OS and new SSD

justinmg · 17 Mar 2009 at 07:38

I have read somewhere that Windows 7 is the only OS that will be optimised for SSDs. I know may are using them with other OSs. Are there any important steps I need to do before installing Vista 32 & SP1, or do I just hook up and go?

shine · 17 Mar 2009 at 08:37

If you're not using RAID then you can just install Vista - the SSD is pre formatted and optimised for Vista. Do not format it during the install otherwise you will have to align it correctly.

justinmg · 18 Mar 2009 at 07:44

I was going to start with a single SLC Samsung 64. In the future, if the performance gains are likely to be high enough I would RAID. Would I need to re-install at that time, or does the RAIDing process just copy the old drive to the new?

_Jimlad_ · 18 Mar 2009 at 09:16

i was thinking of getting a SSD to install my os on when windows7 comes out, what sort of speed improvements do you think we will get?

shine · 18 Mar 2009 at 21:37

justinmg said:
I was going to start with a single SLC Samsung 64. In the future, if the performance gains are likely to be high enough I would RAID. Would I need to re-install at that time, or does the RAIDing process just copy the old drive to the new?

Reinstall will be easier as Vista will need to know about the RAID setup, although to be fair when I didn't look into it much when I went from 1 SSD to a RAID 0 setup. I just reinstalled as I had a vlited SP1 disk to install from.

shine · 18 Mar 2009 at 21:38

_Jimlad_ said:
i was thinking of getting a SSD to install my os on when windows7 comes out, what sort of speed improvements do you think we will get?

I haven't got any figures but I know people who've compared Vista v 7 have always said Windows 7 is better. It might be worth looking around the OCZ forums for more information.

Rudeboy · 19 Mar 2009 at 03:11

Isn't it to do with the fact that Windows 7 will support the TRIM command when the manufacturers finally implement the command into the SSD firmware. I don't think that manufacturers are supporting it in current SSD firmware. Unless they provide a firmware update, then you're not going to see any performance gain from Windows 7 alone without purchasing new SSD's that support the TRIM feature.

_Jimlad_ · 19 Mar 2009 at 07:53

does make sense to install the os and applications on a SSD, hopefully buy the end of the year when i build a new rig it will all be standard

Lanz · 19 Mar 2009 at 15:52

_Jimlad_ said:
i was thinking of getting a SSD to install my os on when windows7 comes out, what sort of speed improvements do you think we will get?

With Windows 7 and a TRIM enabled SSD, you wont see so much performance drop over time like you do with current (non intel) SSDs. That's the only real difference I think.

I'd wait until Windows 7 ships, then you'll have lots of new `trim` SSDs, cheaper ones, with more space.

NickK · 19 Mar 2009 at 16:33

Lanz said:
With Windows 7 and a TRIM enabled SSD, you wont see so much performance drop over time like you do with current (non intel) SSDs. That's the only real difference I think.

I'd wait until Windows 7 ships, then you'll have lots of new `trim` SSDs, cheaper ones, with more space.

Intel is also subject to the 'performance' drop. This is write performance btw.

TRIM helps the write, but doesn't solve the problem entirely. I would suspect that there will be new forms of filing system in the future that will be more SSD ffriendly by design..

TRIM is supported by the drive's firmware. For Intel you can't upgrade the firmware. For Vertex you can so it's possible that a later firmware flash will support TRIM.. So ensure that any new drive you buy can have it's firmware upgraded.

*pats his Vertex 120 sitting in the MBP he's typing on*