Hello Fernando!

First of all, I definitely signed up here to this forum primarily to congratulate you for a VERY great job done with all your research, information gathering, hard work and also wanted to give you a massive gratitude for offering all this information in such categorized and fairly easy to read/understand manner for all of us otherwise confused not so techy Windows users...for free :) Thank you very much! I have gone back and forth through various threads/stickies and discussion conversations, and even though I kinda feel that for the moment I'm having, just like another member so perfectly put it, kinda "analysis paralysis" (LOL!)...but I have definitely a much better understanding of the whole situation when it comes to AHCI/RAID BIOS ROM, how to approach them, the version numbers, the difference between classical IMSM/IRST and the new IRTS(e) software and also what to make of all that information, which was to be honest quite a confusing jungle inside Intel's own information site. I am forever thankful to you for making this information available to us :)

Having said that, I am still a proud owner of a Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7 motherboard which I happen to love and the combination of this mobo + my i7-980X processor gives me the satisfaction which I need for the moment, so I have not seen any reason to abandon this combo yet!
To my despair after reading through your information, I realized that my mobo with the latest BIOS version (F9d) still was stuck with the original Intel MSM RAID BIOS-ROM v8.9.1.1002!

After searching a lot I managed to find a modded F9d Gigabyte version for my GA-X58A-UD7 mobo Rev1.0 at the Tweaktown site which already had the modded IRST(e) BIOS-OROM v11.6.0.1702 implemented into it (specifically mentioned that it was the CPL0's modded version to allow TRIM in RAID-0). I believe it is the exact same OROM you're offering in your download page... The reason I became interested was that I just recently got myself 2xSamsung 1TB 850 PRO SSDs and wanted to join them into a RAID-0 configuration.

So I now have successfully flashed my BIOS ROM and confirmed that it indeed indicates the correct OROM v11.6.0.1702 when looking at the RAID config BIOS set up page.

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Now, before flashing the BIOS, I had just made a fresh Windows 7 Ultimate x64 installation, by setting up a RAID-0 connected to the two Marvell 9128 controller ports of my motherboard, with no additional Marvell drivers installed, basically letting Win7 MS/AHCI own drivers to pass through. I'm aware of the fact that I was not having TRIM at that point. I basically got about 360 Mb/s seq read then.

After flasing the BIOS with the BIOS with the OROM v11.6.0.1702, everything else remaining the same, and with my RAID-0 array still intact and operational with the Marvell 9128 ports, now I get only 270 Mb/s seq read!

So my conclusion is, that the Marvell controller, although not becoming disabled, still definitely gets crippled somehow after the BIOS flash has been done. Now you did mention in one of your information pages that for old Intel chipsets (mine is ICH10R) IRST(e) might result in a downgrade pace for the whole computer function when compared to its IMSM/IRST counterpart...but from what I understood, you meant when using the Intel AHCI SATA-II 3Gb/s ports. Here I see a hit on the Marvell port function too, and all I did was flash the BIOS. I have not even installed the corresponding suitable IRST(e) software or drivers!
I should mention that the Marvell firmware on the modded BIOS I used was the exact same as the one I had before so that is not changed in any way.

Well, all things considered...kinda strange IMHO!

But I'm not so concerned about the Marvell 9128 issue though, as I now will be moving my 1TB SSDs to Intel's SATA-II 3Gb/s ports instead anyway. Every single piece of info I found on internet is saying that Marvell 912x controllers despite flashing with a uber 6Gb/s SATA-III ports, still would cap at 400 Mb/s maximum no matter what, due to bad drivers and using only a PCI-E x 1 lane, compared with the Intel's own onboard SATA-II 3Gb/s ports which are direcly connected to the southbridge ICH.... so those 6Gb/s Marvell SATA-III connctors were never meant to be used with high-end quality SSDs anyways...also there was no way to get TRIM work with them either when doing a RAID-0 array.

