First timer SSD setup help

[[FETT]Cupcake]

Hey everyone, I've been reading the forum and getting some good information about the ssd's. I recently purchased a 128gb torqx (non-m28) and plan on using it as my primary drive for my windows 7 build. This will be a bunch of firsts for me: first time with ssd, first time using windows 7, and the first time using the new rig I built.

I've got bits and pieces about how to set up my system, but I would like some help from you guys about how to proceed.

So far, I got the rig up and running, flashed a new bios, and ran cpu and memory tests and everything came back good.

System Specs: Core I7 920, EVGA X58 Classified, 6gb OCZ platinum 1600, 2 gtx 285's, and an x-fi titanium pro. Plus the ssd.

I'll be getting my copy of 7 home premium from the egg today.

So, when I install which mode should I be in? IDE or AHCI? People go back and forth about this, but which one is best for the drive? I read that you can switch modes, but if you install in ide you can't go back to ahci. Also, I read that the wiper utility works much better in ide. Should I install in ahci so I can switch easily? Is AHCI better performance wise? What are your thoughts?

Once I get windows installed, what setting should I use? I read about disabling prefetch, superfetch, pagefile, and defrag. Anything else I should do?

I'd appreciate any advice you may have on this matter. I usually don't worry too much about a new install, but ssd is new to me, and I want to get it right. Hopefully, everything will go well.

I have been getting a little uneasy when I read about all the bad drives in the newegg customer reviews. Well, the 10 year warranty is a little piece of mind I guess.

Thanks for your help.

[earls]

What you've listed sums up what I would consider the "necessary" tweaks for best performance.

I would change your "power plan" so that it never turns off the hard drive. That's about it.

[BChat]

I installed the drive as per instructions that came with it. It was picked up in the BIOS, so I restored an image from my original HD, Win 7x64 Pro, installed/ran Patriot Performance Restore Utility:

http://www.patriotmem.com/support/firmwarep.jsp

It worked fine.

I then decided to do a clean install, booted to Win 7 USB stick, installed the OS, re-installed and ran Patriot Performance Restore Utility and then software - all is going well so far.

I don't have the IDE/AHCI option, just AHCI - so that was not an issue for me.

After reading this forum for the last month or so, even if I had the IDE option, I don't think I'd use it.

This is just my experience, in the end - your machine, your call.

My 64 GB Torqx has the same read/write speed it had when I installed it. In fact, if anything it seems to be a few MBs better.

[[FETT]Cupcake]

Thanks for the replies.

Bchat,

The performance utility is the wiper right? I read that it takes a long time in ahci. How long did yours take to run?

[BChat]

Cupcake;7233']Thanks for the replies.

Bchat,

The performance utility is the wiper right? I read that it takes a long time in ahci. How long did yours take to run?

I think it has also been called "wiper", yes. It takes about 10-15 seconds to run - not long at all.

[Elucidate]

I think it has also been called "wiper", yes. It takes about 10-15 seconds to run - not long at all.

That short in ACHI or IDE? This is the first I've read that ACHI is fast for WIPE.

[BChat]

That short in ACHI or IDE? This is the first I've read that ACHI is fast for WIPE.

Yes, AHCI - I don't have the IDE option on this machine.

I have noticed 2 things on this forum:

1. AHCI seems to be a lot better than IDE
2. 64GB Torqx seem to be better than 128 GB Torqx.

I have not had 1 issue with my SSD. The last two times I ran HDTune my average access was 209.1 MBs, that is about 3 MBs faster than a month ago when I installed it.

Just my observation/experience.

[Elucidate]

Thanks BChat.

I've ordered a 256 MB drive. This forum has been very helpful. To return the favor, I'll post my findings to add to the mix.

To anyone reading this, my setup will be:
i7-920 OC 3.6ghz, RAM at 1800 Mhz
P6T Deluxe V2 (ICH10R)
win 7 pro 64bt
Torqx 256 mb SSD OS
3 x Baracuda 1.5 TB (love to RAID them but seems like a non-option with the SSD)

[[FETT]Cupcake]

Thanks for the help everyone. Just wanted to let you know that I got windows 7, all my programs, and games installed to my torqx with no problems. Love the drive so far. I only wish I would have splurged for the bigger drive. I only have 30gb left!

[BChat]

Glad it worked out for you - enjoy.

[Zane]

That short in ACHI or IDE? This is the first I've read that ACHI is fast for WIPE.
I run ACHI and the TRIM utility runs fast on my system too. Just because they tell you to switch to IDE if you have problems with ACHI does not mean that everyone is having problems with ACHI.

[[FETT]Cupcake]

I agree, my wipe program was fast in ACHI too.

[Elucidate]

ACHI works fine with TRIM. My speeds are not the best though. Using HD Tune, I get sustained reads of 195 MB/s, writes are in the 175 MB/s. I haven't gone through the list of tweeks to improve performance, i'm trying to find it again.

Drive is 256 GB Torqx.

[willysp]

ACHI works fine with TRIM. My speeds are not the best though. Using HD Tune, I get sustained reads of 195 MB/s, writes are in the 175 MB/s. I haven't gone through the list of tweeks to improve performance, i'm trying to find it again.

Drive is 256 GB Torqx.

This might be the list you're refering to:

Turn off defrag
Turn off super and pre fetch
Turn off indexing and search
Tun the patriot wiper utility ever once and a while
Turn on the write cache... actually just make sure it is on

[Not my list, found it here - credit to whoever the OP was]

[chrisdglong]

This might be the list you're refering to:

Turn off defrag
Turn off super and pre fetch
Turn off indexing and search
Tun the patriot wiper utility ever once and a while
Turn on the write cache... actually just make sure it is on

[Not my list, found it here - credit to whoever the OP was]

Yeah, that's funny. I posted that list... but, now it seems to be gone. Weird. Anyway, I set up two PC's, one with a 64 and one with a 128 torqx, using those tweaks only and all has been rock stable.

Plus, I set them up in AHCI mode. I get faster and more stable performance from AHCI.

EDIT: Never mind, I just found it.. doh!