benefits incl trim,,,

its down to the old saying when ever is the right time to buy,,,, i am glad i have, because i think its agood price, and like memory these things could bolt up in price really quickly or down i guess,,,

 

[Zarf]

but are you saying ATT i can still have trim in win7 ? im a bit confused with ur last statement sorry , thought the ssd needs the latest firmware regardless in order to use trim with auto/manual ssd optimizer

You need the latest firmware to use TRIM. Using the Microsoft drivers instead of Intels drivers at this time will let Win7 pass through the command automatically when you delete things, but in either case you need the latest firmware.

To be honest don't worry too much about it, you won't actually feel any performance drop without TRIM, they are still very fast. It's more of a benchmark thing.

 

[MaDMaX**]

You need the latest firmware to use TRIM. Using the Microsoft drivers instead of Intels drivers at this time will let Win7 pass through the command automatically when you delete things, but in either case you need the latest firmware.

To be honest don't worry too much about it, you won't actually feel any performance drop without TRIM, they are still very fast. It's more of a benchmark thing.

thanks for that, certainly not gonna wait for the fw and as im only going to install the o/s plus games and anything that will permantly stay on hopefully it wont have much of an impact!

waiting for caddy to turn up for drive ,,, once thats here today, will fit all and load windows tomorrow and wednesday....i am hoping for some faster times etc loading windows and games, but what is just as important is it all working with nothing in the 3.5" drive area, that gives asignificant change to the space in my pc, and possibly loooking for aslightly smaller case,