So I'm hoping to be able to get at least 500-600 Mb/s seq read with my SSDs when making a new RAID-0 array with my newly OROM v.11.6.0.1702 and hopefully also a better 4K read as well :)
It's amazing how much new information one can learn during a couple of days just by finding the right stuff, thx to you guys!
So, a couple of questions if I may:

1. Should I simply use Intel's RST(e) v.11.6.0.1702 software now downloaded from your page, which corresponds exactly to my OROM BIOS version? No need to still consider an earlier version or a classical one, due to my older ICH10R chipset?
And I was going to follow your advice, installing the whole package, making the necessary cache settings and then remove the software itself and just keep the drivers...and hopefully being able to take advantage of the TRIM function now!

2. Do I just move my SSDs to Intel 3Gb/s ports, go into RAID BIOS set up, create my new RAID-0 array, and then reboot and move on to installing a fresh Windows 7 all the way, and then install the IRST(e) software/drivers afterwards, i.e. after Win 7 has been installed?

3. Do I have to put the AHCI/RAID drivers on a USB-flash and load those drivers before Windows start installing in order to be able to make a fresh Win 7 installation on a newly created RAID-0 array as boot up disk?? This is something that is mentioned in my Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7 handbook, but I don't know if this is valid even for the newer OROM chipset I have in my BIOS now and if this is necessary when using a newer IRST(e) version after Win7 has been installed....

4.Also, would I still need the Marvell's own drivers as well, or can I use those SATA ports as normal SATA-HDD ports for data storage only?
Anything else to consider here?

I'd also like to add that I only used Q-Flash, as the @BIOS method has strongly been advised to be avoided at all costs because of the huge risk of bricking the whole motherboard!
Q-Flash worked just like a charm :)

Thank you again m8!

Best Regards,
/Bittornado

Thank you very much for the quick reply sir :)

Looking closer to the one I found and the OROM on your site, they seem to be exactly the same thing actually, but here's the link:
http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/480...ified-bios.html

Just make a CTRL-F search for "GA-X58A-UD7 Rev1.0 BIOS F9d Mod".

The actual download link itself:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/ji8c74...UD7_mod_F9D.zip

I did not see this earlier but there's a link actually back to your site there :)
"t202f28-TRIM-in-RAID-possible-for-all-Intel-chipsets-from-P-ICH-R-up.html";

The info accompanied with the file is:
Modified with :
Intel SATA RAID 11.5.0.1111 to 11.6.0.1702 (modified by CPL0 for TRIM support with SSD RAID0)
Intel SATA AHCI 1.20E
Realtek LAN 2.45 to 2.58
JMicron ROM 1.07.28
Marvell BIOS Version 1.0.0.1033 / Firmware 2.2.0.1125

Also, I noticed that there was actually no exact IRST(e) software version match for this OROM version I've got now, but you recommended "64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI/RAID Drivers v11.7.4.1001 WHQL" which seems to best matching for Intel RAID ROM v11.6.0.1702, so I guess I'll be grabbing that one then instead!

But the only thing I'm still curious about...when I break the Marvell array and set up my new Intel RAID-0 array, do I still have to copy the AHCI/RAID drivers from my mobo CD-disc on a USB-flash stick to load them before Win 7 can be installed on a RAID-0 array as boot disc? I'm not sure whether that step is still necessary...the reason I did not have to do this when I set up my Marvell RAID-0 array was that it was not needed, according to the handbook. But apparently both Intel and JMicron controllers require this step...does that mean that if I need to do this, then those drivers are updated to the new version when installing IRST(e) software after Win7 has been installed?

Again, thank you!
Best Regards,
Sebastian (A.K.A Bittornado!)

Oh, I see...thank you so much for looking into it. Damn, I never realized the one I downloaded from tweaktown was different from the one here.
I saw your section with OROMs actually first AFTER I had downloaded and flashed my BIOS, or else I definitely would have grabbed the OROM from your site to begin with.

