@ all: Since the last benchmark comparison tests while running my old Z68 system were already done in November 2015 and I recently “found” the forgotten, but obviously very performant Intel RST(e) drivers v13.2.8.1002, I decided to do some new tests with my meanwhile outdated Z68 system in AHCI and RAID0 mode, before I am going to give it away. All tests were done on 21 December (RAID0) resp. on 22./23. December 2016 (AHCI).
Update of the Start Post Changelog:
Updated:
Test results with a Z68 system running in AHCI mode Tested AHCI drivers:
Win10 in-box MS AHCI driver STORAHCI dated 12/03/2016 (newest available AHCI driver)
Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.2.4.1000 WHQL dated 07/25/2014 (previously very often tested and good performant driver)
Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.2.8.1002 WHQL dated 07/09/2015 (newset Intel RST(e) driver from the v13 platform)
Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.6.3.1001 WHQL dated 02/25/2015 (highest version Intel RST(e) driver from the v13 platform)
Intel RST(e) RAID driver v14.8.12.1059 WHQL dated 08/23/2016 (latest Intel RST(e) driver from the v14 platform)
Notes:
The “normal” Win10 in-box Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.2.0.1022, could not been tested with my Z68 system, because I had to replace it by the Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to test this best AHCI driver.
These were the last tests, which I have done with my old Z68 system. Don’t expect any future benchmark tests from my side done regarding this outdated system.
The Z68 RAID0 results are impressive. The 11.2 oROM is vastly better than anything else. It’s very unfortunate that it has no EFI counterpart module. It’s funny how linear the performance drop is as newer modules got tested. Basically everything after v11 is increasingly worse. It makes me wonder if it’s something ssd/methodology related. Maybe the garbage collection did not catch up or something. Did you try these in order? I’m curious if the worst result (13.6) would be the same if it was executed first. I’m only asking out of curiosity and lack of RST knowledge.
The choice of the “best” Intel AHCI or RAID driver doesn’t depend on the manufacturer or the special name of a desktop or mobile system, but on the chipset of the mainboard resp. the exact model of the on-board Intel AHCI/RAID Controller. After having found out the related informations, you should look into the start post of >this< thread. At the bottom is a table, where I have listed the drivers I recommend to use for the different Intel chipsets.
@emka : Welcome at Win-RAID Forum! Please have a look into the start post of >this< thread. At the bottom you will find a table with my favorite Intel RST(e) AHCI drivers for your Z97 chipset system. Regards Dieter (alias Fernando)
@hodaaort : Once I will have access to the final Win10 v1704, I will do some new benchmark tests with my Z170 system running in AHCI mode and publish the results ito the related thread. These tests will include the winners of my last comparison test and the latest Intel RST(e) drivers of the v15 platform.
Win10 v1703 is already running on my Z170 machine, but I need some free time to prepare and execute the benchmark tests. Which results do you want more urgently: The AHCI or the RAID0 mode ones?
@ all: The availability of the new Win10 v1703 (“Creator’s Update”) and of some new Intel RST(e) drivers were the reason, why I have started today new benchmark comparison tests with my Z170 system.
Update of the Start Post Changelog:
Updated: Test results with a Z170 system running in AHCI mode Tested AHCI drivers:
Win10 in-box MS AHCI driver STORAHCI dated 03/18/2017 (newest available AHCI driver)
Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v13.2.8.1002 WHQL dated 07/09/2015 (latest from the v13 platform)
Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v14.8.12.1059 WHQL dated 08/23/2016 (latest from the v14 platform)
Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v15.2.10.1040 WHQL dated 01/13/2017 (latest from the v15.2 series)
Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v15.5.0.1047 Beta dated 02/20/2017 (latest from the v15 platform)
@ all: Since there are brandnew Intel RST(e) drivers v15.5.0.1051 WHQL available since yesterday and it was no big problem for me to restore my recently used Z170 chipset AHCI test system, I have done today some additional benchmark tests running Win10 x64 v1703 with these brandnew Intel AHCI driver.
Update of the Start Post Changelog:
Updated: Test results with a Z170 system running in AHCI mode Additionally tested AHCI driver: Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v15.5.0.1051 WHQL dated 03/17/2017 (latest from the v15 platform)
@ all: Just after having finished my benchmark tests with the brandnew Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v15.5.0.1051, Station-Drivers had published the Intel RSTe) drivers v14.8.14.1061 WHQL, which have been compiled by Intel in March 2017 as well. So I tested them additionally, before I am going to switch to my normal configuration.
Update of the Start Post Changelog:
Updated: Test results with a Z170 system running in AHCI mode Additionally tested AHCI driver: Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v14.8.14.1061 WHQL dated 03/09/2017 (latest from the v14 platform)
@ all: After having finished yesterday my tests with my Z170 system running in AHCI mode, I have changed the SATA mode to RAID, created a RAID0 array and tested the performance of different Intel RAID drivers. The results were a big surprise for me, because I thought until today, that Intel would not be able to develop an Intel RST(e) driver, which will be as performant as the “classical” Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006.
Update of the Start Post Changelog:
Updated: Test results with a Z170 system running Win10 x64 on an Intel RAID0 array Tested Intel RAID drivers:
Win10 in-box RST(e) driver v13.2.0.1022 (dated 02/19/2015) in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v14.8.2.2397 (no downgrade possible)
Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.2.8.1002 WHQL (dated 07/09/2015, latest Intel RST driver from the v13 platform) in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v14.8.2.2397 (no dongrade possible)
Intel RST(e) RAID driver v14.8.12.1059 WHQL (dated 08/23/2016) in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v14.8.2.2397
Intel RST(e) RAID driver v14.8.14.1061 WHQL (dated 03/09/2017, currently latest Intel RST driver from the v14 platform) in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v14.8.2.2397
Intel RST(e) RAID driver v15.2.10.1044 WHQL (dated 01/13/2017) in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v15.2.2.2775
Intel RST(e) RAID driver v15.5.0.1051 WHQL (dated 03/17/2017, currently latest Intel RST driver from the v15 platform) in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v15.5.0.32794