New build with Windows 7 on an SSD - what do I need to do different to normal?

Donkeyfumbler · 22 Jul 2011 at 14:37

Hi Guys,

Just about to take delivery of a load of parts to build a (mostly) brand new system with my first SSD (a Crucial M64).

Not having used or even seen an SSD before, is there anything I need to do different to if I was installing Windows 7 64bit on a regular HD? My mobo is brand new (MSI p67a G45) and supports Sata 6gbps. I've read somewhere about a bios settting for AHCI - is that likely to apply to me? Anything else I need to do, or would need to do once Windows is up and running?

Cheers.

DragonQ · 22 Jul 2011 at 16:01

Make sure SSD is plugged into first Intel/AMD SATA port (in your case, SATA 1 is the first Intel 6 Gbps SATA port), unplug all other HDDs, set SATA controller to AHCI in BIOS, install Windows 7 to raw SSD space (do NOT partition or format).

When in Windows install Intel RST drivers, run Windows Experience Index (this will disable defrag), enjoy.

Donkeyfumbler · 22 Jul 2011 at 23:20

Excellent - clear and concise.

Thanks very much.

CivilDrone · 23 Jul 2011 at 20:49

Didnt do none of that on my vertex 2, oh well, live and learn as they say

Donkeyfumbler · 26 Jul 2011 at 10:00

Well - all up and running with my new build and SSD. I've done everything as described and it's all gone fine. The only thing I haven't done though is the intel RST drivers. It seems to be working fine as it is, so I was just wondering what the drivers are for and what the benefits would be of using them rather than what seemed to be automatically installed by Windows? Are they just for RAID as well as I only havea single drive? Finally, are they also definitely compatible with my P67 chipset mobo, as I can't see it listed on this page:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...duct=Intel®+Rapid+Storage+Technology&lang=eng

Thanks.

wizardmaxx · 26 Jul 2011 at 23:02

Do a search on google for SSD tweaks.

Easy to follow steps on pagefile, hilernation, firefox cache, indexing, etc.

Most are for speed. but many are for reduced write ops on your drive.

Donkeyfumbler · 27 Jul 2011 at 15:44

Thanks Wizardmaxx.

I've been taking a look today at a variety of articles and most of them do mention the same tips which are basically obligatory, which as I can see are mainly:

1. Check that Windows has disabled Superfetch, Prefetch, and ReadyBoost as well as disabling scheduled defragmentation operations for the SSD. It should so this after running the WEI that DragonQ mentioned.

2. Install the Intel RST drivers as they improve performance over the Windows ones.

3. Disable indexing on the SSD

4. Check that Trim is enabled in Windows 7

5. Disable hibernate - it takes up space and it takes more time to resume from it than to boot from cold with an SSD

Then there are a few that are more in the way of personal preference, as they have advantages and disadvantages:

1. Move the temp file location from the User\Appdata\Local\Temp on the SSD to a different drive, or move the whole users folder. Reduces writes to the SSD but will slow performance.

2. Move the Firefox disk cache to a different hard drive, or disable the disk cache entirely. Reduces writes to the SSD but will slow Firefox startup time and initial peformance (more than usual!).

3. Move the page file to a different hard drive, or disable it entirely. Reduces writes to the SSD but effects performance. Debates about whether removing the pagefile altogether is a good idea, especially with 4gb ram or less.

4. Enable write caching on the SSD. Speeds performance but at the risk of losing data in the event of sudden power cut or other event.

5. Disable system restore. Reduces disk writes but you miss out on the benefits of system restore.

Most of the optional stuff is about reducing writes to prolong the life of your SSD, but is this really necessary with current models, especially when they are being used for just a few hours a day, as mine will be - not 24/7?

What do you all reckon, and are there any other tips I may have missed?

DragonQ · 27 Jul 2011 at 16:46

Almost all of those "tweaks" are pointless or detrimental to performance, especially the ones designed to reduce writes to the SSD - modern SSDs will outlast HDDs anyway, there is no need. Just leave the drive alone.

Donkeyfumbler · 27 Jul 2011 at 16:59

Do you mean the second list, or some/all of the first lot as well DragonQ? I wasn't actually planning on doing any of the second list (apart from checking that Write Caching was enabled) as, like you say, it seems like a lot of effort or reduced functionality for either little or no gain.

Justintime · 27 Jul 2011 at 17:43

DragonQ said:
Almost all of those "tweaks" are pointless or detrimental to performance, especially the ones designed to reduce writes to the SSD - modern SSDs will outlast HDDs anyway, there is no need. Just leave the drive alone.

Some of them do improve performance a little, but if left on its own without any tweaks you'd never know the difference. Personally i just get rid of hibernate and system restore to gain a few gb.

Reaga · 28 Jul 2011 at 07:44

There is a good article here which explains how to do some of the common tweaks as well as examining the performance benifit/loss of performing such tweaks. It might help you decide if you want to do some of the things mentioned in this thread or give them a miss.

BillTheButcher · 28 Jul 2011 at 09:31

Reaga said:
There is a good article here which explains how to do some of the common tweaks as well as examining the performance benifit/loss of performing such tweaks. It might help you decide if you want to do some of the things mentioned in this thread or give them a miss.

That's an excellent guide. Thanks for posting.

For my OCZ Vertex 3 I didn't install the Intel RST drivers (and still haven't). I just plugged it into the Intel port, changed the BIOS setting to AHCI and installed Windows 7 on it.

I flashed the SSD firmware shortly after the install and I've disabled Hibernate, Indexing and Defrag.

These were the ATTO results:

Official figures:
Read 550 MB/s, write 500 MB/s.

I'm wondering if the transfer rates for smaller file sizes could be improved with the RST drivers...

Donkeyfumbler · 28 Jul 2011 at 09:55

Thanks for the link Reaga - I hadn't seen that article before and it does go into a bit more depth than the others. It does show that all these tweaks have a negligible effect on performance, and so it's really more about either recovering space, which is a personal choice, or reducing writes, which may not be really necessary with modern drives as DragonQ and others have said.