Intel has launched new Solid-State Drive (SSD) Toolbox, with SSD Optimizer and firmware update, for its 34nm X25-M mainstream SATA SSDs. The new tools are designed to manage and retain the performance of Intel SSDs.

The company claims that for 34nm X25-M 160GB users, the firmware update offers a performance boost to sequential write speeds by delivering up to 100MB per second, a 40% performance improvement over the existing firmware version.

According to Intel, the firmware upgrade and SSD Optimizer use the Windows 7 ATA data set management command known as ‘Trim’ to help keep the SSD running at continued high performance. In addition, the SSD Toolbox and Optimizer allow the respective enhancements to work with Windows XP and Vista operating systems.

Intel said that the Trim attribute of the ATA Data Set Management Command, synchs the operating system’s view of deleted files with those that are deleted, but not erased on the drive. Trim tells the SSD which data blocks are no longer in use, stabilising the performance and health of the SSD over time.

The SSD Toolbox provides SSD management tools and information about the drive, including comparing self-monitoring and reporting technology (SMART) drive attributes to manufacturer threshold. It provides basic and full diagnostics, along with recommended actions. It also features a graphical user interface that will allow end users to schedule and run the Trim command independent of the operating system, the company said.

Pete Hazen, director of marketing at Intel NAND Solutions Group, said: “The latest firmware and toolbox upgrade for Intel 34nm SSD users provide a host of new management, information and diagnostic tools to help SSDs retain out-of-box performance. We are encouraging our 34nm customers to download the new firmware update today. Not only will Windows 7 users receive the performance enhancements of the Trim command, but so will our Windows XP and Vista users.”

The company said that the multi-level cell (MLC) Intel X25-M Mainstream SATA SSD is available in 80GB and 160GB versions.