Windows 7: SSD's-Are they really worth it?

Time to install the operating system is reduced, time to back up the system is reduced, time to perform virus scans and malware scans is reduced, no need to waste time defragmenting the hard drive, and loading of video games is drastically better for me.



Yes, this is pretty much what TRIM is designed to resolve.

Worst case scenario you'll need to flash the FW.


However, its a painless procedure & is non-destructive. meaning you can set it all up and flash after 7 is installed without issue.

Simply burn the CD, Switch bios to IDE mode, boot from it, and follow the prompts.


Mine came with an older FW version, although that may not be the case for everyone. They should however, all have FW w/TRIM support.

ok then, is it an aplication you download form intels website?

Yes.

A .ISO you burn to CD and it is automated. You need only switch bios back to IDE for flash, then back to AHCI when you are finished.


Again, this is the worst case. you very well may have the current FW. none-the-less, it will support TRIM out of the box.
So it's not something that "must" be done in order to have proper functionality.

also is my hardware ok with trim? AMD cpu and nvidia 720D chipset?

Trim is software based, nothing to do with you hardware and is incorporated in to all version of Win 7. Windows will detect that you have a SSD and will enable trim, also should disable defrag.

I suggest you read this post

SSD Tweaks and Optimizations in Windows 7


Steve

This is true as long as the SSD controller and Firmware support Trim. But that is only the case with the never SSDs. If e.g. you have an Intel X25 G1 or an OCZ Vertex with a FW level prior to 14, you will not have any Trim - even with Windows 7. The rest of the hardware configuration , however, does not really matter.

As for the slowness after time, that mostly affected GEN 1 models. To properly maintain speeds, it is suggested (depending on usage) to run/schedule Intels Toolbox optimizer once a week. OCZ has something similar called "Garbage Collection", this is run by letting your system idle at logon for a few hours a week. Using these procedures for the last few months, my drive is still as fast as the first day I installed it (benchmarked it yesterday).

As for SATA III 6GB SSD, they are still in infancy. There is two models on Newegg from Crucial, but reports are that they are extremely buggy (firmware) and extremely expensive $400 128GB and $679 256GB.

Intel's Gen 3 are rumored to be coming out next winter.

can you use the "garbage collection" on the intel drives?

WHS, You are of course quite correct, I apologise for my mis-information


Steve