Intel X-25M G2 TRIM Firmware RELEASED (02HA)

[smjohns]

It seems that the Intel TRIM firmware and toolkit are to be released imminently if this press release from Intel Paris is correct. No sign of it on their website yet....but expect these to go down under weight of demand when it is.

http://www.intel.com/cd/corpor...om/emea/fra/434654.htm

(note: this article is in French so you may need a translator).

Edited - The firmware 02HA is out now aswell as the toolkit

Toolkit
Firmware - Hmm intel keep reverting this page back to old 02GR firmware page so keep refreshing if necessary.

 

[DukeN]

This may be a translation issue, but there seems to be a slight hint here that these tools would be available for XP/Vista as well?

"Users of Windows 7 benefit and improved performance brought by the TRIM command, but this is also true of their counterparts working under Windows XP or Vista. "

 

[vtfanmv5]

Great news.

Originally posted by: DukeN
This may be a translation issue, but there seems to be a slight hint here that these tools would be available for XP/Vista as well?

"Users of Windows 7 benefit and improved performance brought by the TRIM command, but this is also true of their counterparts working under Windows XP or Vista. "

Yeah, I'm not sure what that sentence is trying to say. It seems rather poorly translated.

Saw this too, which is awesome news!

For owners of a unit SSD X25-M 34 GB of 160 nm, the upgrade firmware also boosts the speed of sequential writing by bringing it to 100 MB maximum performance is up 40% compared to the current firmware version.

 

[smjohns]

The TRIM function is in two parts. First the OS must be able to send the TRIM commands and secondly your drive needs to be able to accept them. The firmware update will add TRIM support to the G2 drives. Windows 7 already has TRIM functionality built in and as such will need no other software to utilise this and as such manage your drive to ensure it maintains great performance.

Windows XP / Vista do not support TRIM natively (and doubt they ever will) and as such Intel (like other SSD manufacturers) will be offering a toolkit to allow users to trigger the TRIM function manually.

If you need more help on this then this place has loads or good old wikki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIM_(SSD_command)

 

[fleshconsumed]

Two questions:

1. Do you need to change controller mode from AHCI to IDE for flashing utility to work? Or will AHCI work?
2. As far as I understand only windows default drivers support TRIM, Intel drivers still do not. Is this still correct?

 

[Qbah]

Finally!

 

[vtfanmv5]

Awesome. Now I just need to remember how to do the drive wipe without wasting half my day.

 

[vtfanmv5]

Originally posted by: fleshconsumed
Two questions:

1. Do you need to change controller mode from AHCI to IDE for flashing utility to work? Or will AHCI work?
2. As far as I understand only windows default drivers support TRIM, Intel drivers still do not. Is this still correct?

Most systems need to be in IDE. Mine won't recognize the drive in AHCI.

And I believe that is still correct.

 

[DukeN]

I know Vista/XP do not support TRIM natively but I don't think it would be out of the ordinary to expect the intel "toolkit" to have a wiper like tool, or some other driver utility and has a similar effect (in a not so efficient manner).

Edit: Noticed that they are out now, and the toolkit is basically Intel's wiper. Sweet!

 

[Voo]

Does the FW upgrade destroy the data on the disk?

 

[smjohns]

I have a quick question. My laptop came with a 1gb turbo memory card (which I know is sort of obsolete with the SSD) but for this to be re-enabled....assuming Windows 7 doesn't spot it automatically, will installing the terbo memory drivers (which also installs Intel Storage Matrix drivers) cause any issues with TRIM....or should I just remove the module and forget about it now that the SSD is in?

 

[dfuze]

Thanks for the links OP.

 

[DukeN]

Originally posted by: smjohns
I have a quick question. My laptop came with a 1gb turbo memory card (which I know is sort of obsolete with the SSD) but for this to be re-enabled....assuming Windows 7 doesn't spot it automatically, will installing the terbo memory drivers (which also installs Intel Storage Matrix drivers) cause any issues with TRIM....or should I just remove the module and forget about it now that the SSD is in?

I would just remove the bloody thing. Just my $0.02 without any empirical evidence/insights.

