Intel Releases Performance-Enhancing SSD Firmware, SSD Optimizer Software

[btarunr]

Intel's formidable enterprise-grade solid state drive (SSD) lineup has received an important feature update, which includes a new firmware that adds support for the "Trim" feature on Windows 7, which enhances the drive's stability and extends its service life. This is the second major update for the company's breakthrough 34 nm NAND based X25M Gen.2 SSDs. The first one corrected a major stability issue. These stress the importance for users to keep the drive's firmware up to date. Not only do they correct major issues, but also add to the feature-set. The new firmware update promises an up to 40% increase in sequential write speeds, which will now top 100 MB/s.

For users of older versions of Windows, Intel is providing the SSD Toolbox and SSD Optimizer software, which intend to provide similar levels of reliability, as Windows 7 Trim brings about. The new firmware, with relevant information can be found here, while the SSD Toolbox, and SSD Optimizer can be found here.




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[Mussels]

seems like intel are still the SSD's to want

 

[WarEagleAU]

Patriot and Corsair are beating Intel in a lot of areas except access latency. Anywho, nice to see Intel on top of the game.

 

[Scrizz]

I'd take an Intel over a Corsair/Patriot anyday

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Patriot and Corsair are beating Intel in a lot of areas except access latency. Anywho, nice to see Intel on top of the game.

Do you have any links for that? I thought Intel's X25M Gen.2 SSD were formidable.

Ninja Edit:
Here is a review

 

[Fx]

gah! 160GB got a huge increase in write speed. my 80GB could have used that

it was suspected that there was an artificial cap prior to this and now it proves to have been true. I still suspect that the 80GBs are capped to encourage the sale of the 160GB models...

 

[LoneEagle70]

The link is down? Anyone had the download?

 

[rjkoneill]

its working fine on my pair of 80Gb drives

cant talk about trim though, as the drives are in RAID0 and this is still not supported

 

[lemonadesoda]

This is hot stuff. The Intel was always at the top of benchmarks, except in the write speeds. This firmware update will bring their MLC SSD back to the top of the MLC league tables.

Unlike some of the smaller companies, Intel can afford to invest in getting their firmware right, unlike some other companies updates that have ended up causing more problems than they fix. Intel X25M.2 goes back on my shopping list.

I now withdraw the above comment. Intel are also having issues. See here:

http://www.intel.com/go/ssdfirmware/

Let's hope they fix it soon.

 

[Fx]

http://img.techpowerup.org/091027/Capture134.jpg



I now withdraw the above comment. See here:

http://www.intel.com/go/ssdfirmware/

thanks Lemon

glad I didnt update last night

 

[my_name_is_earl]

Price of SSD is still soaring. I'll wait next summer to upgrade. Maybe I'll be able to afford a 250gb ssd

 

[PP Mguire]

That would be 256gb SSD since they go with the size like RAM.