Installing an SSD as a data drive

pre · 10 Oct 2011 at 20:20

Okay so I've just received 2x128Gb Crucial M4s but don't have time to install Win7 until weekend. I have plugged one in, formatted but this doesn't seem right:

Is there something I'm missing or is this caused by not having switched SATA mode to AHCI?

mikeo · 10 Oct 2011 at 21:23

hi

I hope when you say "...formatted but this doesn't seem right:"
that you only did a "quick format" and not a full one!

Question... is this drive on an Intel, or a Marvell controller? As these drives don't perform anywhere near as well on a Marvell controller.

I'm also assuming this is connected to a 6Gb Sata port? These look more like figures from a drive attached to a 3Gb one!

PS. Some idea of you system spec. might be helpful

pre · 10 Oct 2011 at 21:30

I did do a quick format.

I should know better actually than to ask a phrase a problem without giving some background. Derp. This is on an Intel controller and it is a 3Gb SATA controller (Biostar X58 Tpower with a I7 [email protected]

I think you hit the nail on the head performance wise - this is nearly a 2 year old mobo.

mikeo · 10 Oct 2011 at 21:44

No problem.

At least you are now "future proof" for when you upgrade to a new mobo.

Other option would be a 6Gb PCIe card but I wouldn't bother if it was me. You still have the near instantaneous access time of an SSD regardless of what controller it's on

Inaharry · 11 Oct 2011 at 09:17

You should be getting faster write speeds than that, even on SATA2. However, you'll definitely need to be running in AHCI mode, so when you get the chance to re-install at the weekend, make sure that AHCI is enabled and use the latest driver from Intel.

Also, have you updated the firmware on the M4 yet?

mikeo · 11 Oct 2011 at 14:00

Inaharry said:
You should be getting faster write speeds than that, even on SATA2. However, you'll definitely need to be running in AHCI mode, so when you get the chance to re-install at the weekend, make sure that AHCI is enabled and use the latest driver from Intel.

Also, have you updated the firmware on the M4 yet?

Agreed about setting AHCI in the BIOS. Though I've never found that the latest Intel RST drivers make "that" big a difference when compared to the standard Microsoft AHCI drivers that W7 installs. Though worth a try if you want and certainly wont hurt (might even be the better choice).