New firmware for X25-M G2 with TRIM support. When?

[ninjasigma]

So when we're gonna see 02HA f/w? It was said that new drives with that f/w will ship on 7th of Nov. But maybe it'll be available earlier?

Who knows anything?

 

[monkeydust]

They said when Windows 7 ships. So, later this week maybe?

 

[fleshconsumed]

When it's done

 

[DukeN]

This is what I'd like to know as well, before proceeding with installing an SSD into one of my desktops with a fresh Win 7. If Intel can have the TRIM firmware that'd be great, otherwise I'll have to get another vertex.

 

[rcpratt]

I want my TRIM!

 

[justkuz]

I have been watching for this firmware update as well... probably going to make us wait until 7 is launched tomorrow at least I am sick of searching... if someone gets word that it's out please post back here Thanks!

 

[imported_Scoop]

Originally posted by: justkuz
I have been watching for this firmware update as well... probably going to make us wait until 7 is launched tomorrow at least I am sick of searching... if someone gets word that it's out please post back here Thanks!

Congratulations on your first post. It took you less than two years!

I think they'll release it after Win7 is out.

 

[BaboonGuy]

Will we have to format our drives to do the firmware upgrade?

 

[rcpratt]

Not sure, but I will be anyways.

 

[jeffbui]

Still no word. I went ahead and installed Win7 today anyways. I'll play around with it until the new firmware gets released.

 

[wgoldfarb]

Sorry for the noobish question, but here it goes: I am ready to install Win 7 on a new X25-M G2 (the 64 bit version of Win 7, in case it makes any difference). I understand that to support TRIM under Win 7 we need to wait for the updated Intel Matrix Storage drivers, which were supposed to be released at the same time as Win 7 (i.e. today).

On the other hand, the OP refers to a firmware upgrade needed to enable TRIM support in the G2 drives. So, do the G2 drives need the updated driver and a firmware upgrade as well? From Anand's articles I had understood that the G2 drives already had built-in TRIM support, and that TRIM support under Win 7 was only pending the release of the updated Matrix Sotrage drivers. I'm confused

I don't want to go through the Win 7 install process twice. So, should I wait for BOTH the new firmware AND the updated Matrix Storage drivers before installing Win 7 if I want full TRIM support? Or should I just go ahead and install it, and just do the upgrades once they are released?

TIA!

 

[aatf510]

Originally posted by: wgoldfarb
Sorry for the noobish question, but here it goes: I am ready to install Win 7 on a new X25-M G2 (the 64 bit version of Win 7, in case it makes any difference). I understand that to support TRIM under Win 7 we need to wait for the updated Intel Matrix Storage drivers, which were supposed to be released at the same time as Win 7 (i.e. today).

On the other hand, the OP refers to a firmware upgrade needed to enable TRIM support in the G2 drives. So, do the G2 drives need the updated driver and a firmware upgrade as well? From Anand's articles I had understood that the G2 drives already had built-in TRIM support, and that TRIM support under Win 7 was only pending the release of the updated Matrix Sotrage drivers. I'm confused

I don't want to go through the Win 7 install process twice. So, should I wait for BOTH the new firmware AND the updated Matrix Storage drivers before installing Win 7 if I want full TRIM support? Or should I just go ahead and install it, and just do the upgrades once they are released?

TIA!

My understanding is that no storage drivers on the market right now support TRIM besides Microsoft Windows 7 default storage drivers and currently G2 X25 does not support TRIM until Intel release a firmware upgrade. Intel has also announced that G1 X25 will not receive a firmware upgrade to support TRIM. It is unknown that if upgrading to the new TRIM supported firmware on the X25 will wipe all the data on the drive because the last firmware upgrade released by Intel for the X25 G2 to fix the Harddrive password issue DID wipe the drives.

 

[wgoldfarb]

Thanks toattett, I guess the safe thing to do is to wait for drivers *and* firmware to be released before I install. Hopefully it won't take long...

 

[smjohns]

It seems that the OCZ / Crucial SSD drives do already support TRIM functionality (assuming you are running the latest firmware) and as such if you install Windows7 in it's default stated then TRIM will be utilised from the off. If you then install the latest Intel Matrix Storage drivers (8.9.0.1023) you will turn TRIM functionality off so the recommendation is that you currently stick with the Windows default storage drivers.

The X25-M G2 drives are currently being sold with firmware "02G9" (or you can upgrade to this if you have an older G2 drive). This firmware does not support TRIM so even if you installed Windows 7 without the latest Matrix Storage drivers, TRIM would be off. There is news that from 7th November, Intel will be supplying G2 drives with a revised firmware "02HA". Unfortunately there is no news as to whether this revised firmware includes the illusive TRIM support or if it will also be posted on their website for the rest of us G2 owners to install. Hopefully it will but Intel is being tight lipped.

