Show us your SSD performance

[A Guy]

A Guy, how much do you know about 'over provisioning'? I read on Intels forum that you can get better performance by doing that. Just wonder what you know. I have never tried it.

I did read some on it. Some say it will increase the life 2x to almost 4x if you leave 20GB unpartitioned when you install Windows.

See this thread from 7F:

http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/72628-ssd-dilemma-worth-repartitioning.html

But I believe the SSD is already overprovisioned by design as well. my 80GB SSD is actually closer to 90GB, but the extra 10GB is overprovisioning. This is an example, and I've not been able to find any numbers. Also, most of these threads about overprovisioning seem to be from 2009 when there was no trim software, nor wear leveling.

I found this quote on the Intel 510

With a formatted capacity of 111GB, the 510 has been more over-provisioned than the competing M4. Over-provisioning reserves more of the NAND as a spare area, empty blocks of which are dedicated to be ready for writing, and to replace defective NAND automatically. The typical spare area on a 128GB SSD accounts for roughly 7 per cent of the drive, but the Intel 510 120GB has close to double that, with a spare area of 14 per cent. This is very much an Intel trait, as its X25-M series SSDs were also heavily over-provisioned.

Source

Basically. I'm not going to obsess over benchmarks when the SSD is fast, and I can spare a millisecond here and there while posting in word association, lol. I think the modern SSD's and firmware with Windows 7, are pretty much taking care of themselves. Could you eke out a few more MB's per second? I assume so, but I'd rather smell the roses

A Guy

 

[essenbe]

I'll have to check that out. I've got a real old one, but it works great.

 

[A Guy]

Hey, Parted Magic has a new release; now its version 6.1

Thanks Kip

A Guy

 

[essenbe]

A Guy, how much do you know about 'over provisioning'? I read on Intels forum that you can get better performance by doing that. Just wonder what you know. I have never tried it.

I did read some on it. Some say it will increase the life 2x to almost 4x if you leave 20GB unpartitioned when you install Windows.

See this thread from 7F:

http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/72628-ssd-dilemma-worth-repartitioning.html

But I believe the SSD is already overprovisioned by design as well. my 80GB SSD is actually closer to 90GB, but the extra 10GB is overprovisioning. This is an example, and I've not been able to find any numbers. Also, most of these threads about overprovisioning seem to be from 2009 when there was no trim software, nor wear leveling.

I found this quote on the Intel 510

With a formatted capacity of 111GB, the 510 has been more over-provisioned than the competing M4. Over-provisioning reserves more of the NAND as a spare area, empty blocks of which are dedicated to be ready for writing, and to replace defective NAND automatically. The typical spare area on a 128GB SSD accounts for roughly 7 per cent of the drive, but the Intel 510 120GB has close to double that, with a spare area of 14 per cent. This is very much an Intel trait, as its X25-M series SSDs were also heavily over-provisioned.

Source

Basically. I'm not going to obsess over benchmarks when the SSD is fast, and I can spare a millisecond here and there while posting in word association, lol. I think the modern SSD's and firmware with Windows 7, are pretty much taking care of themselves. Could you eke out a few more MB's per second? I assume so, but I'd rather smell the roses

A Guy

I sort of felt the same way. That's why I have never tried it, but it dosen't hurt to ask.

 

[Fumz]

I must admit, half of me really admires the perseverance on display in this thread... from everyone involved, and the other half of me was sayin, "my god! when will it end!?"

I had to stop SSD tweaking when I (finally) came to the realization that, exactly like A Guy said, "I can spare a millisecond here and there", so it's time to stick my nose in a rose.

 

[A Guy]

I sort of felt the same way. That's why I have never tried it, but it dosen't hurt to ask.

Hopefully others will add to this new discussion. I love to geek it up. Funny, I only got a PC about 8 years ago, only because I had to for work. I had WebTv (MSNTV) and when people would talk PC, I'd fade out. Now, I'm the one who knows more about PCs then the people I know.

A Guy

 

[essenbe]

Hey, Parted Magic has a new release; now its version 6.1

Thanks Kip. Just downloaded the ISO. Guess I'll have to drag out pendrive linux again.

 

[Hopalong X]

I must admit, half of me really admires the perseverance on display in this thread... from everyone involved, and the other half of me was sayin, "my god! when will it end!?"

