Intel Corporation is making using a solid-state drive (SSD) easier with the introduction of its latest, Intel® Solid-State Drive Toolbox 3.0.
New features include:
- The ability to make firmware updates under Microsoft Windows (instead of DOS).
- Even easier graphical user interface (GUI) — (see photos).
- Contextual help — integrated, same-page one-click help pointers.
- A System Information button to help guide tech support troubleshooting.
- Hyperlink to Intel® SSD webpage for instant access to additional SSD information.
- The Intel® Solid-State Drive Toolbox has gone global. It is now available in 11 additional languages.
SSDs provide users one of the single best performance boosts to their PC system. But SSDs don’t behave the same as a traditional hard-disk drive (HDD.) For example, because they are so much faster than an HDD and are based on silicon, there is no need for SuperFetch or disk defrag. SSDs also have the benefit of firmware updates for the latest product improvements. These firmware updates can now be performed under Windows or via Command Line Interface (CLI.)
In addition, the Intel Solid-State Drive Toolbox 3.0 provides an even easier GUI and offers Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (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. The Intel Solid-State Drive Toolbox also now comes in 11 languages besides English, making it easier to own a solid-state drive worldwide.
As with previous versions of the Intel Solid-State Drive Toolbox, the free utility provides a system tuner that makes system configuration recommendations for the user’s PC for optimal SSD performance. It will detect and determine if SuperFetch/Prefetch should be disabled and whether ready/boost, defragmenter or DIPM should be turned off. Since SSDs do not behave like an HDD, some of these services designed to make an HDD faster are not needed or even impede the performance of an SSD.
The Intel Solid-State Drive Toolbox 3.0 provides Secure Erase, and can now also perform secure erase of a secondary Intel SSD ensuring all data is cleaned from the drive before water falling the drive to another user or system. The utility allows users to set up automatic clean ups (trims) of their drive and check the system for optimal SSD configuration.
Super easy and elegant, the Intel Solid-State Drive Toolbox helps users embark on the road to the faster performance of SSDs without having to deal with the complexities of the drive. It makes it easier for consumers to make the technology leap as SSDs become more mainstream. Intel SSD owners can download the new toolbox free at www.intel.com/go/ssdtoolbox.
