Windows 7 Hard Drive & SSD Performance Analyzed

Downloading Windows 7 now :-)

I want to install my Windows 7, but I'm not sure autocad will work on it...

you can always run it in compatibility mode. Or if it has that virtual XP up yet?

I got this crazy feeling you dont wanna run CAD in a VM.

i'm sure the slow down wouldn't be THAT bad lol....

Let me ask a really dumb question. If you have a SSD setup and the manufacturer releases an updated firmware version for the drive, do you have to reformat the entire drive and reinstall windows? Or can you update the firmware on the drive from within windows?

Sorry for being dumb, I had planned on contacting one of the manufacturers but thought I'd ask you guys first.

Thanks,

Philip

Great comparo, guys! That pretty-much seals it for Vista, IMO.

fairlane32:

Let me ask a really dumb question. If you have a SSD setup and the manufacturer releases an updated firmware version for the drive, do you have to reformat the entire drive and reinstall windows? Or can you update the firmware on the drive from within windows?

The only dumb questions, is an unasked one...

To answer you, it depends on the nature of the update. Some maintenance releases do not require blanking the drive, but more comprehensive updates that change drive behavior may require blanking the drive.  It depends.

Marco C:

fairlane32:

Let me ask a really dumb question. If you have a SSD setup and the manufacturer releases an updated firmware version for the drive, do you have to reformat the entire drive and reinstall windows? Or can you update the firmware on the drive from within windows?

The only dumb questions, is an unasked one...

To answer you, it depends on the nature of the update. Some maintenance releases do not require blanking the drive, but more comprehensive updates that change drive behavior may require blanking the drive.  It depends.

Thanks Marco,

      I agree, no question is dumb, but I never know who is listening You would think that manufacturers would try to keep from having to reformat the drive, even for major updates, but hopefully they won't happen too often, unless the update really makes the drive perform a lot better, otherwise it would definitely be a pain.

Philip

But SP2 just came out. That will make it better...right?

Yeah, but he said that 7 is like 180 degree shift from vista. I don't think that just SP2 will cover that shift.

But anyway, they have released it with one year license up to July 2010, hence it is up to you. Well, I am running 7 RC and so far everything is fine. Except, Daemon Tools, Norton and few more programs, which are having compatibility issues and I am not able to run them in compatibility mode as well.

We're actually planning a follow-up article that looks at both Vista SP2 and XP vrs Win7. Stay tuned!

To replace daemon tools I have been using virtualclonedrive on windows 7. I have no CD drive on my laptop so it comes in handy.

Dave_HH:

We're actually planning a follow-up article that looks at both Vista SP2 and XP vrs Win7. Stay tuned!

Hi there,

then please include the Super Talent Ultra Drive with the newest firmware (1370) in this test/article, thanks.

regards,

iNsuRRecTiON

I have an Asus M50 laptop and bought a OCZ Vertex last weekend, here's my numbers with Win7(x64) after I upped the firmware (adding 'Trim' support):

Power button to log in screen: 13 seconds

Typing my password: 3 seconds

Desktop loaded and NO disk activity: 3 to 5 seconds

 ...

My computer is COMPLETELY loaded in no more than 21 seconds; everything is just SNAPPY!

I've been building computers for a LONG time and I have never (ever ever) gained so much of a performance increase from a single upgrade (and now that I think about it more - I've never completely replaced a computer and had anything close to this much noticeable difference)

I consider it the best $400 (shippiong and all) I've ever spent on a computer.

That will be great. I just went through an article stating the performance of 7 with respect to Vista and it told alot of great things and I cross checked them on my system and found them correct.

Boot time and run time has increased significantly, but in that article (somebody from Microsoft Admin) I read that working and performance time in microsoft applications and few others have not changed quite much.

Is it really so? Because I couldn't feel much of a difference . . . well, I've got an old hardware though. It will be really helpful if you provide a significant comparison between vista SP2 and 7 RC.

Does it work fine like Daemon Tools? I had problems mounting an image file with Winmount (everytime I would run setup.exe an error stating "can't read from source" would appear) but Daemon Tools mounted it perfectly and I could install the program smoothly.

Well, I had Vista back then. I'll try the software you mentioned, I hope it emulates the DVD-drive perfectly.

That's great, I upgraded my system with 2gb Kingston RAM 800 MHz. I think that's why I can't see that much performance boost like you guys.

I've got ATI 200 Series motherboard, what do you think, which ram should I upgrade to?

Or you, you know, the Super Talent a slow drive. (Sorry, but I'm pretty sure it is.)

The problem with the Super Talent (and all the others save the two exceptions) is with their controllers and random access times.  The throughput numbers that look so impressive in the advertising don't mean a hill of beans when you need to read 850 50k ones to display a screen.

The short message from a great review I read right before I ordered mine was basically everything he tested was completely unacceptable for daily use as a primary drive except OCZ's Vertex and anything Intel made - his suggestion was the OCZ and I'm glad I followed it. (I think OCZ has an even better one now...)

Office 2007 load time (it was the first time so it had to load the product activation wizard too): Umm, maybe 1/2 a second (max)

I LOVE this drive!