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Intel SSD Toolbox 3.0 makes managing Intel SSDs easier
Intel has released a new version of its SSD Toolbox to help owners of their flash-based drives optimize and keep them running in out-of-the-box condition. The new Intel SSD Toolbox 3.0 brings a redesigned user interface and includes features like SMART, Summary Drive Health and Estimated Life Remaining bars, used/unused capacity pie chart, diagnostics, system information summary and contextual help that integrates one-click same-page help pointers.
As with previous versions, the free utility provides a tuner that makes system configuration suggestions for optimal SSD performance on the user's PC. It will detect and determine if features like Superfetch, ReadyBoost, and Prefetch should be disabled. These are designed to cache data into RAM or rearrange it on disk to help Windows 7 preload files and launch programs faster. They were developed with HDDs in mind, however, and since SSDs behave differently from HDDs they are not really needed to improve performance and can even waste write cycles reducing drive life time.
Intel's SSD Toolbox 3.0 supports Secure Erase and can now also perform secure erase of a secondary Intel SSD, ensuring all data is cleaned from the drive before handing it to someone else or installing it on another system.
In addition, it includes the ability to update firmware under Windows instead of DOS and now comes in 11 languages. You can download the Intel SSD Toolbox 3.0 here and read a fact sheet with more information here (PDF).
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User Comments (6)
Post a comment|
Burty117
on October 27, 2011 4:12 PM |
Do OCZ have a similar program? |
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TomSEA
on October 27, 2011 4:16 PM |
What burty117 said - anyone know of a comparable program over other manufacturer's? |
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mevans336
on October 27, 2011 4:17 PM |
Not really, but this will do some of the similar functions: http://elpamsoft.com/Downloads.aspx |
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Mizzou
on October 27, 2011 4:40 PM |
This was definitely a factor in my decision to purchase the Intel 510 250GB Elm Crest SSD. I have the optimizer scheduled to run once a week and the results have been very good. Just checked a couple days ago and overall drive performance is even better than when I first installed it Snapshot here, original bench is in the post with recent Atto run being overlayed. |
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Guest
on October 27, 2011 6:41 PM |
This really makes me think if I should consider a intel ssd for my next build as I love how my OCZ vertex 2 works since last year and would never look back from ssd but I would like to make the OCZ my steam hd and a new one for my OS. |
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Leeky
on October 27, 2011 6:48 PM |
I'd be more inclined to RAID two SSD's than use a separate one for games. The difference they tend to make for gaming is marginal at best generally speaking. In regards to OS and other software the difference (especially demanding ones like PS) it makes is simply mind boggling though. Simply put, once you start using an SSD its hard to go back to mechanical drives as anything running as OS in that manner feels "too slow" in comparison. |
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