Anyways, I'm really keen to use the Marvell ports on my board for normal data storage with other HDDs, so I'd rather not disable the Marvell or any other controller at all, if possible. So basically the immaturity of these early OROMs was probably what affected my Marvell ports when I noticed my seq reads dropping like that after flashing my BIOS....that makes sense. I realized now after even more reading here that some others with ASUS boards but with the same Marvell controller on their boards also were affected when testing the earlier OROM versions, where some had to disable their Marvell controller completely in order not to get BSODs...

So anyway, if you are soooo kind to help me out, I choose the optin b) in your suggestion. I'd very much like to be able to receive a BIOS flash, which contains an Intel RAID ROM module, which has been "TRIM in RAID0 modded", but the latest and best way (without affecting any other on-board Controller), please. I'd appreciate that very very much.

And then I'll be using the TRIM modded Intel RST RAID ROM v11.2.0.1006 as suggested by you :)

The BIOS version is F9d.
The Intel ROM version before I flashed my mobo was IMSM ROM v8.9.1.1002.
But IF possible, I'd rather not go back to such old and antique version as IMSM offers again! But I leave that in your capable hands to decide what's best, will follow instructions accordingly to make things right again :)

Again, thank you so much for all the help!
I'll wait then for your further instructions.

Best Regards,
Sebastian

Thank you a million times m8!
I'll test it out and let you know how it goes :)

My mobo does come with double BIOS feature and I noticed that the back-up version is an early F2.
So if things for some reason would go REALLY wrong, I do have the option to roll back to F2 and then upgrade again to the normal F9d, so hopefully I won't brick my board no matter what!

Just one other thing which I mentioned earlier...do you recon that it's necessary to "load" AHCI/RAID drivers from my original mobo disc before installing windows 7, when I make a new Intel RAID-0 array? Or else I won't be able to install Win 7 on an Intel RAID-0 array? This issue has had me confused...

Thank you!

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #8

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Zitat von Bittornado im Beitrag #7

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Just one other thing which I mentioned earlier...do you recon that it's necessary to "load" AHCI/RAID drivers from my original mobo disc before installing windows 7, when I make a new Intel RAID-0 array? Or else I won't be able to install Win 7 on an Intel RAID-0 array?

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No, Win7 has an on-board Intel MSM RAID driver v8.x.x.xxxx, which should be able to detect your RAID array and to install the OS onto it.
Nevertheless I recommend to prepare an USB Flash drive containing the 64bit Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 WHQL. So you can load this driver before the installation begins.

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Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #6

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Zitat von Bittornado im Beitrag #5

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So anyway, if you are soooo kind to help me out, I choose the optin b) in your suggestion. I'd very much like to be able to BIOS flash, which contains an Intel RAID ROM module, which has been "TRIM in RAID0 modded", but the latest and best way (without affecting any other on-board Controller), please. I'd appreciate that very very much.
And then I'll be using the TRIM modded Intel RST RAID ROM v11.2.0.1006 as suggested by you :)

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Although I usually do not modify BIOSes upon request, I have attached the BIOS X58AUD7.F9D, which I just have modified.
This is, what I did:
1. Removal of the Intel RAID ROM v11.6.0.1702, which had been modified according the outdated method and
2. Insertion of the actual TRIM in RAID modded Intel RST RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527.
You may flash it at own risk.

Good luck!

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Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #12

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@ Bittornado:

Since your problem is very specific, I have moved our complete discussion into a separate thread and gave it a more meaningful title.
This way you may get help from other users with a Gigabyte X58 mainboard and maybe even assistance from sinders or SkOrPn, who have done the first tests with the TRIM in RAID0 modded Intel RAID ROM modules.

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Oh yes thank you sir!
Just managed to find those very nicely written and comprehensive pages :)
Well I guess since I now am back at my original RAID ROM version, I might take time and give the newer modded RAID ROM a go, I'll most certainly learn a thing or two even if the BIOS itself still might not be flashable!

I'll report back to this thread about my findings and results :)
Thank you again for all the help m8!

In the mean time, if anyone else happens to have a functional TRIM-0 enabled modded RAID ROM BIOS for the F9d Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7, please let me know!

Best Regards,
-Sebastian