Intel(r) SSD Toolbox is ready to go!

[Alan_F_Intel]

Hey everyone,

Good news (just in time for the holidays)! We have released the new version of the http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18455 Intel® SSD Toolbox (version 1.2) which fixes the issue with the Intel® SSD Optimizer.

rgds,

Alan

Intel NSG Marketing Division

[idata]

@ mikebore thanks!

I have since read that Intel SSDs have garbage collection on the newest firmware, can anybody confirm this? Garbage collection means that the SSD will properly mark empty blocks when idle, basically restoring write performance to new levels over time. Samsung SSDs do this, and in the end it seems like that would be the best solution in the long run - no OS specific tools, no user action required, no OS support required.

[idata]

yeah. the latest firmware (version 8820) has garbage collection feature.

[idata]

Any more info on how the GC works? Does it work when the SSD is idle?

IMO it's the way to go for SSDs, seems like it would solve the performance deterioration issues.

[idata]

the firmware does GC whenever the SSD does an activity (whether read or write). you may check out article: http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=691 http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=691

[idata]

ichun wrote:

yeah. the latest firmware (version 8820) has garbage collection feature.

Confused!

I thought garbage collection was broadly equivalent to trim?

I am using my X25 M G2 80Gb as a Windows 7 x64boot camp volume, but it is not AHCI so no trim, but if I have garbage collection do I need it?