Hey m8, I replied to your PM, it was a while ago I did mine so am looking for my notes, I think the MS drives will install by default and then you would normally load the Nvida drives after the OS install completes so in your case you would NOT install those Nvidia drives and instead stick with the generic MS ones. I'll PM you again once I have my notes to look back on.....

Thank you so much barretusa, I feel comfortable knowing that you have the same board as I do and use a SSD and have no problems such as hangs and freezes. 
SSD are very expensive and I only bought it to make my PC the fastest possible. This Intel SSD and the 2 GTX 480 I've just bought will be my upgrade for 2010. I will keep my mobo, CPU and ram for at least another year before I build a new system. 

Windows 7 rates my CPU and Ram 7.5  which is a really good grade and 7.9 for Aero and 3D graphics,  therefore I only score 5.9 for my Raptor 150gb as primary disk device. The bottleneck of my system is my hard drive, I'm pretty sure of that. I really think that replacing my Raptor hard disk for a Intel G2 SSD will be much more of an upgrade than just moving to X58 and corei7 and still use the Raptor for the OS.

I know if I install Windows 7, the Microsoft storage drivers will be installed automatically. But after Windows 7 installation do I need to install Nvidia chipset drivers??  If I do, I must uncheck the Nvidia storage drivers when installing the Nvidia chipset drivers 15.25??

Do you use Trim and Intel tool box to clean your SSD using your 790i Ultra??? You're not using Nvidia storage drivers I guess, only the microsoft ones, if so, does the others sata hard disks you use for storage works fine??

How do I update the SSD firmware??? I know it must be done before installing Windows 7.

Thanks for the info SR1945,  I've already read this review you made in another thread somewhere I recall. Very needed stuff, thanks for sharing this precious information.

BTW, If I'm going to do a clean install of Windows 7 in the SSD, so the MS drivers will be installed automatically, right??  So, after Win 7 installation is complete I will install the newest Nvidia chipset drivers, but I could also uncheck Nvidia storage drivers and just install the remaining Nvidia chipset drivers.  By doing that, Do I really have to go through these steps you've just mentioned???
I mean, If I won't install the Nvidia storage drivers, than the Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller drivers will be there, won't they??

Shoudn't the SSD read/write performance in a Nvidia board be the same as an Intel Board, If I'll be using the MS drivers instead of the Nvidia storage ones???

Why in your sign you state that your OCZ SSD was a big mistake??? You're able to run trim and all that, aren't you satisfied, isn't the SSD speed still overkill compared to regular HD, or even 2xVelociraptors in Raid 0??

BTW, How do I update my Intel SSD firmware?? I read it must be done before I install Windows 7.  I have no idea how this is done, and haven't found much info in the web.

Thanks for helping out..

forgot to attach CDM result
 

Big mistake for me francomg in that with my 780i board I can never have Sanitary erase nor HDDerase either unless I can find an Intel board to place the SSD in and do the erase thingy and that is not possible.  The performance is slightly less for the nVidia board as well and I wish I had known this before spending the money, and just wait until I got an Intel board later.

Microsofts controller driver is also slightly better then the nVidia driver as I have benched.  Even my VelociRaptor is slightly faster using the Microsoft driver over the nVidia I have learned.

Cleaning the disk is a no no using the microsoft defrag but you can use Perfect disk 11 that will consolidate the SSD and is safe. 

Many including me have used this program and it does work.  However, Garbage collector (Does Intels X25 have garbage collector) on the SSD if used once a week or so should be enough occording to many over at the OCZ forum. 

SR1945, Barretusa just said that once you remove the Nvidia storage drivers and install the microsoft storage drivers, than you can use Trim and Intel tool box to clean your SSD, so why would you need Sanitary erase or HDDerase for??

The way I see it, Tool box is the right tool to clean a Intel X25 SSD and you can use it with a nvidia board as long you don't use the nvidia storage drivers.
I think your SSD don't use tool box, it's not Intel, so maybe things can be easier for me than they were for you.
Using the MS drivers I can't see why it will run faster in an Intel board rather than a Nvidia board, what matters are the drivers used, aren't they? An intel board should provide better support and making installation easier for the Intel SSD.
 
Atezenkeeper, I think your SSD results are fine, just according to product specs. The 160gb version of the Intel SSD has slightly better write speeds, 100mb (160gb) against 70mb (80GB version), same read speed though.

I'll let you know the results once I receive my SSD. It should arrive next week when my friend comes back from L.A.  Can't hardly wait to try it out.

You see, it's not me saying that Intel tool box will work with my board, it's barretusa. You can read his post above, (post 6 of this thread). He has a Kingston SSD (Intel X25 inside), the same as the one I've just bought. He gave me those good news, hope it works for me also.

So barretusa the Intel X25 SSD wipe program tool box will work on a nVidia board as per your post ?  Good to hear

Thanks barretusa for the update....

