Do Kingston SSDs employ JMicron controllers?

[noel54]

Hi,

I just purchased 2 30GB Kingston SSDs to use as OS drives for my XP drive and for my Windows 7 drive. I've just read that SSDs that use JMicron controllers will wear faster due to the algorithms they use.

I read on the Kingston site that their V series SSDs support TRIM.

Can anybody tell me whether my Kingston V series SSDs use JMicron?

Also, how can I implement TRIM on my XP drive?

Many thanks, noels54

 

[razel]

Your 30GB does not use a JMicron controller. Check Anandtech's comparative review. Have no worry about JMicron controllers. They made an old one that is notorious and unfortunately became synonymous for everything new they're releasing.

There's no TRIM support for XP, but you will need to ensure that when creating the partition that it is aligned. This is very important for XP users. Fortunately during Anand's benches for your SSD, alignment doesn't matter, but you might as well get it done correct anyway since there's nothing on it yet. Easiest way is to use Vista/7 to partition the drive. Perhaps when you get your Win7 machine going, use that to partition/format the XP drive. Check your alignment by using AS SSD Benchmark. It'll tell you 'OK' in green above the size when you run it. If you like a little math, you can also check with Windows System Information (msinfo32).

 

[EarthwormJim]

The TRIM supporting drives are technically a JMicron controller (from what I've read) with a Toshiba label. Toshiba in the past used JMicron controllers.

You're probably thinking of the early generation JMicron controllers (602 series). Even then they don't have that bad of write amplification.

You can't implement TRIM in XP.

Either way be happy with your drives. They'll be fast and will most likely outlive any hard drive.

People are overly worried about write limits on SSDs. With SSDs we actually know when they will fail (or have an idea), with hard drives it's unpredictable (mtbf gives you an idea but still). That should be comforting.

 

[Hacp]

The TRIM supporting drives are technically a JMicron controller (from what I've read) with a Toshiba label. Toshiba in the past used JMicron controllers.

You're probably thinking of the early generation JMicron controllers (602 series). Even then they don't have that bad of write amplification.

You can't implement TRIM in XP.

Either way be happy with your drives. They'll be fast and will most likely outlive any hard drive.

People are overly worried about write limits on SSDs. With SSDs we actually know when they will fail (or have an idea), with hard drives it's unpredictable (mtbf gives you an idea but still). That should be comforting.

I think you're getting things mixed up. Jmicron controllers are made by toshiba, but toshiba also makes controllers itself. This one is made by toshiba, the 30gb ssdnow boot drive. They're the same controllers used in the SSDNow V+, which is a very good performing drive.

 

[EarthwormJim]

I think you're getting things mixed up. Jmicron controllers are made by toshiba, but toshiba also makes controllers itself. This one is made by toshiba, the 30gb ssdnow boot drive. They're the same controllers used in the SSDNow V+, which is a very good performing drive.

Ah ok, well there is a definite relationship between JMicron and Toshiba as you said. Toshiba's previous generation controller was based on the JMicron 602.

This new Toshiba controller is supposedly based on the JMicron 618 controller.

 

[Hacp]

Ah ok, well there is a definite relationship between JMicron and Toshiba as you said. Toshiba's previous generation controller was based on the JMicron 602.

This new Toshiba controller is supposedly based on the JMicron 618 controller.

They might very well be derivatives. Their performance is very similar.

 

[noel54]

Thanks everyone for your responses... I have just installed the drives and have them running well, so as you suggest I'll just enjoy them.

I do have one other questions, if I may - I read that I should occasionally erase everything on the drives and replace the data from a backup. Is there any particular erase app I should use to that? Or can I use XP's Disk Management function?

Thanks again, noel54

 

[razel]

I doubt you'll have to occassionally erase. Again, that wive's tale is for older SSDs that had a problem. Your 30GB is newer and shouldn't. I had a Kingston V series (fixed JMicron) for 6 months used heavily 8 hours a day 5 days a week in web development. Only one thing needed to be done.... unchecking the scheduled disk defragment for the SSD, but leaving it enabled it for the rotating data disks.

Performance was always the same and it was a hell of a workhorse. Your 30GB is a newer 2010 model and should have all those teething problems worked out.

 

[Hacp]

Thanks everyone for your responses... I have just installed the drives and have them running well, so as you suggest I'll just enjoy them.

I do have one other questions, if I may - I read that I should occasionally erase everything on the drives and replace the data from a backup. Is there any particular erase app I should use to that? Or can I use XP's Disk Management function?

Thanks again, noel54

Nope don't bother. If it has trim, the drive will clear your invalid data on its own.

 

[noel54]

Thanks again folks, I do appreciate your help! I'm off to enjoy some SSD time! Noel54