Just installed Intel X-25 SSD and...

[mbpro13]

I just installed a 120GB X-25 SSD in my MacBook Pro 13 and everything went well, with a fresh install of the OS (10.6.6). Scary fast app loading times now!

Not wanting to have to do a complete re-installation in the future if I "break" something, I used Disk Utility to make an "image" of the fresh installation.

If I was using an HDD, I would just restore the image (if necessary) to the HDD without any worries, but with the SSD I wonder if I need to use something like hdparm or HDDErase to "reset" the drive prior to restoring the image when (and if) that day ever comes?

Or maybe it doesn't matter? Thanks in advance for any illumination provided...

 

[iggibar]

You can just create a new single partition on the drive via Disk Utility, and then do a fresh install. You don't have to waste time creating images, or erasing anything, as creating a new single partition does it all in one step for you.

 

[mbpro13]

You can just create a new single partition on the drive via Disk Utility, and then do a fresh install. You don't have to waste time creating images, or erasing anything, as creating a new single partition does it all in one step for you.

That's true, but I've got my MB settings and apps installed just the way I like it, and want to avoid spending the time again. Also, I may be wrong about this, but I've read that simply reformating SSD's does not restore them to an "out of the box" condition, and causes less than optimum performance, hence the need for apps like hdparm and HDDErase.

Although I think OS's and drives that support TRIM may be less vulnerable to this condition?

 

[chscag]

You need to get on the MacWorld site and read what they have to say about using a good SSD in a Mac. According to them, they put them through a torture test in various Macs. No TRIM. Format and re-format, etc. Result: No loss in speed or performance. Read the article if you can find it. I have it in my last or next to last issue of MacWorld. Quite amazing.

 

[mbpro13]

You need to get on the MacWorld site and read what they have to say about using a good SSD in a Mac. According to them, they put them through a torture test in various Macs. No TRIM. Format and re-format, etc. Result: No loss in speed or performance. Read the article if you can find it. I have it in my last or next to last issue of MacWorld. Quite amazing.

Thanks for the reference, I'll read the article!

 

[harryb2448]

Here is the article:-

Mac SSD performance and TRIM in OSX | bit-tech.net

In particular read page 7 on the need, or lack of, TRIM in OS X.6/

 

[mbpro13]

Here is the article:-

Mac SSD performance and TRIM in OSX | bit-tech.net

In particular read page 7 on the need, or lack of, TRIM in OS X.6/

Thanks for the direct link, it's a very interesting article and also encouraging regarding OS X and the need (or perhaps not needing) TRIM.

There's only one point in the article that leave me slightly uneasy:

Section 2, where they use Disk Utility to reset the SSD to a "clean state". The article says "the "Zero all data" option... takes the erasure process to the next level by converting all binary in the empty portion of the disk to zeros, a state that might be described as digitally blank."

I don't think converting to all zeros is actually the same as wiping the SSD's cells clean, or holding no data at all. All zeros (or all ones, or a mix of the two) is still a filled cell. And a lot of the comments on the article have the same concern.

On the plus side, the author(s) do report that they don't see much, if any, degradation of performance over time with the MB Air's SSD so perhaps it's not a problem for that particular SSD.

I hope to see some future tests with a MB Pro and Intel or Corsair or other popular SSD's. In the meantime, I'll just enjoy my noticeably snappier X-25-M equipped MP Pro 13 and not worry about it

 

[harryb2448]

And as far as back ups go, get an external HDD, SATA will be fine, and use Time Machine. Should you need to do a clean install on the SSD, use the Snow Leopard disc, and then use Migration Assistant to transfer from the external. OWC Tech Support advises this with SSD, and not cloning.

 

[chscag]

On the plus side, the author(s) do report that they don't see much, if any, degradation of performance over time with the MB Air's SSD so perhaps it's not a problem for that particular SSD.

Keep in mind that the "Air" does not use a SSD in the traditional sense. The storage in the Air is by flash memory modules. OWC already has replacement module kits available. A bit pricey though....