What I mean about wipe, it is used to return the SSD back to its original clean state as in using Sanitary Erase or HDDerase.  OCZ SSD's uses this, but not often.  Just when things really go south with the drive and has to be completely clean..  TRIM is different and cleans out the deleted program. 
 
One of the OCZ SSD's (Not all of them, just Vertex 2 Pro drive) was planning on having a ToolBox like Intels with some cleaning utilities, but they canceled it months (Feb 2010) ago leaving those that bought that particular drive with the intentions of having that tool box high and dry, and now there is talk of having it start up again.  This is one reason I will not buy another OCZ SSD, but will give Intel a go later. 

With the MS Drivers you can use the Intel Toolbox and manual Trim, but not HDD Erase or Sanitary Erase, that´s not working. I tried different Versions of this Programm, but it doesn´t recognize the SSD on the 790i Boards. It had to drive to my buddy und use his EVGA X58 to wipe out my SSD. I couldn´t even use the SSD Firmware-Update CD, had to use the Laptop from my Girlfriend.

SR1945,

I agree that you do have some limitation using a OCZ or other brands with a Nvidia board. But according to barretusa's messages I don't think I made a mistake at all buying the Intel G2 SDD.
He proved that it works flawlessy with the 790i Ultra board and I can use the Trim and Tool box to clean and maintain the SSD speed like it was day 1. So, this is good enough for me.

Like Barretusa said, Why would we care so much about wiping out the SSD. You may need to do this a few times, when you want to totally erase all the data inside it, if you're going to reinstall Windows or something like that. So, If I ever need to wipe out my SSD data, I just go to my friend's house that has a X58 board and do this job. I'll rarelly need to do this.
I agree it would be a pain in the ass having to take the SSD to my friend's PC every week in order to use Trim or tool box, cause this is very important, and If you don't use this softwares, the SSD starts to slow down. But wiping out the SSD data is the least of my worries.
 
So, I still think it's definatelly not a bad idea getting a Intel SSD for the 790i Ultra board.  This new upgrade will be ready for the new Intel board will probally get a hold of it next year or later.

Atzenkeeper,

Are you happy withn your Intel/Kingston SSD??? Is it working flawlessy with your board. Leave your thoughts, it will probally encourage other Nvidia board users to buy a SSD, as long it's Intel/Kingston, cause we need the maintanance tool, and other brands don't use Tool box like SR1945 explained.

So, the only problems you had was wiping out the SSD data, which is a minor problem and you won't use this feature as often as tool box, hopefully.
Are you saying there's no way to use the firmware update cd with the 780i/790i boards? It won't boot and start to run the firm update?
How you manage to use your Girlfriend's laptop to update yours SSD firmware? Have you taken her hard disk off and replaced with the SSD, turned computer on, inserted the firmware update CD, boot to cd and started to run the firmware update program, is that how you did it?

I have a Dell XPS M1530 laptop, I am not sure if it has an Intel board inside, but being a Dell laptop, I guess it has.  Should I try your method?

Barretusa,
 
I've just received this message below from XFX tech support.

Hi, unplugging other hard drives may help it recongize the SSD, but it should recognize it regardless of how many hard drives you have installed. I would still install the motherboard chipset drivers or else the OS will run very slow. You should be able to have an option to install the nvidia storage drivers. Thanks, brian.

Is this correct, that not using the Nvidia chipset drivers will make the OS run very slow??? Or does this Brian from XFX no **** about what's he saying? I wonder If he even ever tried a SSD with these Nvidia boards....

So a few more points to discuss, first I agree, the NVidia boards are not the best option if you plan on SSD usage, but as it was commented, we purchased these boards in many cases before SSD were as available as they are now. If you want to secure wipe, then right now the only option may be taking the drive and plugging it into an Intel board….but again this shouldn’t be something needed often if at all.
As for the firmware I am 99% sure the firmware update tool will not see it when you boot with the CD on the 790i board, I am not sure why so can only guess it’s to do with the generic driver it will use and the NVidia controller.
The firmware you are looking for on the packaging or any labels is 02HD, this is the version that version 1.5 of the Intel update utility takes you to and this is the firmware version you NEED to run version 1.3 of the Intel toolbox.
I did download a trial version of Everest, not related to this thread, and I did notice it provides the firmware of the SSD so if you can’t find out what version you have; you could install Windows 7 and this trial to check before you go any further or just add this SSD as a second drive if you already have an OS running on the PC to check the version.  Just one option, I am sure there are many.