I could not find any news on when Intel plan to release TRIM enabled Matrix Storage drivers but hopefully it will be around this time too. I must say they have been a bit slow off the mark and hope the early firmware issues with the G2 drive have not put the TRIM projects back.

 

[Mihixson]

Originally posted by: toattett
It is unknown that if upgrading to the new TRIM supported firmware on the X25 will wipe all the data on the drive because the last firmware upgrade released by Intel for the X25 G2 to fix the Harddrive password issue DID wipe the drives.

this is incorrect. the firmware to fix the BIOS password corruption did not force you to wipe the drive.

 

[Old Hippie]

But maybe it'll be available earlier?

Yep!

I've heard the more new posts about it will make it avaliable earlier! :laugh:

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Mihixson

Originally posted by: toattett
It is unknown that if upgrading to the new TRIM supported firmware on the X25 will wipe all the data on the drive because the last firmware upgrade released by Intel for the X25 G2 to fix the Harddrive password issue DID wipe the drives.

this is incorrect. the firmware to fix the BIOS password corruption did not force you to wipe the drive.

+1...
the BUG wiped the drive if you set and then removed/modified a bios password... if you did NOT modify/remove the password, then updated the firmware, then modified or removed it... then no data was lost. I applied it without dataloss...

OP: From what I heard, G2 already has trim support on firmware, it just need the driver support to enable it. Driver was supposed to come with window 7

 

[DukeN]

Originally posted by: taltamir

Originally posted by: Mihixson

Originally posted by: toattett
It is unknown that if upgrading to the new TRIM supported firmware on the X25 will wipe all the data on the drive because the last firmware upgrade released by Intel for the X25 G2 to fix the Harddrive password issue DID wipe the drives.

this is incorrect. the firmware to fix the BIOS password corruption did not force you to wipe the drive.

+1...
the BUG wiped the drive if you set and then removed/modified a bios password... if you did NOT modify/remove the password, then updated the firmware, then modified or removed it... then no data was lost. I applied it without dataloss...

OP: From what I heard, G2 already has trim support on firmware, it just need the driver support to enable it. Driver was supposed to come with window 7

So this is the driver for the drive itself, or a storage controller of the Intel matrix type?

 

[rcpratt]

Originally posted by: taltamirOP: From what I heard, G2 already has trim support on firmware, it just need the driver support to enable it. Driver was supposed to come with window 7

My understanding was that it would be a firmware update. I could be wrong. Either way, give me my firmware/driver updates! Rawr!

Yeah, here it is. From Anand's SSD Relapse:

Sometime in Q4 of this year, Intel will offer a downloadable firmware that enables TRIM on only the 34nm drives. TRIM on these drives will perform much like TRIM does on the OCZ drives using Indilinx' manual TRIM tool - in other words, restoring performance to almost new.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: rcpratt

Originally posted by: taltamirOP: From what I heard, G2 already has trim support on firmware, it just need the driver support to enable it. Driver was supposed to come with window 7

My understanding was that it would be a firmware update. I could be wrong. Either way, give me my firmware/driver updates! Rawr!

Yeah, here it is. From Anand's SSD Relapse:

Sometime in Q4 of this year, Intel will offer a downloadable firmware that enables TRIM on only the 34nm drives. TRIM on these drives will perform much like TRIM does on the OCZ drives using Indilinx' manual TRIM tool - in other words, restoring performance to almost new.

At first we were told firmware, but a later article said that driver is the issue. I am not entirely sure which it is right now. just that the latest info I heard was driver instead of firmware... either way, something needs to be released to allow it to work.

 

[provostzakharov]

So if you install Windows 7 on a G2 drive, and then later upgrade the drive's firmware in order to activate TRIM, do you still end up at almost-like-new performance? Or for TRIM to work must it be activated starting on a HDDwiped disk with a fresh OS install?

IE, do you REALLY have to install windows 7 twice?

 

[Binky]

Today, apparently.

http://www.intel.com/pressroom...eases/20091026comp.htm

Hothardware did a rather blah "review:" http://hothardware.com/Article...SD-Performance-Update/

Edit: Anandtech did a (much better) review too! Check the front page.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: provostzakharov
So if you install Windows 7 on a G2 drive, and then later upgrade the drive's firmware in order to activate TRIM, do you still end up at almost-like-new performance? Or for TRIM to work must it be activated starting on a HDDwiped disk with a fresh OS install?

IE, do you REALLY have to install windows 7 twice?

No need to format, the intel toolbox takes care of it.
you will need to run the intel toolbox once after enabling trim to bring it to new like performance if you have installed win7 before upgrading the firmware to trim capable. But only once, further trim will be done automatically by windows as you use it.

 

[isp]

Anyone have a drive die on them after flashing?

Seems that some of the folks at H are having trouble...

http://hardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1463671

 

[juu]

More problems reported under Win7:

Fixed link