Corsair Blog

We recently published a how-to document detailing how to activate TRIM.

We realize that users needed a bit more detail so that they could actually check and verify that TRIM is active. So, we've expanded a bit and brought you a few screenshots. Here is a refresher defining TRIM.

TRIM Defined

TRIM actively deletes invalid data from the SSD’s memory cells to ensure that write operations perform at full speed. Invalid data is defined as data that has been marked as not in use by the user/host OS (as a result of a delete command, for example), but which remains physically stored on the memory cell until it is overwritten. Since a memory block must be erased before it can be re-programmed, TRIM improves performance by proactively erasing pages containing invalid data, allowing the SSD to write new data without first having to perform a time-consuming block erase command.

The TRIM command has been designed to maintain the performance of solid-state drives at an optimal level over the course of the lifetime of the drive. TRIM is enabled by default when Windows 7 detects an SSD. However, many users want to verify for themselves that it is indeed functioning.
The process is very simple. To check if the TRIM command is active on your PC, start a Command Prompt window (in Administrator mode, type “CMD” in the Search bar from the Windows Start Menu) and enter the following command:

"fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify"

If the result is “0” then the TRIM command is enabled, and if the result is “1” then the TRIM command is disabled. Use the following command to enable TRIM:

"fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0"

The DisableDeleteNotify command only indicates that the operating system is passing the TRIM command on to the storage drivers. It does not indicate whether or not the storage drivers are passing the command on to the storage controller IC in the SSD, or whether the storage controller IC supports TRIM. As such, a result of “0” is not a guarantee that TRIM is functioning correctly.

To determine whether TRIM is functioning correctly, you can periodically measure the performance of your SSD using tools such as ATTO and CrystalDiskMark. If the performance of your drive is generally at the level specified on the Corsair website for your specific drive then you can be confident that TRIM is functioning.

Please note that the performance levels of all SSDs will fluctuate from the maximum due to normal usage, so you should not expect the drive to produce completely consistent benchmark numbers, or attain the maximum theoretical performance. Only a clean (Secure-Erased) SSD will deliver the absolute maximum theoretical performance figures.

ATTO

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1137/ATTO_Disk_Benchmark_v2.41.html

Additional information about Corsair SSD drives can be found here.

The latest information and further discussion about Corsair solid-state drives can be found in the Corsair Solid-State Drive forum, which is available here.