Feedback for first time SSD user.

[supremor]

Hey guys, I just finished putting together a new system yesterday and I'm using a 256GB M4. So far I'm very happy with it but I want to make sure I'm doing everything right.
I know it's running in AHCI mode and it's a fresh W7 installation. I set the page file size to 2GB max to save space and if I recall correctly Windows does not defrag SSD's on its own?
I also noticed a lot of users saying they don't even get to see the Windows flag form during booting but I can see it form and glow for like 3-5 seconds and then it basically instantly boots to desktop, ready to go.

I am running it on the Intel SATA 6G port (P8Z77-V Pro) and the drive already came with the latest (000F) firmware loaded. I'll post a screen of AS SSD score for reference.

Is there anything else I should know or do to make sure my system is running in top notch shape?

 

[Blain]

What's your WEI score... that's the only thing that really matters?

 

[MontyAC]

That's about right for an M4.

 

[Cerb]

Is there anything else I should know or do to make sure my system is running in top notch shape?

That 4KQD1 score is touch low. You should run the benchmark 100 more times, at least until you get a 22-23MB/s read score .

No, not really. Just use it. Turning on AHCI, then installing a fresh copy of Windows 7, is basically it.

 

[bryanW1995]

Here's what I got on my m4's before I RAID 0'd them:

Your numbers look right in line.

My computer boots ridiculously fast now, but when I was running the drives separately my boot experience was similar to yours. Don't worry about it.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Install the intel SSDtoolbox and optimize there under tune. Then you are all set

 

[Zap]

I also noticed a lot of users saying they don't even get to see the Windows flag form during booting but I can see it form and glow for like 3-5 seconds

I have to wonder about that... if it is the monitor causing this in some cases. Try this: While your computer is running, turn off your monitor. Then, turn it on. Some monitors turn on and give a picture near instantaneously while others take a couple seconds to display a picture. When your system goes from the POST screens to the Windows flag screen, the monitor is changing modes. If your monitor takes a long time, then it may not display that screen (or display it for long) before having to change modes again for your Windows desktop.

 

[Cerb]

I have to wonder about that... if it is the monitor causing this in some cases.

Probably most. I don't see at least the first half of it. Without major updates going on, it generally doesn't last more than a few seconds on newer computers, anyway, with fairly clean install.

Some of the little things like that are mostly placebo, or at least attributing them to SSD is false. The real difference is that I have to wait another ~20 seconds after that logo goes away .

 

[supremor]

Appreciate the feedback guys, I honestly don't care too much for boot times since I usually run my PC 24/7 and the booting is plenty fast for me as is.
Good to know my numbers are looking good. Also this might be a silly thing to ask but should I be using the Intel SSD toolbox on a non Intel drive?

 

[MontyAC]

The Intel Toolkit won't do much on a non Intel SSD.

 

[kbp]

Turn off drive indexing.

 

[Scoobyboo]

Turn off drive indexing.

This.

And here's a nice guide for win7 tweaks with an ssd:
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...3-*-Windows-7-Ultimate-Tweaks-amp-Utilities-*

 

[Zxian]

And here's a nice guide for win7 tweaks with an ssd:
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...3-*-Windows-7-Ultimate-Tweaks-amp-Utilities-*

There is ZERO need to disable the defrag schedule in Windows7. All three of my Windows7 still have the schedule enabled, and those systems with rotational hard drives still need and benefit from being regularly defragmented. If for some reason your system is still trying to defrag your SSD (which you can check by running 'defrag -c' from a command line), then you can alter the command in the scheduled task to exclude any SSDs you might have installed.

I also use the indexing service for files that are not stored on my SSD (pictures, music, etc etc). Disabling the indexing service altogether is a bad idea. Reading data from an index is almost always faster than reading through a flat file system. If you want to prevent it from indexing any files stored on the SSD or have it store the index on another drive (for space reasons), you can configure it properly. Disabling it is a lazy excuse for a "tweak".

 

[Blain]

Good to know my numbers are looking good.

You haven't posted any WEI scores yet, so we don't know what your numbers are looking like...

What's your WEI score... that's the only thing that really matters?

 

[kbp]

I also use the indexing service for files that are not stored on my SSD (pictures, music, etc etc). Disabling the indexing service altogether is a bad idea. Reading data from an index is almost always faster than reading through a flat file system. If you want to prevent it from indexing any files stored on the SSD or have it store the index on another drive (for space reasons), you can configure it properly. Disabling it is a lazy excuse for a "tweak".[/QUOTE]

The purpose of drive indexing on a hard drive was to allow quicker access to a file. As access times on an SSD are almost instantaneous (.01ms), there is a common belief that indexing does nothing more than increase the total number of writes to the SSD which results in a lesser life cycle. Having stated this, there is no confirmed performance increase by disabling indexing and the chances of wearing out ones SSD is somewhere in the area of impossible to one in a million.

 

[bryanW1995]

Install the intel SSDtoolbox and optimize there under tune. Then you are all set

The Intel Toolkit won't do much on a non Intel SSD.