MSI Big Bang-XPower II (X79) , SSD + HD RAID0 advice needed

Important Drivers Specific: Intel AHCI/RAID Drivers
1

Hello everyone,

After so much reading over the net about X79 and RAID issues , tones of BSOD and some posts from people that don’t really know what they are talking about, …
Thanks Fernando for putting online win-raid.com :wink: very clear forum with precise information !
I need your advice about my configuration , and how to optimize it.

Here is my configuration :
- CPU Intel i7 3930K C2
- MSI Big Bang-XPower II (X79) (latest BIOS 2.3 (7737v23))
→ 2x SATA 6Gb/s ports (SATA1~2) by Intel® X79
→ 4x SATA 3Gb/s ports (SATA3~6) by Intel® X79
→ 4x SATA 6Gb/s ports by AsMedia 1061

Intel OROM available on my mainboard :
→ RST(e) 3.5 → 3.7.0.1049 ( BIOS menu interface display 3.5, but when entering the RAID setup (CTRL-I) I get version : 3.7.0.1049 )
→ IRST 10.6 ( 10.6.0.1702 )

RAID :
SATA1~6 support Intel® Rapid Storage Technology enterprise (AHCI/ RAID 0/ 1/ 5/ 10) by Intel® X79
When AsMedia does not support RAID on my mainboard.

- SSD samsun 840 pro (256 Go)
- SSD crucial C300 (256 Go)
- 4 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 (1To each)

My wishes :
- Have windows 7/8 (have to decide wich one) on my SSD samsung
- Get TRIM with my SSD
- Have working RAID0 with my 4 HDD , I need perf for video capture and edition, no real need for security here.

I know I can get TRIM with my SSD even by perform a RAID0 on Intel controler in RAID mode (if SSD is not member of an array), as long as i’m not using RST(e) 3.x

I still wonder if I should better chose AsMedia or Intel controler for my SSD … as 4 disks will already be connected on Intel.
And also , I downloaded the following OROM : Intel_RSTe_RAID-ROM_v12.7.0.1936_mod_by_Fernando_for_X79, if I update with this OROM, wich one of mine will be updated ?? IRST or RST(e) ?

Also I’m not sure about the process how to insert new OROM on my motherboard :confused: I guess in my case I should use : MMTool.exe … but how do I use it, and how may I update the mainboard with it, as MSI only provide an automatic update tool that I cannot realy use as I want … I only succeed to get the latest BIOS, but I can’t use the flash tool…


Thanks for your advices :slight_smile:
Chun

2

Hello Chun,
welcome at Win-RAID Forum!

Here are my answers to your questions:

  1. Both Operating Systems (Win7 and Win8.1) will be fine with your Samsung 840 Pro SSD. I personally prefer Win8.1 as the newer one.
  2. You should connect your SSD to the first of the Intel SATA3 (6G) ports. This way you will get the best performance. The connection of your 4 HDDs to the Intel SATA2 (3G) ports will be no problem.
  3. If you want to get the TRIM in RAID0 feature, you have to use an Intel RST RAID ROM v11 or v12.
    These are the options:
    • a) The easiest way is to choose the RST option of the BIOS. Then the “Intel(R) C600 Series Chipset SATA RAID Controller” (DEV_2826) of your system will be handled like an “Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller” (DEV_2822). You can use any original Intel RST RAID driver v11 or v12 series in combination with the original Intel RST RAID ROM v11.6.0.1702 without the need of modifying the BIOS. If you want to use the newest Intel RST RAID ROM version, you can update the v11.6.0.1702 to v12.7.0.1936 (the original = not modified module!).
    • b) Another possibility is to replace the Intel RSTe RAID ROM v3.7.0.1049 by any of the Intel RST RAID ROM modules v11 or v12, which I had modded for being usable with X79 chipset systems (newest version: Intel_RSTe_RAID-ROM_v12.7.0.1936_mod_by_Fernando_for_X79").
      If you should choose this option, the Intel SATA RAID Controller of your board will still be a C600 Series Chipset one (DEV_2826). You will have to use Intel RST RAID drivers of the v11 or v12 series, but a modified version of them, because the original RST drivers do not support X79 chipsets. To get Win7 or Win8 installed, you will have to load an Intel RSTe RAID driver of the v3 series, but once the OS is up, you can replace the RSTe RAID driver by a modded RST v11 or v12 series RAID driver (the driver update has to be forced by using the “Have Disk” option).
  4. The modification of your X79 mainboard BIOS has to be done with the AMI Aptio MMTool. You will find my instructions how to do it within the start post of >this< thread.
  5. If you want to get some informations about how to flash an MSI mainboard BIOS, you may look >here<.

