SSD Update Before Win 7 install or After ?

[scaryfast]

How can I tell which firmware I have before I install Windows 7 ?

Should I upgrade to the newest firmware before installing Win 7 ?

Also, I am going to use Raid 0, should I install the newest Intel Driver before Win 7 install or just accept Win 7's older driver set until after the install.

Thanks.

 

[Burner27]

How can I tell which firmware I have before I install Windows 7 ?

Should I upgrade to the newest firmware before installing Win 7 ?

Also, I am going to use Raid 0, should I install the newest Intel Driver before Win 7 install or just accept Win 7's older driver set until after the install.

Thanks.

1)There should be a label on the drive itself or on the box it came in that will tell you the FW revision

2)Yes - as long as you have done some reading on the web & forums of the vendor of your drive to see if anyone has complained about certain FW to use/avoid

3)Use Windows 7 default driver then upgrade to the latest IRST drivers from Intel. In some cases, this may not work (rarely have i seen it though) and you may need to provide the drivers from intel on a USB key or CDrom during install so that your RAID array can be seen

 

[scaryfast]

Thank You!

 

[ShintaiDK]

Only crappy SSDs needs firmware before Windows install. Normally you just install Windows and then firmware.

 

[GoSharks]

Only crappy SSDs needs firmware before Windows install. Normally you just install Windows and then firmware.

There is no reason to not update the firmware before Windows. Why take any risks (if you intend on updating at all)?

 

[ShintaiDK]

There is no reason to not update the firmware before Windows. Why take any risks (if you intend on updating at all)?

There shouldnt be a risk. Do you reinstall Windows after a BIOS update too? Since the update might change adressspaces?

 

[Coup27]

I think ShintaiDK's point has been missed. I believe he was referring to only crappy SSD's wipe the contents of the drive during a firmware update. Decent SSDs don't, thus preserving the contents of the drive after a firmware update.

In this case, it does not really matter which order the OP does it, however if the drive is already empty, I would update the firmware before installing Windows.

 

[Dark Shroud]

Do not use Raid0 you're going to block TRIM support in the drive. Also make sure your BIOS is set to ACHI mode instead of IDE.

Give us some more information and we should be able to actually help you get good performance.

 

[tweakboy]

Only crappy SSDs needs firmware before Windows install. Normally you just install Windows and then firmware.

M4 512GB ,,,,, recieving it on thursday. I plan on putting my windows image on the drive,, disconn all drives except SSD , and go through the windows image restore,,,

one problem, my OS is 512k ,,, no 4096KB ... so the ssd will be 512k ,, is that bad ? Is it good @ 512k or will it be slower......