Forum - RE: Which driver and which version of Intel Rapid Storage Technology should I choose for Windows 8.1 x64?

#196 | RE: Which driver and which version of Intel Rapid Storage Technology should I choose for Windows 8.1 x64? datum

Fri Jul 24, 2015 12:07 pm

means I have to reinstall the OS? :(
... so... i'll wait for Win10

thank you

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#197 | @ Users with an Intel X79 or X99 Chipset system - I need your assistance! datum

Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:18 pm (Last edited: Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:20 pm)

Since there are many requests from users, who do not know, which Intel AHCI or RAID driver they should install, I have just updated the start post of this thread and added a table, where the user can easily find the AHCI resp. RAID driver, which I personally recommended for the different Intel Chipsets and Southbridges.
Although I have done already a lot of tests with different Intel Chipsets and SATA modes (look >here<), I don't have any own experence with some Intel Chipsets (especially not with the X79 and X99 ones). That is why I need some reports from users, who own an Intel X79 or X99 system and have already done an Intel AHCI/RAID driver comparison test.

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#198 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:20 pm

@ all:

Update of the Start Post
Changelog:

Changed: list of my favoured Intel RST/RST(e) drivers (Reason: My recent benchmark tests with my Z97 system)
Added: table with my specific recommendations for the different Intel Chipsets and SATA modes (AHCI/RAID)

Now I am awaiting your protests resp. alternative suggestions regarding the table!
Dieter (alias Fernando)

My current System:
MB: ASRock X570 Pro4, CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600, System Drive: 500 GB Samsung 980 Pro, Graphics: Sapphire Radeon RX570, OS: Win10 x64 Pro
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#199 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:58 pm

I have an ICH10R system which is using the new 14.5 (less optimal for this system) RST drivers in Windows 7.

Since I want to perform a clean install of Windows 10 anyway this might be the moment to switch to the (better suited) classic 11.1 RST drivers.

Is 11.1 also under Windows 10 still the preferred option for an ICH10R? Or is "classical" to classic for Windows 10?

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#200 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:32 pm

Zitat von XIII im Beitrag #199
Since I want to perform a clean install of Windows 10 anyway this might be the moment to switch to the (better suited) classic 11.1 RST drivers.
Is 11.1 also under Windows 10 still the preferred option for an ICH10R? Or is "classical" to classic for Windows 10?

No, I am pretty sure, that the old Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 will give your Intel ICH10R RAID0 system the by far best benchmark scores of all RAID drivers.
The problem may be to get them properly installed, because the Win10 Setup will automaticly take the in-box Intel RAID driver v13.2.0.1022 and a later "downgrade" to a "classical" RAID driver without iaStorF.sys may end with an unbootable system (this happened to me, when I tried it).
If you want to get the Intel RST RAID driver v11.2.0.1006 running on Win10, I recommend to do the following:

Remove the Win10 in-box RAID driver named iaStorAV.sys from the Win10 image. You can find >here< a guide how to do it. It is rather easy and safe.
Load the Intel RST driver while starting with the Win10 installation.
Install the complete Intel RST Drivers & Software Set v11.2.0.1006 WHQL and turn the Write-Back Caching on.
If you want, you can uninstall the RST Software afterwards.

My current System:
MB: ASRock X570 Pro4, CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600, System Drive: 500 GB Samsung 980 Pro, Graphics: Sapphire Radeon RX570, OS: Win10 x64 Pro
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#201 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 12:22 am

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #200
Zitat von XIII im Beitrag #199
Since I want to perform a clean install of Windows 10 anyway this might be the moment to switch to the (better suited) classic 11.1 RST drivers.
Is 11.1 also under Windows 10 still the preferred option for an ICH10R? Or is "classical" to classic for Windows 10?
No, I am pretty sure, that the old Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 will give your Intel ICH10R RAID0 system the by far best benchmark scores of all RAID drivers.

I have no RAID array... 11.2.0.1006 is also the best option for a single drive in AHCI on an ICH10R controller, right?