 

[SergeC]

Originally posted by: Voo
Does the FW upgrade destroy the data on the disk?

No.

 

[vtfanmv5]

Beh, nevermind, that's what I get for not googling first. How annoying.

Nevermind again.

Okay, I was attempting to wipe my drive with HDDErase (via UBCB) before installing the firmware update and installing Windows 7, but I came across this error when choosing my SSD:

"!! ATA security feature set is prohibited by the system BIOS chip !!"

Now, here is what the HDDErase ReadMe has to say on the topic:

Q: I receive "This drive is in frozen status" and "!! ATA Security Feature Set is prohibited by the system BIOS chip !!" messages. What does this mean?

A: Some BIOS chips prohibit the secure erase option (they issue a Security Freeze Lock command when the drive boots up). This is supposed to prevent ATA passwords from being set maliciously by malware once the OS has loaded. HDDerase attempts to bypass this, but if HDDerase is unsuccessful there are three other possible ways to bypass the security freeze lock (see following question).

I have performed HDDErases on an SSD in the past, with this motherboard and BIOS. It was a G1.

I also transplanted the drive to another computer to try to HDDErase there, had the same issue.

Anyone else experiencing this or have any advice?

 

[jimhsu]

Benchies!

(This is a pretty fragmented SSD that has seen some heavy use).

Before

After FW Update and one Wiper run

The write speed difference is remarkable.

Subjectively usage wise I don't notice THAT much of a difference, but I'll try loading it with some concurrent writes to see.

 

[kyp275]

hmm, updated the firmware, but I'm having trouble with the SSD Toolkit, it just shows "Error Connecting to Drive" when I click the SSD on the select menu

 

[vtfanmv5]

Wow, those new write speeds are awesome.

 

[jimhsu]

AS SSD before

AS SSD after

Again, improvements in the expected areas. Score went up over 25%.

 

[vtfanmv5]

Originally posted by: vtfanmv5
Beh, nevermind, that's what I get for not googling first. How annoying.

Nevermind again.

Okay, I was attempting to wipe my drive with HDDErase (via UBCB) before installing the firmware update and installing Windows 7, but I came across this error when choosing my SSD:

"!! ATA security feature set is prohibited by the system BIOS chip !!"

Now, here is what the HDDErase ReadMe has to say on the topic:

Q: I receive "This drive is in frozen status" and "!! ATA Security Feature Set is prohibited by the system BIOS chip !!" messages. What does this mean?

A: Some BIOS chips prohibit the secure erase option (they issue a Security Freeze Lock command when the drive boots up). This is supposed to prevent ATA passwords from being set maliciously by malware once the OS has loaded. HDDerase attempts to bypass this, but if HDDerase is unsuccessful there are three other possible ways to bypass the security freeze lock (see following question).

I have performed HDDErases on an SSD in the past, with this motherboard and BIOS. It was a G1.

I also transplanted the drive to another computer to try to HDDErase there, had the same issue.

Anyone else experiencing this or have any advice?

Okay, sorry for so many posts, but I wanted to let anyone else that is having this issue know that I found a solution.

-Unplug your SATA cable from your SSD, keep the case open
-Turn your computer on, change to IDE/Compatibility mode, as usual
-Boot from the UBCD or however you're using HDDErase
-BEFORE selecting HDDErase and loading the program, reconnect the SATA cable to your SSD
-Use HDDErase as usual, and the BIOS chip will not be able to block your erase - since it did not detect the drive during POST.

 

[kyp275]

so nobody else has experienced any issues with the ssd toolbox? I still cannot get it to detect my drive, any ideas? (currently running win7 pro)

 

[dfuze]

I'm going to try it in a couple hours, hopefully I don't have any issue w/ the toolbox.

I think the ReadMe file with it says to have the ssd on your SATA 1 or 2 channel. Is yours there?

 

[kyp275]

that's for updating the firmware, but yea, my SSD is on channel 1

 

[vtfanmv5]

Here's my new benchies!

These new writes are truly awesome. Kudos, Intel.

edit: This was on a freshly HDDErased, new firmware, freshly installed Windows 7 drive.

 

[dfuze]

EDIT: OOPS, DOUBLE POST