New Intel RST drivers v9.5.6.1001 available

[DZand]

At Station-Drivers there are new Intel AHCI and RAID drivers v9.5.6.1001 available. They are dated 12/30/2009 and belong to the new Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology. You can get the new RST Console and driver pack here: http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20raid.htm http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20raid.htm

Currently only the 64bit driver version is available.

The new RST Console and driver v9.5.6.1001 does support all Intel ICH7-10 and 5-series Southbridges running in AHCI and RAID Mode.

I installed the new 64bit driver v9.5.6.1001 onto my Intel ICH10R system running 2x160GB Postville SSD's as RAID0. My first impression is very good.

It would be interseting to know, if these drivers do support the Trim command.

Regards

Fernando

[DZand]

Ziggy schrieb:

According to what they say they should implement soon the Window-Trim in the new version of RTS

Have a link to the source? Many of us eager for news updates about possible TRIM support with the Intel drivers.

This is the source he probably meant: /thread/9767?start=13 http://communities.intel.com/thread/9767?start=13

Although you have posted into that thread, you obviously didn't read all previous posts. The poster cssd_run is a member of Intel's Solid State Group.

[idata]

Good to know!

Although you have posted into that thread, you obviously didn't read all previous posts.

Didn't feel it was necessary in this case. Clear question with an easy answer.

[idata]

Oops -- didn't know there was a special 9.5.6.1001 thread when I posted my personal findings about DPC latency. Bottom line: can cause major real-time processing issues (such as multimedia stuttering); check with "dpclat" if you decide to install it anyway:

http://communities.intel.com/thread/10363

[DZand]

Update of my start post:

Meanwhile the RST drivers and the RST software v9.5.6.1001 got the digital signature (WHQL stamp) from Microsoft.

Users can get the new WHQL package dated 12/30/2009 at Station-drivers: http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20raid.htm http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20raid.htm

or from here: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ymyzoidmzhj http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ymyzoidmzhj

These drivers are running fine with my Intel ICH10R RAID0 (2x160GB Postville SSD's) and with my Intel ICH8M AHCI system.

Have fun!

Fernando

[TSven]

The driver runs fine on windows 7 64 bit however, one thing I do not like about the Intel RST AHCI driver (all versions) is, that they makes my boot up time twice as long than the MSAHCI driver.

And there is still no information about Trim.

The reason why I have to use the Intel RST driver is because of TotalMedia Teater 3.

TMT3 cannot play bluray from my SONY SATA drive with the MSAHCI driver( it crash)

TMT3 works fine when Intel's RST driver are installed.

[DZand]

Nighthawk schrieb:

The driver runs fine on windows 7 64 bit however, one thing I do not like about the Intel RST AHCI driver (all versions) is, that they makes my boot up time twice as long than the MSAHCI driver.

Did you install the RST application with the RST Control Center?

If yes, you should uninstall it. The prolongation of the boot time is caused by the Control Center checking all devices at each boot/reboot.

Only RAID users will get much benefit of the RST application.

Regards

Fernando

[TSven]

I do not run the setup file, I only install the AHCI driver in the Device manager

[DZand]

Nighthawk schrieb:

I do not run the setup file, I only install the AHCI driver in the Device manager

Ok, maybe a new mainboard BIOS with an updated Intel(R) AHCI ROM version 1.20E or higher will solve your problem.

[DZand]

The brandnew and now WHQL certified Intel RST drivers v9.5.6.1001 probably are the first Intel AHCI drivers, which do support the Trim command.

That would be great!

Here is my (German) source for this news: http://www.computerbase.de/forum/showthread.php?t=694881 http://www.computerbase.de/forum/showthread.php?t=694881

Can anyone confirm this information?

[idata]

Has anyone confirmed that v9.5.6.1001 supports trim? Wasn't Intel talking about releasing drivers that support trim shortly after the release on Windows 7? (OR was that just ssd's that support trim?)

[GCatt]

I must say, I'm a bit confused regarding driver versions for MSM and RTS. When I go to Intel's web site, I see in the driver download page:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Chipsets&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Rapid+Storage+Technology http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Chipsets&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Rapid+Storage+Technology

TitleDate VersionStatus Type http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=17882&lang=eng Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager

Supports SATA RAID 5/10 on specific desktop platforms, SATA RAID 0/1, AHCI, and matrix RAID on specific desktop and mobile platforms

OS: Windows 7*, Windows 7, 32-bit*, Windows 7, 64-bit....More Windows 7*, Windows 7, 32-bit*, Windows 7, 64-bit*, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition*, Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition*, Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition*, Windows Server 2003*, Windows Server 2008*, Windows Vista 32*, Windows Vista 64*, Windows Vista*, Windows XP Home Edition*, Windows XP Media Center Edition*, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition*, Windows XP Professional*>

7/17/2009

8.9.0.1023

Latest

Drivers

So, it seems the latest driver from Intel is version 8.9.0.123 dated 7/16/2009. Are there newer drivers available from Intel?? Could someone give me the correct link to download newer drivers from Intel's web site?

Also, when I check my system, I see:

Device: Intel(R) ICH8R/ICH9R/ICH10R/DO SATA RAID Controller

Driver: 8.6.2.1012

Date: 4/8/2009

So, it appears my system has an even older driver than Intel's web site. When I click on "Update Driver" it says I have the latest driver. Am I missing something here? Can I just go to station-drivers.com and update to the latest Intel RTS software, or would that be a mistake?

[DZand]

@ TitanFan:

The v8.9.0.1023 is Intel's last official driver, which belongs to the Inte(R) Matrix Storage Manager (MSM) series.