(downgrading drivers seemed to be no problem, changing from RAID to AHCI was - I will probably try a clean install now)

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#202 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 12:29 am (Last edited: Wed Aug 05, 2015 12:30 am)

Zitat von XIII im Beitrag #201
I have no RAID array... 11.2.0.1006 is also the best option for a single drive in AHCI on an ICH10R controller, right?

You should test it yourself. A good alternative will be the Intel RST(e) driver v11.7.4.1001.

My current System:
MB: ASRock X570 Pro4, CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600, System Drive: 500 GB Samsung 980 Pro, Graphics: Sapphire Radeon RX570, OS: Win10 x64 Pro
Donation Link:
If you are satisfied with my Forum activities, you can send a donation to my personal PayPal account by clicking onto >this< link.

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#203 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 12:56 am

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #202
Zitat von XIII im Beitrag #201
11.2.0.1006 is also the best option for a single drive in AHCI on an ICH10R controller, right?
You should test it yourself. A good alternative will be the Intel RST(e) driver v11.7.4.1001.

OK, but I'm probably first going to try what happens out-of-the-box in Windows 10 if I use AHCI instead of RAID.

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#204 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:04 am

Zitat von XIII im Beitrag #203
OK, but I'm probably first going to try what happens out-of-the-box in Windows 10 if I use AHCI instead of RAID.

Then you will automaticly get installed the MS AHCI driver named STORAHCI.SYS.

My current System:
MB: ASRock X570 Pro4, CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600, System Drive: 500 GB Samsung 980 Pro, Graphics: Sapphire Radeon RX570, OS: Win10 x64 Pro
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#205 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:09 pm

Hello, i have 2 ssd's and an old samsung f3 spinpoint hdd but i'm having an old problem which persisted on win 8.1 and even on win 10. Basically everyime i install the intel ahci driver my old HDD goes to "sleep" or spins down every 4-5 seconds if it's not used and it's very annoying because it just spins down and up all the time. This does NOT happen with microsoft ahci driver.

Is it possible that the hdd is just too old and it's not compatible? Any ideeas?

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#206 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:16 pm

@ robE:
Which Intel AHCI driver versions did you test?
Have you already checked the advanced Power Options? There is the option to prevent the spin down of the connected HDDs.

My current System:
MB: ASRock X570 Pro4, CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600, System Drive: 500 GB Samsung 980 Pro, Graphics: Sapphire Radeon RX570, OS: Win10 x64 Pro
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If you are satisfied with my Forum activities, you can send a donation to my personal PayPal account by clicking onto >this< link.

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#207 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:27 pm

I've installed the one you recommended for 9 series motherboard: 13.2.4.1000 but after that i also tried the last one.

I did disable an option about power management from intel rst control panel but did nothing. I also set that hard disk never goes to sleep in windows control panel but still no difference. It's like a constant spin up/spin down which is very annoying.

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#208 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:20 pm

I may bring my own experience (H81 chipset and Samsung SSD 840 Evo 120 GB): AS benchmark has shown better results with 14.5.2.1088 than 13.2.4.1000....
just to highlight what Fernando always states: there is no "better" driver for every system.

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#209 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:56 pm

Zitat von elisw im Beitrag #208
AS benchmark has shown better results with 14.5.2.1088 than 13.2.4.1000....

Can you post the results? How much better were the scores? How many passages did you run the benchmark tool?
Most important: What about the stability of the system?
During my recent RAID0 camparison tests with my Z97 system the Intel RST(e) driver v14.5.2.1088 showed the absolute worst scores in the first passage, but the best of all in the second passage.

My current System:
MB: ASRock X570 Pro4, CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600, System Drive: 500 GB Samsung 980 Pro, Graphics: Sapphire Radeon RX570, OS: Win10 x64 Pro
Donation Link:
If you are satisfied with my Forum activities, you can send a donation to my personal PayPal account by clicking onto >this< link.

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#210 | RE: Which are the "best" Intel AHCI/RAID drivers? datum

Wed Aug 05, 2015 7:46 pm (Last edited: Wed Aug 05, 2015 7:49 pm)

is it possible to upload them?
about the consistancy: I always discard the first 2 or 3 runs just after changing the drivers. Afterwards results are fairly consistant, even after many days

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