As for the tech support guy, don’t take too much notice of what Brian is telling you, I am sure he is giving you the party line response. In the real world, if you install the forceware/NVidia drivers for your MB with the SSD configuration, you WILL have issues. Also, many ppl will tell you things like the Network drivers etc. are rubbish and the MS ones work MUCH better for this chipset
You have seen my benchmark’s and I can tell you from a user perspective, my machine fly’s with the SSD, much better than any HD configuration I have tried. Even the fastest drives striped, which may give you a better overall throughput speed, but will NEVER match the next to nothing seek times etc.
I am overclocking my Extreme edition QX6700 processor on my MB which is EVGA 790i BIOS version P9, remember you have the XFX brand so my BIOS version and yours may not have any relationship, even though they are both based on the 790i chipset.
As for this question you had;
Just one thing I would like to clear out: If I don't update my Intel SSD firmware I will not be able to install Windows 7 on the SSD, Windows won't see it??? Is there really no way to update this firmware using my board.
Do I really need to find a friend that has a Intel board, such as X58 or P55, and unplug all other hard drives just leaving the Intel SSD plugged, burn the firmware update, boot cd an run the firm update???  Is this correct?
You can install Windows 7 on the SSD with the old firmware BUT you will not be able to use TRIM or the Intel toolbox. Windows installer will see it just the same either way, but even if you change the controllers from NVidia to Standard duel channel, you will not be able to run the toolbox etc. so it’s NOT recommended. The older firmware will also make the drive run slower that the new so even if you do need to take it to a friend to get that latest firmware on I would!!! Also I am not sure if it really matters that you unplug any HD’s in your friends PC, I said that more from a point of you won’t screw up his PC perspective, I am sure the firmware tool just presents any compatible drives and ignores the rest

My friend has a X58 board, but he also has 2 SSD in his PC, one for the OS and other for games, they are not Intel, I think it's OCZ. That's why I would like to know if it's better to unplug all his drivers and just leave the Intel SSD plugged, then insert firmware update cd, boot to it and run the program. Should I do that?
 
If you were coming to my place and to use my PC, I would disconnect my drives to be sure  but up to you and your m8, should work either way.
 
 I guess I don't need Windows installed in another drive to run the firmware update for the Intel SSD, right? Just an empty Intel SSD plugged to the PC and then boot CD, run update software and you're good to go, correct? The firmware update software runs before Windows loads right, just like memest86+, a Bios update and stuff like that??
 
Correct, the CD you made will boot some version of DOS and auto run the firmware update tool, you just select the drive to update and go...
 
If that's the case, can I use my Dell XPS M1530 laptop to run this firm update? It's a 2008 laptop, but it's Dell, I'm almost sure it uses an Intel board, It has dual core CPU and Nvidia GFX. I has space only for 1 HD, so I could remove that hard disk, plug the new empty SDD to my laptop, turn it on, insert cd, boot it and run the firm update on the SSD. After that I can just remove the SSD, put my windows hard disk back on my notebook. Having the latest firmware for my SSD and I'll be ready to install Windows 7 on my 790i board. Do you think that should work?
 
I dont know about your DELL but it looks like it has Mobile Intel 965PM, if it has this intel chipset you shouldn't have any issues and it will work just like you said booting from the CD.
 
 It's better than having to go to my friend's house and do that, If I can do the same job just using my Dell laptop. You said it needs to be an Intel Board, not the newest Intel chipsets such as X58, P55 among others.
 
I dont think it needs to be the latest chipset, I can't remember which chipset my old PC that I used has, but the machine is about 3 years old.
 
 I've already downloaded the latest firmware, .iso, and burned it to a CD. Tool box software should came in a CD as I bought the retail version, not OEM, it even comes with a bay adapter 3.5 to be used in desktops systems. I will definatelly need this adapter.
 
I know Intel recently updated the toolbox to version 1.3, mine didn't come with that software but mine was not the Intel branded so yours may but MAKE sure it's version 1.3 as the earlier versions had some major bugs/issues.
 
Good luck and let me know if you need to know anything else....
 

@ francomg

I am happy with my Intel/ Kingston x25-M. I use an ASUS U3S6 PCI-Card with USB3 und SATA 6GB Support for the SSD. I has AHCI-Support, the 790i Boards not. I have a little better performance with this Card, but you will be happy with your SSD, direct on the MB-Controller.


For Firmware-Update use the Laptop, like i did. Switch the HDD/SSD, put Update-CD in and it works. For erase I couldn´t use the Laptop, it doesn´t recognize the SSD. With my buddy´s X58 Mainboard, I have to activate "legacy-Support" für the SATA-Ports and then it works with HDD Erase.

For an new Installation of Windows, you don´t need to wipe out all Data and use HDD Erase. You can do it the old fashion style. But with the HDD Erase is like factory new, for the best of the best performance. I don´t know the direct performance difference. But for the best Performance-Hunters, is the Way to do it.

Here is the like to the card:

http://geizhals.at/eu/a480158.html


Is realy cheap card, and I haven´t SLI. When I maybe buy an extra 470 GTX the X-FI Soundcard goes out my System.