Hello Fernando!

I have to say 1st that this forum is absolutely awesome. Obviously this is my first post. I've tried to read up on what is the best setup for my 2 computers. Unfortunately i've got so many different answers it's hard for an average guy like me to make the call. So here it goes on both PC's

1.) Dell XPS 15 9550 (i5 6300@2.4GHz 1tb HDD[removed] 32gb SSD cache [removed] UHD Touch Screen)

I've removed completely the 1tb HDD as well as the 32gb cache SSD. In there place i have installed the Samsung 950 pro 512gb in the M.2 slot where the cache was. After reinstalling windows everything seems to be running fine except that the Samsung Magician says there is no device detected, even though its seen in the device manager. My storage controllers are in Intel Chipset SATA RAID controller.
After researching I've found that some recommend to switch to AHCI. I really like to know your professional thoughts based on my system. Should I reboot to AHCI (or whatever is the recommended process to switch) or leave in RAID? If it means anything, I have not added anything to the HDD slot inside the machine. I've seen were people convert it to the 2.5 SATA, or leave the HDD in. I choose to remove it and make a large external hard drive. I've read over a lot of your recommendations and there is so many I figured having you just tell me flat out would be extremely helpful for me. One more thing that has me at a loss for the best setup is that I've read the Samsung drivers and Magician is the best way to go and its looking like in order to make that happen I cant run RAID because it wont pick it up.
Finally, I HAVE downloaded the latest drivers for the Samsung and the Magician and have tried going to device manager and installing them off my computer. It just reads that "the latest drivers are already installed" & I also have installed the latest Intel RST drivers which i think I've read that you shouldn't have them set to auto update or something.

2.) Dell Latitude e7470 (i5 6300 @2.6GHz 128gb SATA QHD Touch Screen)

This computer is brand new and I have the exact same Samsung 950 pro 512gb to put in the single storage M.2 slot. I haven't installed the 950 yet as I have just made a media creation on my USB stick. I was also searching and waiting on the now debunked rumor of possibly have the PCIe run 4 lanes instead of the 2 it was wired with. Although I seemed to get some solid Info that the M.2 NVMe on 2 lanes still out performs any 2.5 SATA. So with the e7470 would you recommend basically the same setup a the XPS 9550?

I just want to apologize in advance if I missed anything that is plain as day on my same situation. I just want to get the best results out of my devices and there hardware, and that seems like something your on the same page with...not to mention excel at. Please if you have any other "added" tips other than the main question of RAID vs AHCI i'd love to hear them for my 2 machines. If there is anything else you need to know to give me the best advice i'd be glad to get it for you.

Thanks again for an amazing forum.

Erik

Hello.
I am trying to update the Intel RST.
My system is an Asus Rampage Extreme V x99 chipset.

After uninstalling the Intel RST, do I install this:
>Complete Intel RSTe Drivers & Software Set v5.0.0.2192 Beta for Win7-10<?

Thanks for help in advance.

Hi Fernando,

I just ordered an Asus z270G and have a question to ask. Have all AHCI drivers been "changed" to RST? So we're sort of forced to install those now? I just want to install the best performing drive for my chipset through Device Manager like I've always done. I can still do that right?

Cheers!

Thanks for the great info. So I have to ask...as stupid as it might make me look. So what exactly am I looking for on the mainboard? Ive looked at "system information" in bios. I thought maybe I overlooked a marking on the motherboard when installing the 950 Pro in both systems. So I looked again. All as I can find is...a.)The driver I'm currently running. b.) Intel chipset skylake i5 processor.

I don't know if I'm just over looking it because, I'm not sure what it would actually look like...HA! I've even looked at the dell website and can't seem to find anything solid.
I'd really appreciate if you could give me an example of a common Dell chipset that your looking for. Or if you know a way to get it off my computer. Maybe if I know a little better what to look for, ill open them back up and get it. Then compare it to your driver thread and download away!!!

Thanks again.
Cheers

Hello,

Thanks again. This is the info I pulled from the Latitude e7470....
.PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_282A&SUBSYS_06DC1028&REV_21
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_282A&SUBSYS_06DC1028
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_282A&CC_010400
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_282A&CC_0104

For the XPS 15 9550 its the following...
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A103&SUBSYS_06E41028&REV_31
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A103&SUBSYS_06E41028
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A103&CC_010601
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A103&CC_0106

Really appreciate it. Looking forward to optimizing both of the systems.

Erik

Just wanted to thank you for all your info. This forum is one of a kind. Many thanks!



Erik

Hello Fernando!

So after installing the Intel AHCI drivers v14.8.12.1059 in the IDE/ATA/ATAPI. I noticed that under "Disk Drives" and "Storage Controllers" it doesn't have the Intel ACHI drivers.
Disk Drive>Samsung SSD 950 PRO 512g>Driver> is MS v10.0.14393.0 from 2006. Under storage controllers> MS Storage spaces> driver v10.0.14393.351.
The OTHER location under storage controller was a MS Storage Controller with a driver from 2006 that started with 10.
However I did update the "Storage Controller" with a Samsung driver v2.1.0.1611.

My question is this. My computer doesn't seem to be acting 100%. I'm not sure when it exactly started, so I wanted your professional advice on....

1.)For some reason I cant seem to change the "Disk Drive>Samsung SSD 950 PRO 512g>Driver" from the v10.0.14393.0 to the Samsung driver, or any other driver. I'm not sure if this is "normal" or if I'm not doing something right.
2.)Do you have any recommendations on the drivers for the Storage Controller & Disk Drive to run with the recommended Intel AHCI v14.8.12.1059? a.) Should I run the MS driver, b.) is there a Intel driver for the Storage controller that I didn't get?

Thanks,
Erik

Hi Fernando,
I have ASRock P5B-DE with Intel P965/G965 and southbridge 82801HB/HR (ICH8/R) - in AHCI mode on Windows 7 x64. So in device manager controllers are reported as dev_2825 and dev_2820. I searched your forum and didn't find anything for that controllers. Now running under Intel drivers v9.1.9.1005 but these is actually Microsoft drivers. On Intel's site also I didn't find anything. I was very interested for this problem. Do you have something?
Tnx.

Pfff... true. SATAII - enhanced mode... latest BIOS upgrade. No AHCI for that MB. Can I do something to speedup that MB?