Setup and manage SSD discussion thread

Benny Boy said:
I actually had it in there at one point. But it was MS's "Mr. fix it" button. And I guess it could still be. The only thing is it seemed to diminish the importance of setting to ACHI before the first restart, since the registry fix after isn't always a cure. I'll get it in there tho, (along with a couple other things I have that don't really change the substance), this WE. GL with your switcharoo mep, let us know how it works out.
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It should be, the only reason it doesn't work to just flip the IDE/AHCI setting is because Windows disables drivers at install time that it doesn't need so that it boots faster. If you install in 'IDE Mode' that includes the AHCI driver, this registry setting just tells Windows it should load the driver.
 
Cromewell said:
It should be, the only reason it doesn't work to just flip the IDE/AHCI setting is because Windows disables drivers at install time that it doesn't need so that it boots faster. If you install in 'IDE Mode' that includes the AHCI driver, this registry setting just tells Windows it should load the driver.
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Yes sir. Aside from a few unofficial reports (since I haven't looked that far into it yet), I've seen it myself be set after, then for some reason Windows wouldn't boot and load the drivers.
I'll be adding a link to your instruction for it since you already have it laid out and because it needs to be in there.
 
The follwing has been added:

HDD's: Windows might not recognize pre-existing partitions/data if set to ACHI. If you don't use ACHI capabilities such as , NCQ, external eSata, hot-swap,,or,,if it has partions/data, setting these HDD's to IDE may be benificial for some systems.

If you have a boot drive with Windows installed in IDE mode and you want to change it to ACHI, try this MS fix.

Intel SSD Toolbox Video Intel Download Support
 
you may also want to add that there is support for raid and ssd now for some drives with the sanforce controler. probably others as well, but i do know that the intel x 25 series with firmware updated will support raid and trim.
 
kdfresh09 said:
you may also want to add that there is support for raid and ssd now for some drives with the sanforce controler. probably others as well, but i do know that the intel x 25 series with firmware updated will support raid and trim.
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I certainly will freshly :) That's good news. Been kinda busy the last few weeks, good find.
 
So I'm helping my friend with his build on friday, and he got an SSD. I'm still a little confused on how to set it up in ACHI. Here's his motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128501&Tpk=GA-Z68A-D3-B3

Not sure what SSD he has, though.

So would it give me the option when I choose which partition to install win 7 to install it as ACHI? Or I need to install the ACHI drivers? And to be clear, I install win 7, then the chipset drivers, and then the ACHI drivers?
 
Prelim:
It will be connected to a white sata 6 port. There's two sata 6 ports and the first one (probably labeled 0) is my personal preference for ssd/os, but he has two ports to pick from. ACHI mode will be a sata port mode setting in the bios. And it will be set after the drive is installed - you'll set the od as the only boot device, set the sata port the drive is connected to to ACHI, then reboot to the dvd installer already in the od.

Before anything tho, need to know what drive.
 
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Suggest looking at OCZ for firmware update and their steps to do so, if needed.

You should be fine with the MS ACHI driver that the 7 installer will load and enable during setup. With the ssd installed, put the 7 dvd in and boot to the bios. Set the port to ACHI.
In the Boot tab, disable everything but the OD. Save those setting and exit the bios and let it reboot to the installer.
I doubt you'll want to partition it. Install 7 to the unallocated space of the ssd.
Once 7 is installed and managed, reboot to the bios-enable the ssd on the boot tab and set it as the first boot priority- and the od second.
 
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Ok so here comes a vague question, but Im pretty new to this build your own PC lark,

With the current high price of standard drives im going to be buying an SSD for my Os drive and using my current external drives for my files and unimportant programs

now to me the guide makes it look pretty difficult to set up the SSD so Im now questioning weather or not to bother with one...


so i guess what im asking is, is this as difficult as it sounds ?
 
Its a new adventure. I went through the program and read it. Its about doing it right and fastest. Checking the bios if it meets the criteria to make it fastest. What to do and not to do. It is another learning curve.
 
That guide is only to get the best performance out of the drive. The drive still performs outrageously fast. You would not believe the difference it makes.
 
ok so not essential but makes it faster and smoother, finally will i need another internal HDD to make this work.
I have 2 external drives would they do the trick to keep all my files on ?
 
It's not a requirement to have an internal drive to go with it. =But it does help for storage purposes since any usb external drive will be slower accessing then an internal drive when like playing games and you don't want to use up all the space on your ssd for everything you have.
 
ok cool I will format my old HDD and run that too then... thanks for you help so far :) going place my orders now i have my answers :)
 
Mainly imo
setting up the bios
mapping storage off ssd
manage pagefile. leave it on the ssd but make it smaller and the same max/min, or move it to hdd, or no pagefile. Don't partition just for pf.
Consider at least -
Managements 3,5,6,13,13a,14,15
 
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