Installed new SSD there is something unclear

I just installed a 64GB mSATA SSD (MyDigitalSSD Super Cache 2) on my Lenovo X220, want to use it as a cache.

The SSD it's not recognized as a new drive, but I can find it in system resources.

Win 7 install the drivers and simply speed up anything from himself, without I need to configure the caching sw or do anything at all.

I can configure the proprietary caching sw FNet Hybridisk, but will have some benefits or Win SuperFetch it's doing all the work?

What's the difference btw SuperFetch and a caching sw such as Nvelo Dataplex or Condusiv ExpressCache?

 

SuperFetch and SSD caching are two different beasts. SuperFetch preloads your most commonly used programs/data in RAM to allow them to launch more quickly. It can work in conjunction with SSD caching without issues. Don't touch SuperFetch, leave it alone.

 

So better don't install the FNet caching sw?
So SuperFetch work only with RAM, but what is using the SSD to speedup the whole activity? ReadyBoost?

 

If you don't install the FNet sw, your system won't be cached with the new SSD (period).

You need to install it (and, as tijo says; don't disable SuperFetch either).

The difference between caching software and SuperFetch is that SF is a built-in MS Windows (integrated at a very low level) solution that has minimal impact on system resources and maximum gains when enough RAM is available to the O/S and your specific workflow.

SSD Caching software is third party software that benefits the user by using a much faster storage subsystem (the SSD) as a location to place frequently used files vs. the slower mechanical HDD storage subsystem that it is 'caching'. While most users will see a net benefit with caching software and a small (smaller than 256GB) SSD, depending on your workflow, you may run into scenarios where the cached data needs to be flushed and new data needs to be populated (into the SSD). At this point, the system will be just as slow (or slower) than the original HDD.

SuperFetch will run out of 'steam' too - if your workflow consistently maxes out the RAM usage... but, because it is RAM (still an order of magnitude or more faster than any SSD), it will 'recover' faster too when those resources are freed.


So, yeah; you want both (along with at least Win8x64 and 16GB RAM or more) for the most consistently smooth and fastest running setup.


Hope this helps a little.

Good luck.

 

In fact as I wrote I DON'T install anything, but my system still accelerate.
Win Experience Index state that graphics performances improved from 5.9 to 6.3 and many things are faster.
And I don't install any caching sw nor configure anything at all (nor format the drive).

If its not SuperFetch that is working only with RAM my concern is from what Win subsystem is coming this performance gain.

It's not a silly question, simply I don't want to disturb anything by - as example - installing the new caching system.

 

What you're stating is not really possible - unless the caching software was/is already installed before you put in the caching SSD.

And it is pretty hard for an SSD to speed up the GPU, no? Even if it is just WEI 'scores'?


Simply installing an SSD will not speed anything up.

Edit: You may have a system that is Intel Smart Response Technology enabled: that is what is enabling a faster system. If this is the case, I would not install anything further (the Intel software is the best imo).


Take care.

 

Possible, if the laptop had config options with a cache SSd and it is still on a factory image, it's probable that adding the SSD was all that was needed to get SRT going.

 

You don't know how much time I spent looking for a caching solution that will work on mine system...

IRST it's not available for mine QM67 chipset, ExpressCache work only from X230, Nvelo it's ony OEM, ....

I carefully selected MyDigitalSSD since its the only that offer a FNet Hybridrive caching sw that can work on mine laptop.

Imagine my surprise after I discovered things are faster without the caching sw, and even without formatting, creating partitions, nothing!
I'm sure it's faster, WEI it's better for OS graphics but this is the only score that changed.

 

As far as I read IRST need to be configured with a new OS installation and a RAID, also it's not supported for my chipset. Can't be IRST.

 

ISRT is not IRST...

Your system must support SRT otherwise, the speedup is only in your head...

 

After a bit of googling, the QM67 chipset seems to support smart response while it doesn't support rapid start. Thank you intel for those oh so similar acronyms.

IRST/RST: Intel Rapid Start Technology, also used for Rapid Storage Technology.
ISRT: Intel Smart Response Technology.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews...t-response-technology-ssd-caching,2938-3.html

 

My chipset support Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) but not Smart Response Technology (SRT) that allow caching.

And yes it's faster, how WEI OS graphics increase can demonstrate.
I will give up trying to understand why and install the FNet caching solution, see what's happens...hopefully nothing bad.

 

No, don't do that.

Understand (fully) what you are doing first, then start experimenting (that way, you'll be able to at least get things back to where they were).


tijo above says the exact opposite of what you're stating... are you sure you're understanding what I'm writing?


Getting higher WEI numbers doesn't mean caching is enabled (are you sure you haven't upgraded the gpu drivers since the last time WEI was originally run).

...

 

An increase in WEI GPU score has nothing to do with caching or a SSD, I've had systems in which I put in a SSD and it did nothing for the GPU score as logic would dictate. As for SRT, after even more googling, Im finding conflicting info on whether the chipset supports SRT or not. Heck, there is even some intel documentation saying it does and other saying it does not. Seems like ti doesn't after all though. Marketing docs and some feature list say it does, more detailed technical documents say it doesn't.

See the part of the mobile chipset features in this datasheet: http://www.intel.com/content/dam/doc/datasheet/6-chipset-c200-chipset-datasheet.pdf. The feature isn't listed, so I guess it isn't there after all. Most third party sites which I consider reputable said it did, but I'd trust the datasheet first.

 

Thanks tijo for digging deeper into this. So how is the increase in performance (not the WEI score) to be accounted for?

 

I don't relate the improvements only to WEI, but speaking about it I've redone the evaluation immediately before the SSD installation. Returned the same numbers I got in the last 2 years since I have this laptop. Redone the assessment after and Graphics performance for Win Aero improved.
I don't know why, sure the GPU was not improved, but probably in some way Aero DOES use some caching that benefit from the SSD presence.

Outlook also open faster, Firefox the same, shutdown it's faster and also recovery from sleep.
Understanding why all of that I don't know how to. Appear to be some subtle technical stuff that I don't master at all. Reading about SuperFetch and ReadyBoost it's the edge of my technical knowledge.

 

Me too have done my research about RST since appear to be the safest solution. US Intel site state QM67 it's not supported, UK site open the possibility, especially if your read about Intel 311 20GB cache SSD.
I finally post on Intel support forum and got an answer: QM67 it's NOT supported. Anyway I haven't done any of the activities that will activate RST, such as enable RAID by BIOS and flag the use of acceleration, so RST can not an answer.

 

I've done something different and discovered another funny feature.

Considering the SSD is working without any help, I think why don't try Lenovo proprietary caching sw ExpressCache, that officially it's supported only from ThinkPad X230.

Installed, reboot, check and voilà it work! I need to understand the benefit from the future usage but still it's interesting that something that from lenovo forum will not work in fact do it!

 

I for one am very interested in how this will turn out for you... please keep us posted.

 

Just a little update: WEI don't change apart for a little interesting thing, CPU score pass from 7.1 to 7.0.

Considering there are 2 years that CPU score its fixed to 7.1 and this really haven't anything to do with caching I'm really surprised. Maybe some low level process was added with ExpressCache that in some way affect the tested performances.