Good luck!

Regards
Fernando

3

Thank you very much for your precise answer :slight_smile:
I’ll update here, once I decided for an option.

PS : Sorry that I missed the post related to AMI UEFI BIOSes

4
  • Update -

    I finally chose the easiest (safest ?) way.
    I kept latest the BIOS and OROM provided by MSI for this motherboard : BIOS 2.3 (7737v23)
    so using OROM : IRST 10.6 ( 10.6.0.1702 )

    I’ve reinstalled windows 8 with following RAID drivers
    IRST Driver for X79 Series 12.8.0.1016 from Intel

    For now nothing is wrong and I have TRIM on both my SSD.

    I’ll update later in case I get an issue.
    Chun.
5

Question about this post…on the Win-Raid Download page it specifically says 12.8.0.1016 is NOT for x79…

Am I missing something?

Rick

PS… I own the same motherboard. Had some problems with BSOD and the RSTe drivers under windows 7. Do you find your setup stable unde windows 8?

6

Let me explain it:

  1. The Intel RST(e) drivers v11/v12 series are generally not designed by Intel for being used with X79 chipset systems. For such chipsets Intel is offering the RSTe drivers v3.x.x.xxxx series.
  2. Nevertheless X79 AHCI systems are supported by the original RST(e) drivers v11/v12.
  3. X79 RAID systems are not supported by the original Intel RST(e) drivers v11/v12, unless the mainboard manufacturer has implemented the BIOS option to switch the X79 SATA RAID Controller to DEV_2822 and the user has chosen the switch.

7

Is the Bios Option to switch from 2826 to 2822 obvious?

I have two options to pick in Bios…RSTe 3.5 or RST 11.6
Running RSTe 3.5 option (upgraded to 3.7.0.1049) and it comes up as 2826 In Hardware ID

Thanks,

rich

8

Yes, you can verify it by checking the HardwareIDs of the in-use Intel SATA RAID Controller.

That is correct. If you would have chosen the Intel RST BIOS option, the HardwareIDs of your Intel SATA RAID Controller would be shown as DEV_2822.

9

Fernando,

One last question…

If my RSTe 3.5 rom has been updated to 3.7.0.1049, what has the RST 11.6 been updated to? (And what driver would be optimal for it?)
I could switch the Bios over to DEV_2822 but I’m afraid to play around with it, everything is finally running as it should be.
By asking this I am assuming the Rom updates always update both versions and they are standardized. If this is not the case forgive me.

rich

10

I don’t know, because I don’t know the details of your BIOS, but I assume, that the Intel RST RAID ROM hasn’t been updated by the mainboard manufacturer. AFAIK the official X79 mainboard BIOSes still contain the RST RAID ROM v11.6.0.1702.

Intel’s RST(e) drivers v11.7.4.1001.

In this case I recommend to stick with the "original" Intel RSTe RAID ROM v3.7.0.1049 and to install the Intel RSTe drivers v3.8.0.1108 WHQL resp. the RSTe Drivers & Software Set v3.8.0.1111.

No, the mainboard manufacturers do not update both Intel RAID ROM versions (RSTe and RST) automaticly, because they belong to totally different development branches.