I had to stop SSD tweaking when I (finally) came to the realization that, exactly like A Guy said, "I can spare a millisecond here and there", so it's time to stick my nose in a rose.

We didn't start this a week ago for tweaking just to install the SSD.
Then my lack of knowledge and experience at minor issues and the resulting weeks worth of postings.

I wasn't trying to install the driver for tweaking.
I was attempting to get the Intel Toolbox to work properly. Then found that having the Iastor driver would or could solve the problem.

So that accounts for the last 2-3 days.

To paraphrase the Grateful Dead "What a long strange trip it's been".

 

[Hopalong X]

Just wondering if the Intel ToolBox works with the msachi driver?
Mike was having trouble with secure erase, thought the driver might be the problem.

If you get a chance try the ToolBox, check everything except the secure erase

The msahci driver does work with the toolbox. The only problem is secure erase but I can get it to work with the x25-M which I have. I think the problem was Hoppy's 320 with incription. Just a guess. But the toolbox will work for me with msahci. I'm trying iastor now just to see if there is a difference.

Ive had no issues with the Ms AHCI driver either.

However, as I mentioned previously, I did have issues trying to Secure Erase my Intel SSD.
After deleting the partitions, and cycling the power, it would just keep refreshing. It would not actually initiate the SE.

For me, the fix was indeed using the Intel AHCI drive, iastore.
Im using the 02HD FW on my X-25V if that makes a difference.

Thanks Wishmaster.

You were my inspiration to install the Intel driver.

Though I think I'll "test" the Secure Erase later down the road.

Image making time!!!

 

[derekimo]

I must admit, half of me really admires the perseverance on display in this thread... from everyone involved, and the other half of me was sayin, "my god! when will it end!?"

I had to stop SSD tweaking when I (finally) came to the realization that, exactly like A Guy said, "I can spare a millisecond here and there", so it's time to stick my nose in a rose.

It has been fun following this, I can see these posts being referenced in the future.

 

[Hopalong X]

It only took 36 pages from pre order to here. Pg. 135

It only took 26 pages to get everything installed and running perfect. Pg. 145

I thought for a while there we might reach Page 200!!!! :shock:

 

[essenbe]

It only took 36 pages from pre order to here. Pg. 135

It only took 26 pages to get everything installed and running perfect. Pg. 145

I thought for a while there we might reach Page 200!!!! :shock:

Hoppy, There is a lot of good information in those pages too. Just give it a couple more days, we'll make 200 pages yet.

 

[Kipper]

I think all of the newer SSDs are over-provisioned and in theory I think its a good idea for longer life. These new controllers are able to keep that area stocked up with pre-erased blocks ready to go to work or even replace those that end of dead.

Between over-provisioning and wear leveling these controllers are taking good care of our expensive toys. Now, if the price would just get down to where everyone could afford one now that would be fantastic; no one should be stuck with a 5.9 WEI score.

 

[essenbe]

Kip, I played around with the new version of Parted Magic you suggested. I really looks the same except they have added an app for upgrading OCZ firmware. But thanks.

 

[Kipper]

Kip, I played around with the new version of Parted Magic you suggested. I really looks the same except they have added an app for upgrading OCZ firmware. But thanks.

I haven't needed to try it yet but I think you are right; from what I did read I think they have added some new features and did some GUI work on the program but as far as erasing I think it is the same.

 

[essenbe]

I didn't do an erase or anything other than look to see what was new and make sure I could boot into it. To me it looks exactly the same except for the OCZ FW update tool. But, to use that requires an internet connection I have never been able to get with PM, and I am hard wired into a router. But, that is not what I usually use it for.

 

[Hopalong X]

Steve

That is odd about your no internet in Pmagic.
Just an observation from a few days ago.
When I was trying to use Pmagic to erase this SSD getting on line was as easy as thru Windows now.
The graphics quality wasn't great of course but it worked thru my hard line router/modem.

Erase worked for you not for me. Online worked for me and not for you. Just odd that is all.

Seems like a good program otherwise.
Mike

 

[essenbe]

It really is a good program to put in your toolbox. I'm sure if you spent the time to learn it, you could do almost anything. I have used gparted several times to do things windows could not do.

 

[Hopalong X]

I have it on CD in my desk drawer marked with my other CD tools and installation disks.

 

[essenbe]

Good. You may need it sometime, and like most tools, when you need it -tomorrow isn't good enough.