I installed my X25-M 80GB SSD on an older system with an EVGA 680i SLI motherboard for my Windows 7 installation. I recently found out that the 680i doesn't support AHCI, so I'm considering replacing it with a board using an Intel P45 chipset (Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P). Can TRIM function on a motherboard that doesn't have AHCI, or would I need to run the SSD toolbox? Can I even run the toolbox without AHCI? Is it worth upgrading to the P45 chipset to add AHCI functionality? What kind of lifespan can I expect from the SSD without TRIM? The system runs solidly right now, so I'm hesitant to go through the potential headache of basically rebuilding the system with a new motherboard.