Here is the link to the first official RST driver v9.5.0.1037:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?agr=N&ProductID=&DwnldID=15251&strOss=&OSFullName=&lang=eng http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?agr=N&ProductID=&DwnldID=15251&strOss=&OSFullName=&lang=eng

The newest RST drivers v9.5.6.1001 WHQL probably will be available at Intel's websites very soon. They seem to be better for my systems than v9.5.0.1037.

[GCatt]

Thanks, Ferando. I see it now. So, the the RST driver is the latest and replaces the driver from the Intel Matrix Storage Manager series, right? I have an ASUS P7P55D motherboard which uses the Intel P55 Express chip set. When I look at my device manager, I see I have the following storage controller: Intel(R) ICH8R/ICH9R/ICH10R/DO SATA RAID Controller.

Are the RST drivers okay for my system or do I have to stay on the Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver?

[DZand]

TitanFan schrieb:

Are the RST drivers okay for my system or do I have to stay on the Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver?

The RST drivers are optimized for being used with Intel SSD's. So I do recommend to take the newest and most stable RST driver v9.5.6.1001 WHQL.

[GCatt]

Thanks Fernando. I see the driver installation is using a bootable floppy disc. I don't have a floppy disk drive (who does anymore?). Is there a way to create a bootable USB drive or CD instead of a floppy disc?

[DZand]

TitanFan schrieb:

Thanks Fernando. I see the driver installation is using a bootable floppy disc. I don't have a floppy disk drive (who does anymore?). Is there a way to create a bootable USB drive or CD instead of a floppy disc?

You don't need a floppy or a bootable USB drive to get any Intel AHCI/RAID driver (example: v9.5.6.1001) installed,

These are the options:

A. Under XP/Vista/Win7: Just run the installer of the RST package.

B. Fresh install of XP (32/64bit): Look here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=107504&st=0&start=0 http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=107504&st=0&start=0

Regards

Fernando

[idata]

Anybody else noticed that the 9.5.6.1001 drivers introduce terrible DPC latency spikes which cause audio/ video stuttering on media playback? The problem seems to occur when there is very little access to the disks on the controller. The spikes can be seen every few second when DPC latency is monitored with a program like dpclat.exe or with xperf.exe

The 9.5.4.1001 drivers don't display the problem.

[idata]

Frankly, Bobins, I don't think anyone cares whether RST 9.5.6 introduces horrible latency spikes making, for example, watching movies impossible. All they want to talk about is: does it support TRIM?

Will someone besides Bobins or myself please check DPC latency under 9.5.6 with "dpclat" and either confirm or deny that serious issues exist (at least for your particular configuration)? Thanks!

[idata]

Hi,

Bobins & UglyPercy, have you two tested soley on SSDs? i.e. have you been able to reproduce the high DPC latency with normal mechanical drives?

The reason I ask is that I have Win 7 x64 with my G2 with the native Microsoft AHCI driver, and there are pre-existing DPC latency spikes. I'm not particularly game to test these drivers as this my primary machine which I don't want to have to reinstall if there are problems (also in the process of transferring data in the TB range to new disks, so I don't really want a non-official storage driver).

However, I have another Intel based machine which is a test setup for another purpose. On this, I too installed Win 7 x64 however just on a standard WD 80gb 7200rpm hard disk, and again, using the microsoft native AHCI there are terrible latency spikes. This makes me think that the microsoft AHCI driver is probably responsible. So, I installed these RST v9.5.6.1001 drivers directly using device manage and only extracted the x64 folder. After two reboots, not only do i swear the machine is more responsive, boot quicker etc., but the line is pretty much flat green on DPC latency tool. I realise this isn't the same as testing on SSD, but perhaps at least shows that if there is a DPC latency problem with 9.5.6.1001, it doesnt affect all types of storage?

[idata]

I can't believe no-body has been able to work out whether the v9.5.6.1001 drivers support TRIM or not.

From what I've gleaned here we're all convinced that it won't work with a RAID array, but what I want to know is whether, if I install these drivers with a single SSD boot drive not in a RAID configuration, it will or will not kill the TRIM support we currently enjoy using the Microsoft drivers.

I know from previous to the firmware update I was using these drivers and performance of the SSD was noticeably better. However, when the firmware fix was released I reverted to the Microsoft drivers to ensure I had TRIM support.

I would love to go back to using them IF I knew TRIM would be supported.

However, I also have a nagging doubt about them. Why, if they are so good, have Intel not released the RST drivers on their website yet? There must be a problem or else they would have been officially released by now

[DZand]

Ceejay schrieb:

I can't believe no-body has been able to work out whether the v9.5.6.1001 drivers support TRIM or not.

You are right: It is not yet 100% clear, that these brandnew RST drivers do fully support the Trim command. Nevertheless it is fact, that Intel is working on such RST drivers and there are even some reports out, that the v9.5.6.1001 drivers are the first ones who do support Trim. The big problem is, that obviously nobody really wants to test it by doing some AS SSD Benchmarks before and after filling all SSD segments of the SSD by copying files and deleting them thereafter.

On the other hand: If you have a single non-RAID SSD, you can use the Optimizer of the Intel SSD Toolbox. So I don't see any reason why to take the MS AHCI driver, since these new Intel drivers are better and optimized for being used with SSD's.

Ceejay schrieb:

However, I also have a nagging doubt about them. Why, if they are so good, have Intel not released the RST drivers on their website yet? There must be a problem or else they would have been officially released by now

It usually takes some time until Intel offers new drivers officially at its homepage.

The RST drivers 9.5.0.1037 were WHQL certified since 10/09/2009, but officially published by Intel at 01/20/2010. So it is not a bad sign at all, that Intel has not yet officially announced the RST drivers v9.5.6.1001, which got the WHQL stamp at 12/30/2009.

I am pretty sure, that we will see them within this month at Intels download pages.