• Notice regarding image hosts and attachments. See here.

Yet another.. I fitted a 160GB intel SSD question thread.

GunRunner

GunRunner

GunRunner

Associate
Joined
31 Jan 2007
Posts
603
Hi

I have just fitted a 160GB intel SSD. I did not want to re-install my Windows 7 64 bit Pro OS, so I just cloned using my norton ghost floppy from my 500GB HD to the SSD. On rebooting from the SSD, I carried out the repair using the Windows disk and now I am up and running.

Now I see my Primary HD transfer rate is 5.9. From reading generally I understand this is slow and it should be faster. Having looked around this site and many others, I am a little confused as to what to I need to do improve the speed to 7.1 (ish).

Is there a guide that just gives the procedure as bullet points and the places to go for the drivers that is easy to follow without going to deep into the pros and cons of each part? Starting with the motherboard BIOS settings and registry settings. Also what about the intel tools that users talk about? Also I have Perfect disk 11!

My system specs are below in the signature. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in anticipation.
 
as far i know, you are not suppose to clone the partition from hard drive to SSD, i cant remember why but i read somewhere that it does affect the performance due the way SSD install new files over the memory chips. not sure thou.

try ATTO benchmarking

edit: you said you didnt want to reinstall, you could have put the SSD as primary and 500GB as second SATA port, install win7 on SSD, once finished, copy all data from 500GB to SSD, install software/games on SSD shouldnt take long :)
 
Last edited:
wesley said:
as far i know, you are not suppose to clone the partition from hard drive to SSD, i cant remember why but i read somewhere that it does affect the performance due the way SSD install new files over the memory chips. not sure thou.

try ATTO benchmarking
Click to expand...

Interesting statement. I would love to see references on the web on that!


wesley said:
edit: you said you didnt want to reinstall, you could have put the SSD as primary and 500GB as second SATA port, install win7 on SSD, once finished, copy all data from 500GB to SSD, install software/games on SSD shouldnt take long :)
Click to expand...

I wish it was as easy as that. There is only 42gb of data, it is all the settings with being an admin on TS3 and so on and so forth.

OK!!! If I went down the re-install route, is there any drivers, BIOS settings and registry settings I would need to do first? I am still reluctant though!
 
GunRunner said:
OK!!! If I went down the re-install route, is there any drivers, BIOS settings and registry settings I would need to do first? I am still reluctant though!
Click to expand...

nothing needs to be done. just plug in both drives in.

boot up win7 DVD, select SSD drive to install win7..........that it lol

i never touched my motherboard BIOS or registery settings for my win7 on SSD, win7 is SSD-awareness OS. you should see the 500GB hard drive in 'my computer', copy/paste the data over to SSD :)
 
wesley said:
nothing needs to be done. just plug in both drives in.

boot up win7 DVD, select SSD drive to install win7..........that it lol

i never touched my motherboard BIOS or registery settings for my win7 on SSD, win7 is SSD-awareness OS. you should see the 500GB hard drive in 'my computer', copy/paste the data over to SSD :)
Click to expand...

Hang on hang on....I am getting old! Procedure? Please...... Could you write a quick one with steps? I would be most grateful...a beer or three!

You mean install windows 7 on the SSD?
What about the program files for all my other stuff? Lots of them..and I mean lots of them. I cannot copy and paste them
What about all my Office 2007 outlook settings with 5 different email addresses.
 
Update..

I have PerfectDisk 11. It is supposed to be the dogs for SSD (I am not sure how true that is). Anyway, I ran it and it completely reorganized the data and then I ran the Windows7 performance program and the index jumped for the SSD from 5.9 to 7.3! :cool: What freeware program is best to use for HD performance testing?
 
wesley said:
do NOT defrag the SSD, it will reduce its lifespan
Click to expand...

Well.....perhaps from 25 to 20 years....or perhaps from 15 to 10 years! I will not have the drive in 10 years anyway. I intended to do it once to to sort out the clone data and it worked and I am now happy with the result, so that is the end of defragging anyway.

But...if you research, you will find the jury is out on that subject over the past few months anyway. Have a look at PerfectDisk 11.

So....how is the TRIM function set to work? Is it background in Windows 7 without the user knowing?
 
