topic Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First! in Archive

Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:10:55 GMT

Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ Table of Contents

Basic Information
SSD Optimizations
SSD Communities FAQs
How-To Videos
Resources

Basic Information

What do the digits in each SSD product code designate?

(Click on image to enlarge)

The last two digits labeled "Ordering Information" refer to what comes in the box you've purchased and how many SSDs were shipped in the same box ie

C# drive shipped in a brown box

R# drive shipped in a retail box without a desktop cloning kit

K# drive shipped in a retail box with a desktop cloning kit

The "# " simply states how many SSDs were shipped out together

SSD Optimizations

If you're using Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system, please utilize these system settings to ensure compatibility, endurance, and performance. If you're using Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, please disregard the Superfetch setting.

Make Sure Your SSD Isn't Scheduled for Disk Defragmentation

•If you're using an SSD with Microsoft's Windows 7, the operating system will automatically disable scheduled defragmentation.

•If you're running Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, navigate to "My Computer".

•Right click on your SSD and choose properties from the drop-down menu.

•Navigate to the "Tools" tab and click "Defragment Now" in the "Defragmentation" menu.

•Near the top, there is a "Schedule" menu. Click "Configure Schedule" and ensure that there is no check next to the "Run on a schedule" option.

•If you're running Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, you must run disk defragmentation automatically. Simply make sure not to run the utility.

•Due to the design of SSDs, disk defragmentation is unnecessary and can even have a negative effect on the endurance of the drive.

Disable Superfetch (For Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7)

•On your "Start" search menu, type "services.msc". Scroll down and find the "Superfetch" line, and double click it to open up its properties.

•Change the "Startup Type" to "disabled".

•Superfetch is designed to open your frequently used programs more quickly. However, this technique doesn't speed up an Intel SSD's performance significantly and can ultimately have a negative effect on the performance of the drive. Superfetch is not a feature on Microsoft Windows XP.

Ensure You Have the Proper Drivers Installed

Intel recommends using the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology v.9.6 driver available here:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?agr=&ProductID=&DwnldID=18859&strOss=&OSFullName=&lang=eng http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?agr=&ProductID=&DwnldID=18859&strOss=&OSFullName=&lang=eng

This driver enables your Intel SSD to receive the TRIM command natively and automatically. Additionally, it is optimized for performance and endurance.

Intel® SSD Communities Frequently Asked questions General SSD FAQs

Visit this link for a more broad SSD FAQ:

http://www.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/sb/CS-029623.htm http://www.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/sb/CS-029623.htm

Are there any known issues with regards to compatibility or performance?

Known issues are located in the Intel® Solid-State Drive Toolbox Read Me and Firmware Update Tool Guidelines found here:

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/18455/eng/README%20rev11.rtf http://downloadmirror.intel.com/18455/eng/README%20rev11.rtf

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Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 23:39:46 GMT

Thanks Scott. Would you be able to update and include this picture of the model numbers?

Redux found it in one of the Intel docs.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 01:03:00 GMT

Just to extend the reason why for "Why can't Microsoft's ® Trim command be passed to Intel® SSDs configured in a RAID array?"

Is it that there is a Trim command being sent from the OS to the array/volume but if got duplicated and passed on to the two or more SSD's in RAID it would corrupt the data on the array/volume by passing the command like that?

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:06:34 GMT

The model number coding all makes perfect sense to me, except for "Ordering Information". What the heck is that?

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:30:38 GMT

This thread is a great step in the right direction. I'd like to suggest a matrix showing chipset and driver configurations that will or will not enable TRIM and Toolbox functionality.

I appreciate that this will venture into the domain of non Intel products and will change over time, but I think it would be very helpful for new users moving to SSD.

Advice on how to set up in AHCI mode would also be helpful for new users. This does not appear to be covered at all by Intel.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:29:42 GMT

parsec wrote:

The model number coding all makes perfect sense to me, except for "Ordering Information". What the heck is that?

Scott had the explanation up but replaced it with the chart. I've asked him to add it back.

From what I recall, it has to to do with how many units were packaged together and what type of packaging/accessories are included.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:57:38 GMT

Guys,

I've added an explanation to the "ordering information" part of our product code. As for other things you guys would like:

PeterUK asked a question about TRIM in RAID. I'm working on potentially responding to this, but this could be tricky to address...can't promise anything

Redux would like a matrix showing chipset/driver information that will or will not enable TRIM. No problem. Look for this soon.

And finally, Redux would like info on AHCI. Have you read this?

/message/97380# 97380 http://communities.intel.com/message/97380# 97380

Perhaps I should incorporate this into the sticky....

Keep it coming guys.

-Scott, Intel Corporation

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:22:55 GMT

Do Intel® SSDs support all NTFS cluster sizes other then 4 KB and works with or without TRIM support? If so can a smaller/bigger cluster size increase/decrease performance or endurance?

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:38:37 GMT

Thanks for the info on Ordering Information (OI), but it doesn't have much if any significance regarding the SSD's operation, which is what I was curious about. I have Intel SSDs with OI's of "GC" and "GN", and wondered if there is a real difference between them.

Thanks for you efforts, much appreciated!

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:18:04 GMT

TRIM under XP,

If SSD Toolbox refuse to launch "Intel SSD optimizer"

* changing the Nvidia driver to the Microsoft one. Go to Device Manager -> IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers. You should see the device 'NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controller', or maybe a few of them depending on how many devices you have installed. Go to properties on each one and for every ****** drive, do the following. Go to Driver -> Update Driver -> 'Install from a specific list or location (Advanced)' -> 'Don't search. I will choose the driver to install.' Select 'Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller' and click 'Next'. Click 'Finish' and reboot.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

PWert — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:10:29 GMT

Greetings,

I want to install an Intel 80gb SSD (320 series) for use as a system drive with a DH67CL motherboard, an i7-2600k CPU , one other hard drive and WIN 7 O/S. My BIOS was set to AHCI (NOT RAID) when I initially installed the O/S.

