What Features for the Intel Toolbox?

[idata]

Intel does listen to our feedback so let's get heard! So what features would you like to see added or improved upon in the Intel Toolbox? Make sure to provide reasons as well!

So far, we have:

1) A benchmark to assist in determining nominal performance

2) TRIM, Driver, SATA Mode information

3) Offical performance tweak options (write caching)

4) Space reduction (Hibernation, System Restore, Paging File)

5) Links to suggested tweaks.

What else? These are up for discussion as well.

I'll maintain this and see what you guys demand.

[idata]

Carried over from the FAQ thread:

Add feature to show if native trim support is being executed by the SSD

Add a feature to show if the drive is aligned

Add a feature that shows if the drive is in IDE or AHCI mode

Add a feature to identify the chipset type and driver

Add a feature to show if the drive is operating optimally

Add a feature to the system configuration tuner that automatically enables write caching if switched off.

Add optional advanced user features: Turn off the page file, Turn off hibernation, Turn off System Restore (and delete restore files)

[idata]

New Toolbox Features:

Extensive help and/or tips via Internet links, that would contain the latest information on optimizing a PC for use with an SSD, any news or updates related to Intel SSD's, including problems and their resolutions. Any and all pertinent Intel SSD information available at a few clicks of the mouse. Reason: Optimizing information and instructions would allow the user to choose which ones they want to use, rather than simply performing all of them, or none, and avoid the cost of automated implementation of optimizations. Having general SSD optimization information available in an simply locatable area, while helping non-Intel SSD owners as well, would also bring them to the Intel web site and expose them to Intel products.

Option to set folders such as: Downloads, Temp(orary), both for Windows general use and for other software and hardware. Or simply instructions on how this is accomplished. Reason: Reduction of writes to SSD

A diagnostic analysis of impending or current performance problems with a SSD (ie, SSD usage nearing, at, or beyond capacity where performance may/will suffer.) Also, benchmark comparison of current vs previous test results that indicate a drop in performance and warn the user something happened to cause this since the last benchmark. Reason: Determine and solve problems before they become larger or an issue.

PS: Regarding an earlier suggestion post, all but the latest restore "points" can be deleted from the second tab of the Windows 7 Disk Cleanup utility.

[idata]

Run as a service and minimize to notification area in taskbar.

I would like RST and Toolbox to be standalone software but an option to merge the running software into one icon in the notification area where by right clicking on the RST icon links to and opens Toolbox.

[idata]

PeterUK wrote:

Run as a service and minimize to notification area in taskbar.

I would like RST and Toolbox to be standalone software but an option to merge the running software into one icon in the notification area where by right clicking on the RST icon links to and opens Toolbox.

I believe the RST and SSD Toolbox teams are independent of each other. This means integration of them together is unlikely at this point in time.

Option to set folders such as: Downloads, Temp(orary), both for Windows general use and for other software and hardware. Or simply instructions on how this is accomplished. Reason: Reduction of writes to SSD

A diagnostic analysis of impending or current performance problems with a SSD (ie, SSD usage nearing, at, or beyond capacity where performance may/will suffer.) Also, benchmark comparison of current vs previous test results that indicate a drop in performance and warn the user something happened to cause this since the last benchmark. Reason: Determine and solve problems before they become larger or an issue.

Intel cannot implement options for 3rd party software (like Firefox or Photoshop) due to liability questions. Official options would also require Intel to be dependent on the 3rd party vendors in communicating changes. I don't think this will happen.... but a link to the communities suggesting performance instructions would work though.

The point where performance begins to suffer is subjective though. Someone doing intensive random writes will encounter issues before most users. However, I am advocating for an official Intel benchmark tool though. Most current benchmarks are really based around HDD testing.