Intel Releases TRIM-Enabling Firmware for Its Second-Gen SSDs

• Author: admin
• Filed under: Tech News
• Date: Oct 31,2009

As promised, Intel has released firmware for its second-generation 34nm solid-state drives (SSDs). TRIM is a feature of Windows 7 (and of course, that OS just launched) that will (hopefully) prevent SSDs from seeing performance degradation over time.

At the same time, the new firmware (02HA) gives Intel 160 GB SSDs a boost in write speed. Intel says: “the firmware update also offers a performance boost to sequential write speeds by delivering up to 100MB per second, a 40 percent performance improvement over the existing firmware version.” The firmware is provided via a bootable ISO image that you burn to a CD and then boot the system with.

Intel is also providing an SSD Toolbox. The SSD Toolbox will enable users of non-TRIM supporting OSes such as XP and Vista to run TRIM manually, or even schedule it daily.

Here’s what Intel said in their press release:

On the heels of the Microsoft* Windows* 7 introduction, Intel Corporation today announced the availability of the Intel® Solid-State Drive (SSD) Toolbox, with Intel® SSD Optimizer and firmware update, for its 34nm Intel® X25-M Mainstream SATA SSDs. The latest tools are designed to help better manage and retain the out-of-box performance of Intel SSDs.

An SSD is built to replace a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) with added performance, lower power consumption and higher reliability. The Intel SSD Toolbox allows users to more effectively monitor and manage the SSD’s health. The firmware upgrade and Intel SSD Optimizer use the Windows* 7 ATA Data Set Management Command (known as Trim) to help keep the Intel SSD running at continued high performance. In addition, the SSD Toolbox and Optimizer also allow the respective enhancements to work with Windows* XP and Vista* operating systems. [...]

The Intel SSD Toolbox provides SSD management tools and information about the drive, including comparing Self-Monitoring and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) drive attributes to manufacturer threshold. It provides basic and full diagnostics, along with recommended actions. The Toolbox also features an easy-to-use graphical user interface that will allow end users to schedule and run the Trim command independent of the operating system. The company recommends users install the firmware update and toolbox, and run the Trim function daily to ensure best performance. The firmware upgrade can be found at www.intel.com/go/ssdfirmware and the Intel SSD Toolbox and Optimizer at www.intel.com/go/ssdtoolbox.

Of course, as with anything like this, the firmware upgrade is at your own risk. Intel warns you might lose data, but personally, I haven’t seen this problem with an Intel firmware update. Your mileage may vary, however.

Also, remember that to see the benefits of TRIM, you need to have your SATA controller set to AHCI mode, in Windows 7. You also need to set that mode in your BIOS prior to your Windows 7 install. Otherwise, you’ll have to use this workaround from Microsoft. It’s a registry edit, so for people already mucking around with a firmware upgrade, it’s probably not a daunting task.