1. Biggest tip i'll give you, DON'T USE A DEFRAGGER ON A SSD!
2. Don't use windows benchmark it's crap
3. If you want to use Intel drivers use the latest Rapid Storage Technology drivers.
4. There are no tweaks to making a SSD read work faster appart from run in ACHI mode.
 
Last edited:
DIABLO said:
There are no tweaks to making a SSD read work faster appart from run in ACHI mode.
Click to expand...

OK. I am at that stage now! After changing the setting in the BIOS to run in ACHI, it booted into Windows7, it then needed another reboot to complete the driver install and now I am back and running in Windows!

Next question please! How do I know if the TRIM function is working? Is there a way to see it?
 
The Trim command should be enabled by default on Windows 7, but if you want to check to make sure do this:


Command prompt > fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify

DisableDeleteNotify = 1 (Windows TRIM commands are disabled)
DisableDeleteNotify = 0 (Windows TRIM commands are enabled)
 
wesley said:
The Trim command should be enabled by default on Windows 7, but if you want to check to make sure do this:


Command prompt > fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify

DisableDeleteNotify = 1 (Windows TRIM commands are disabled)
DisableDeleteNotify = 0 (Windows TRIM commands are enabled)
Click to expand...

I understand that! Thanks! It only tells me that it is enabled or disabled, but does not tell me that it is working.

If you have PerfectDisk and SSD.....

http://www.perfectdisk.com/support/kb/791
 
Last edited:
Intel SSD Toolbox. Run it once a week and it'll keep your SSD in good shape. Also, don't fill the drive beyond 80% and performance should never degrade significantly, if at all.


I also took a peak at PerfectDisk's support site and regarding SSD's they say:
As a Microsoft Certified defragmenter, PerfectDisk's use of Microsoft's defrag APIs ensures that defragmentation takes place in a safe and Microsoft supported manner.
Click to expand...

Strange how they forget to mention Windows 7's default behaviour is to disable defragmentation on SSD's.


Intel say:
SSD devices, unlike traditional HDDs, see no performance benefit from traditional HDD defragmentation tools. Using these tools simply adds unnecessary wear to the SSD. It is recommended that you disable any automatic or scheduled defragmentation utilities for your Intel SSD.
Click to expand...
 
Regarding cloning an HDD to SSD, I think the potential problem is misalignment(?). This will impact on performance, hence why most people like to install a fresh copy of Windows 7 on SSD's. It is possible to clone and get proper alignment, but this will be through luck if you hadn't planned for it.

AS SSD benchmark reports alignment, so it might be worth checking it out: http://alex-is.de/PHP/fusion/downloads.php?cat_id=4.
 
Last edited:
What is it with peoples fear of reinstalling Windows. You're prepared to use a ghosting tool but you're not prepared to reinstall Windows which is the proper way of doing things :)

I reinstall Windows twice a year at least as a simple matter of course! Just do it, takes minutes and Windows updates gets the vast majority of drivers you'll need anyhow, just add the Intel Rapid Storage drivers afterwards.
 
Stonedofmoo said:
What is it with peoples fear of reinstalling Windows. You're prepared to use a ghosting tool but you're not prepared to reinstall Windows which is the proper way of doing things :)

I reinstall Windows twice a year at least as a simple matter of course! Just do it, takes minutes and Windows updates gets the vast majority of drivers you'll need anyhow, just add the Intel Rapid Storage drivers afterwards.
Click to expand...

Nobody ever said installing Windows was ever a problem. I used to be an IT pro up until 2003 and now retired and used to do it regularly for the international company I was a manager for. My problem is all the programs including games and the like such as IL2 Forgotten Battles and the joystick settings and track ir and nostromo and....and....and...and....! Believe me if my installation was simple I would have done just that.

Dinkas

Yes I have that program already. I gives me for sequential reads 241.72 MB/s and writes105.30 MB/s and that seems to be normal for this drive.
 
Last edited:
If your drive has the latest firmware and is correctly aligned, then as suggested above, all you need is the latest Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver and Intel SSD Toolbox. TRIM will be automatic, but there's no harm running the toolbox every week or two. Use the SSD and enjoy :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom