New to Intel SSD's

[idata]

New PC came with the Intel 520 SSD - 120 GB.

What new/different programs should I be using?

For example, can I still use TuneUp Utilities 2012 ? or are registry cleaners a big no-no with SSD's.

What about any Intel Optimization tools?

Yes Disk Defrag is turned off.

Thanks

[idata]

Registry cleaners are no more dangerous with SSDs than HDDs, they are not a problem besides the usual issues they might cause. Registry cleaners potentially break your software or OS, not the drive itself.

The main potential issue with any tune up or cleanup software when used with SSDs is their HDD "wiping" or erasing feature. You never want to use anything that actually writes or over-writes files or empty space on a SSD as a clean up operation. That is unnecessary for SSDs, and just wastes the program and erase cycles on the NAND chips. That can also potentially reduce its performance. Check the options or configuration menu of the program, and make sure the SSD(s) are not marked for this type of "cleaning", that might happen accidentally.

The Intel SSD Toolbox is great for maintaining your SSD, although it is not a typical tune-up type of program. Given what the Toolbox does, nothing does it better, or in some cases, match it at all. I have had some problems trying to secure erase an Intel SSD with the Toolbox, but that is partially caused by Intel closely following the security protocols for SSDs and HDDs. You should definitely use the Toolbox, and run the System Tuner option, to change any Windows settings that are not good for SSDs.

Always just do a quick format of a SSD, not a full format, which is the same as over-writing it.

But don't be afraid of hurting your SSD, just use it as you normally would a HDD, with the few known caveats. There is really no need to baby it, or constantly be worrying about it. Just remember it is not a HDD, and don't blindly run a HDD cleanup program without knowing what it actually does.

[idata]

Thanks.

is this the right link for the toolbox ?

http://www.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/sb/CS-032995.htm?wapkw=intel+ssd+tootoolboxes http://www.intel.com/support/ssdc/hpssd/sb/CS-032995.htm?wapkw=intel+ssd+tootoolboxes.

want to make sure I install the right one.

[idata]

The link you posted is an overview of the Toolbox installation, but in general that is the SSD Toolbox. Intel only has one SSD Toolbox for consumer/PC SSDs, although there have been several versions. The latest one is here:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=3472&DwnldID=18455&ProductFamily=Solid... http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=3472&DwnldID=18455&ProductFamily=Solid...

[idata]

thanks !