Intel Solid-State Drive FAQ: Read This First!

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

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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[idata]

Parsec, I never said the statment was incorect. I stated that I misread it.

As for your comment:

Changing the SATA mode with an existing RAID array from RAID mode to AHCI will cause the array to be destroyed, you can't have a functioning set of drives in any RAID array type in AHCI mode.

I am unsure if this is unique labeling to my BIOS but RIAD type ist listed in 2 places. One of which lists RAID and AHCI if memorey serves me right. The other lists IDE,RAID, and AHCI as the options. In the second set as best as I recall, any of the three options can be choosen and keep the RAID array in tact. I am using AHCI as we speak. Being an FAQ thread I just thought it best to clarify this for any one confused. I am not trying to be smart or anything, just stating facts for the sake of clarity. I suspect it is just a matter of being labeled differently in cetrain other BIOS. I do apreciate your response!

[idata]

"I am unsure if this is unique labeling to my BIOS but RIAD type ist listed in 2 places. One of which lists RAID and AHCI if memorey serves me right. The other lists IDE,RAID, and AHCI as the options. In the second set as best as I recall, any of the three options can be choosen and keep the RAID array in tact. I am using AHCI as we speak. Being an FAQ thread I just thought it best to clarify this for any one confused."

You may be referring to the Marvell chipset's RAID capability in one case, and the Intel chipset's RAID in the other. I am not a supreme RAID expert, but given a set of drives in any RAID set, switching out of RAID mode does not keep the drives in a RAID array is the way it is AFAIK.

Someone else will need to either confirm or debunk my statement about this, I am prepared to be educated if that is the case!

[idata]

parsec, would you please comment on IRST alpha driver 11.0.0.1015 and trim support for RAID0

Edit: Looks like nobody knows so here is an update if anyone is interested.

quote from Intel RAID OROM 11.5.0.1111:

This release will not enable the TRIM on RAID0 feature, but it will be added in the next RST 11.5 release.

[idata]

Xplorer4x4,

"If memory serves..." ?!? You're trying to solve a technical quandary, but haven't provided the BIOS manufacturer, the OEM if applicable, the BIOS version, etc. This would go a long way to assist other user's to look into the issue and figure out ways to help. Nevertheless, working with the information you did provide, selecting the options in the first set of items (RAID or AHCI) would seem to specify which mode (BTW, "architecture" may be a more descriptive way of thinkng of it, though it is not likely the manufacturer would say that as they have to use discrete meanings) you wish the computer's hardware layer to handle or treat the drives. If you had two drives, RAID is a valid option (incidentally, RAID would most likely work with just one drive, though pointless--at least I can do it with my BIOS), and would be necessary to implement a RAID setup. Otherwise, your would select AHCI--no array. The second set of options would, using a bit of assumption, is selecting the compatibility mode that the storage controller uses when addressing the drives. While it would be unlikely you would be able to select RAID compatibility addressing if you already selected AHCI mode, it is theoretically possible--the BIOS may be able to handle the complexities, but again, I doubt it. So if you selected RAID mode for the controller, then the logical selection for the drive addressing is RAID. If you selected AHCI mode for the controller, then the performance and advanced features of AHCI would be desirable, so you would select AHCI for drive addressing. So why is IDE an option? For compatibility. It is possible that your BIOS has extended capabilities, but short of that, being able to select the addressing mode allows older OS's to use a very modern drive--the BIOS will operate in AHCI, but to the OS it will appear as if the IDE drives it can handle are present. OS's are just one example. (BTW# 2, IDE is remnant term for use in this context as both PATA ("IDE") and SATA drives have the electronics on the drive unit itself, as opposed to a more complicated system that was in use before the drives electronics became integrated, but I digress).

Now as to why I would think the first set would dictate the second set and not vice versa. If the second set was the mode (drive architecture), then selecting IDE would mean the drive addressing options would need more than AHCI and RAID. It would present the architecture as IDE, but the drives would be expecting AHCI addressing. This is why it is probably the way I described above.

I take responsibility for my post's accuracy, but with the caveat I am working with limited information. Perhaps next time you could shutdown and enter the BIOS to make sure of your "memory serves"--and while you're there, get the manufacturer, the version, etc. The details are helpful in deciphering this.

-FM

[idata]

Is there a newer(beta/alpha) toolbox version to go along with 11.5.0.1109_Alpha? I read the list of known issues for 11.5.0.1109_Alpha and saw nothing critical and decided to try it out. However, the SSD toolbox does not recognize my SSDs as SSDs now.