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Why are Windows 7 Users Running Toolbox Optimizer?

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

Why are Windows 7 users running the toolbox optimizer when the readme file explicitly states that for win7 this is not needed. The only case for running the optimizer toobox for WIN 7 is if you are using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager 8.x driver or any driver that does not support the (TRIM) command:

The readme says page 13:

"If your PC uses Microsoft Window 7 and the standard Microsoft AHCI driver(the DEFAULT setup for nomral configurations without RAID), the Intel SSD Optimizer will work; however, you do not need to use the Intel SSD optimizer because Microsoft Windows 7 implments the ATA Data Set Management Command (TRIM) natively."

47 REPLIES 47

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

Well...If i had to delete a file from a XP partition that is shared with WIN7, then I would delete the file from WIN 7 so that automatic trim would mark the space as usable. If i could not delete the file from WIN 7, then i would go in XP and delete the file and I would schedule the Optimizer to run in XP.

Second, i would not share a partition that has XP and WIN 7 data unless I could delete from that partition within WIN 7. I would not create a partition and dedicate it to 2 Operating systems where some data can only be deleted from within a specific operating system. The prudent one will create seperate partitions that will hold data specific to the operating system.

BTW, most people would not set-up a system such that you described, even though it is possible. Also, notice that Intel did not mention this case in their PDF; you want to know why? One can easily mess up their system if they don't know what they are doing sharing a partition between 2 distinct operating systems(WIN 7 and XP) that handle file system i/o differently although at the hightest level they are both NTFS compatible.

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

I'm running intel optimizer because win7 with MS AHCI standard drivers does not TRIM my drive.

In my desktop setup it does not work (ASUS P5B with intel ICH8-R):

http://communities.intel.com/thread/8096?tstart=30

Also if you have a laptop (ICH8-M) this site says it does not work either:

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=805&type=expert&pid=10

I dont know if the optimizer works for ICH8-M, but I can say it works for my ASUS P5B (ICH8-R).

In my case I dont know if it's the ICH8-R or something in the motherboard implementation, but I get full speed after I run the optimizer, so I'm happy with it until I buy a new motherboard+cpu

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

I have ICH8M in my laptop and TRIM works like a charm for me.

(Win 7 64-bit, AHCI, MS drivers and 160GB X25-M)

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

RollerBoy:

Could you run AS SSD benchmark and post your total score?

http://alex-is.de/PHP/fusion/downloads.php?cat_id=4

I have 418 total score for intel x25m g2 160gb.

Also please verify that intel toolbox optimizer scheduler isn't runing the optmizer daily and you didnt run the optimizer in the last 10 days.

EDIT: link to download AS SSD

http://www.alex-is.de/PHP/fusion/downloads.php?cat_id=4&download_id=9

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

Not much point in running the same tool as you do since the machine is a Lenovo T61 which has got it's SATA interface speed limited to 1,5 GB (even though it is a SATA 2 interface).

I'm using CrystalDiskMark to measure the disk performance (yeah I know it can't always be fully trusted) and the performance has stayed consistent ever since I installed firmware 02HA back in october 27. After installing 02HA I ran the optimizer once and that made a huge difference. I upgraded to firmware 02HD on december 2, no performance change. The second time ever I ran the optimizer was yesterday after installing ver 1.2 and that didn't change the performance at all either.