The above FAQs state "Ensure you have the proper drivers installed" and references RST v.9.6. It is also goes on to say this will ensure the intel SSD will receive the TRIM command natively and automatically, etc.

A close reading of the latest Rapid Storage Driver downloads (v.10.5.0.1027) indicates to me that RAID must be selected in the BIOS and then a clean reinstallation of the O/S must be accomplished to be able to receive the TRIM command natively.

Is my perception correct? What am I missing? Thanks in advance for your comments!!

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:09:13 GMT

i have a SSDSA2M160G2GC but forever my system will say its just a 80GB harddisk

i am pretty sure its a 160GB

help!

thx

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:45:58 GMT

Peter Wertz wrote:

Greetings,

Is my perception correct? What am I missing? Thanks in advance for your comments!!

TRIM is supported by the RST driver in ACHI or RAID mode. The SSD just cannot be a member of an array. You can actually switch between AHCI and RAID mode fine since RAID drivers is a superset of Intel's AHCI driver.

A clean install of the OS is not needed for TRIM support. Windows 7 should detect a disk with 0RPM and enable the TRIM function. You can run "fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify" on command line and make sure "DisableDeleteNotify = 0". This will confirm the OS is passing the TRIM function to the disk driver. If you are using Intel drivers, your SSD supports TRIM, and the SSD is not in an array, TRIM will work.

Would you be able to quote the misunderstanding? Maybe I can help clear it up for you or get the document updated if is ambiguous.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:48:41 GMT

Guest wrote:

i have a SSDSA2M160G2GC but forever my system will say its just a 80GB harddisk

i am pretty sure its a 160GB

help!

thx

I assume Windows?

Post a screen shot of the "Intel SDD Toolbox" and Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Storage->Disk Management.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 06:40:50 GMT

Just an addendum to to Duckie's post, Windows 7 has a native AHCI driver that provides TRIM. It's called msahci, and if you set the SATA mode to AHCI in your BIOS before you installed Win 7, that driver would be loaded. Intel's RST driver has proved to be a bit superior in speed to msahci in benchmark testing, but msahci is very good and would also work very well with your SSD. Given what you said in your post, you have it installed now, unless you have installed RST.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

PWert — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:56:51 GMT

Duckie and parsec - thanks for the response!! Duckie - My confusion, in large part, comes from lack of experience, however, if you go to downloads ( http://http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20023&ProdId=3284&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%2C%2064-bit*&DownloadType=Drivers http://http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20023&ProdId=3284&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%2C%2064-bit*&DownloadType=Drivers) for RST drivers for my board and read the DETAILED DESCRIPTION - WHICH FILE TO CHOOSE it states choose driver AND one of the F6 driver diskettes. My understanding now, based on your response, is that I do not need to download the F6 diskette - the driver alone is sufficient.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:22:53 GMT

Hi can someone clarify the above please?

I too have just installed windows 7 (64-bit) on an ssd 320 series (80gb), and would like to install the intel drivers (rather than the native windows ahci). I am not running raid.

Is there a way to install the intel driver without using the f6 method during windows install?? Can I just install a file from within windows? If so which file?

Many thanks!

garcia.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:29:52 GMT

please do not destroy a FAQ with your questions, let here only answers !!!

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:30:54 GMT

Peter and Garcia, Windows comes with a MS generic ACHI driver that supports Intel/AMD ACHI modes (not RAID mode though).

You do not need to use the F6 Installer Driver. Just install W7 and then install the Intel drivers over the generic ACHI driver later.

Re: Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

idata — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:56:42 GMT

I'd just like to confirm what Duckie said, from my personal experience. I've done exactly what he said, install the Intel RST driver after an OS installation, to use with my SSDs in AHCI mode. Simply download and install, I've done this on four PCs with Intel SSDs, and it's always worked perfectly. The RST driver is appropriate for Intel chipsets (not CPUs) from the 3 series through the 6 series, and several of the 900 series chipsets, and Windows versions from XP through Windows 7, 32 or 64 bit. The download page explains the few restrictions, which can be found here:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19607&ProdId=2101&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%2C%2064-bit*&DownloadType= http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19607&ProdId=2101&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%2C%2064-bit*&DownloadType=

Some Intel chipsets do not support RAID, but this is not a concern if you plan on using the driver in AHCI mode. I have installed it on a non-RAID support chipset, the ICH10 (ICH10R supports RAID) successfully, but I am not sure if the installation program will complete with all of the Intel non-RAID support chipsets. I would think it will install fine but you never know with software.

The only small caveat is occasionally what is called the Option ROM on a mother board will not support the latest RST driver. That is why the instructions on the Intel download page suggests checking the download page for your mother board and use the Intel RAID driver found there. I have used Intel RST drivers that were newer than those listed on my mother board manufacture's download page without any problems. That may be because I did not use the driver in RAID mode, just AHCI mode. All in one PC's (HP, Dell, etc) may be more sensitive to this issue than personally built PC's, so use at your own risk. BIOS updates may also update the Option ROM, so flash your mother board to the latest BIOS if you have driver issues. Also, do not worry if you must use an older version of the RST driver, the newer version is not necessarily better, and the updates to it are likely due to simply adding support for new chipsets.