TIP: how to enable DIPM for SSDs on Windows 7

[Whammamoosha]

NOTE: this won't work if your SSD isn't connected to an AHCI controller.

UPDATE (for Intel SSD owners only): now Intel SSD Toolbox does the job, but does it another way around, bypassing the Windows shell. Gross... :-)


On an average laptop, this will help you save about 7%-8% of battery life. On a desktop, you'll feel greener!


It's simple, swift & safe:

1. Run Registry Editor (type "regedit" in the search field on the Start Menu).

2. Navigate to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Power\PowerSettings\0012ee47-9041-4b5d-9b77-535fba8b1442\0b2d69d7-a2a1-449c-9680-f91c70521c60".

3. Change value "Attributes" to 2. At this step you won't have modified ANY functionality in Windows (except for a tiny detail in the power management USER interface), so it's 100% safe.

4. Reboot.

5. Now go to "Power Management" in Control Panel and click "Change plan settings" of your power plan, then click "Change advanced power settings".

6. Expand the "Hard Disk" settings tree. You'll see that now there is and ADDITIONAL setting: "AHCI Link Power Management - HIPM/DIPM". Expand this one.

7.1. If you have a LAPTOP: change "On battery" and/or "Plugged in" to "HIPM+DIPM" as you like. Intel recommends that DIPM be enabled at all times for its SSDs. If that's your case, change both.

7.2. If you have a DESKTOP: change "Setting" to "HIPM+DIPM".


Voilá. There's a small impact on drive performance (which I could only notice after running a benchmark). My system "felt" quite the same.


For more information about SSD care & characteristics, please refer to http://www.abxzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120976.


HISTORY:

I searched everything on the net (may have missed a page or two) regarding this and got only partial and confusing answers, only up to the first SENTENCE in step 3.

I have an Intel SSD and, after following the instructions I had, ran the "Intel SSD Toolbox" utility (available for download from Intel's site) and word 79 in "View Drive information" was showing bit 3 as 0 (DIPM not enabled). Whatha!

OTOH, Intel recommends that DIPM be enabled at all times.

It's been quite some time since I last brushed some bits, but old habits die hard.

It's also been quite some time that I don't give any contribution here, so there you are!

Thanks radeonized2 for checking the desktop side of things.

[zapionics<alt>]

Thats an awesome job, well done! Would you confirm which Windows version this works in?
I hope we can we have another member validate this if they try it.

[Whammamoosha]

Originally Posted by zapionics<alt>

Thats an awesome job, well done! Would you confirm which Windows version this works in?
I hope we can we have another member validate this if they try it.

Thanks!

This is for Windows 7 (32- or 64- bit versions).

BTW I wouldn't recommend using SSDs in earlier OSes due to the lack of TRIM functionality (needed to reduce - significantly - SSD's MLC wearout) during normal operation.

[radeonized2]

Is this for laptops only? On my desktop I did as instructed and checked where instructed to check and found nothing to that say "on battery" or "plugged in" the other words you indicated, and only found "settings=active".

[Whammamoosha]

Originally Posted by radeonized2

Is this for laptops only? On my desktop I did as instructed and checked where instructed to check and found nothing to that say "on battery" or "plugged in" the other words you indicated, and only found "settings=active".

My fault! This was based on a laptop with an AHCI controller (I forgot to mention TWO critical details).

Settings = "Active" means that you DON'T have HIPM nor DIPM enabled yet. Are you able to change it to "HIPM+DIPM"?

Can you please also post an image of your "Hard Disk" power settings tree, fully expanded?

Since you were able to find the registry key I mentioned, you do have an AHCI controller. My desktop doesn't have one, so at the moment I have no base to extend the guide to desktops without a hand.

[radeonized2]

Capture.PNG

[Whammamoosha]

Were you able to change the value from "Active" to "HIPM+DIPM"?

"Active" = NO DIPM (link active at all times)!

[radeonized2]

Yes I did

[Whammamoosha]

Originally Posted by radeonized2

Yes I did

Great! I'll update the guide to reflect that.

[Pentium4]

The setting works on my new SSD What are the supposed benefits of this setting

[radeonized2]

Been wondering that myself. I have not noticed any negative effects however.

[Whammamoosha]

Originally Posted by Pentium4

The setting works on my new SSD What are the supposed benefits of this setting

Better energy management (+7%-8% battery life for laptops), according to Intel (mine is a X25-M G2).

NOTE: the Vertex 3 (OCZ) line of SSDs currently have a compatibility problem with this setting. Wait until the firmware gets updated.

[Pentium4]

Have just updated my firmware to the newly released V2.06, so far so good with this setting even though it appears to be aimed purely at laptops. Thanks for the tip though

[robing]

I have completed the change to the registry, confirmed that HIPM+DIPM is selected for both power plans, confirmed that AHCI is the controller in the BIOS but the Intel SSD Toolbox still says it cannot determine the DIPM status and bit 3 in word 79 is still set to 0. Hmmm . . .

This is a Thinkpad X120E.

I wonder what I have done wrong?

[Whammamoosha]

Originally Posted by robing

I have completed the change to the registry, confirmed that HIPM+DIPM is selected for both power plans, confirmed that AHCI is the controller in the BIOS but the Intel SSD Toolbox still says it cannot determine the DIPM status and bit 3 in word 79 is still set to 0. Hmmm . . .

This is a Thinkpad X120E.

I wonder what I have done wrong?

Maybe you're not using MSAHCI.SYS. Check your controller's driver in Device Manager.