As long as you are running both on-board Intel SATA/sSATA Controllers in AHCI mode, everything will work fine (and no IRST Software will be needed).
I don’t think, that Intel will make its latest IRST Software versions compatible with your specific X99 chipset SATA Controller configuration. As I already have mentioned: The ISRT technology has been developed by Intel many years ago, when bigger sized SSDs were very, very expensive and has never been designed for the rather new X99 systems and their 2 independently and simultaneously running on-board Intel SATA Controllers.
@Fernando :
It’s even stated in the my mobo manual and in the bios of course. Intel RST only runing on the first SATA controller (from 1 to 6 SATA port). And Intel RST software can be configured only with devices, attached to this ports. Second controller even don’t support RAID mode and I do not expect that.
EDIT by Fernando: Unneeded fully quoted post replaced by directly addressing to the author (to save space)
The table in the end of the first post was very helpfull clearing most of my confusion about chipsets, Series and drivers. Thank you!
What’s left: I’m on AHCI. Recommended for Intel 100-/200-Series Chipsets (like Z170) is Intel RST(e) v15.2.16.1060 or Intel RST(e) v15.5.2.1054. However, on your page with Recommended drivers it is v15.5.2.1054 and v15.7.6.1027. And on your page with Newest drivers I see v15.5.5.1059 as latest/best and 15.9.1.1018 as latest.
Which driver is best/recommended?
@Kees030 :
If you want to know my specific Intel RST/RST(e) driver recommendation for a specific Intel chipset system, you should just look into the just updated table, which you can find within the start post of >this< thread. My currently favorite Intel RST(e) drivers for Intel 100- and 200-Series Chipsets are the Intel RST(e) v15.5.2.1054 and v15.7.6.1027 drivers, but this can be changed after the release of the next Intel RST(e) driver.
The performance differences between the various Intel RST(e) AHCI drivers, which I am offering within the various threads, are minimal. As you can see >here<, I recently got the best results with my Z170 AHCI system, when I used either the Intel RST(e) drivers v13.2.8.1002 or v13.44.0.1026.
My tip: Test the different drivers and find the best this way yourself (each system is different and the user’s preferences as well!).
You obviously misunderstood me. Within >this< general thread about the newest resp. most important Intel RST/RST(e) drivers I present just the newest and probably best drivers of the different development branches (no matter, how good the drivers of the related development branch are). So if you read there, that a specific driver has been named the “best”, this means “the best of the related development branch or platform”.
Thanks for clarification. Links to v15.5.2.1054 seems to be broken (mirror as well). DL v15.7.6.1027 was succesfull.
Edit: links do work now.
Thanks for the info.
The broken links have just been fixed by me.
Hi there,
I would like to ask a question, hope that’s fine.
Currently I have a MSI GT70 notebook and just formatted it with a freshly installed Windows 10. Only having GPU and sound drivers installed at the moment and I am wondering what drivers I would need.
From what I read it should be these: v12.9.4.1000
Not sure what infos are needed, so I will just put in a few:
Core i7 3630QM
Mobo: MS-1762 (Rev. 1.0)
Bios:
Aptio
Core version: 4.6.5.3
Version: 2.15.1227
Anything else needed?
I have to say it is a modded bios which increases the DRAM frequency and changes the SATA options from HDD to SSD to increase the performance a bit.
So is it correct to install these AHCI drivers: v12.9.4.1000?
Thank you very much!
@steddecx :
Welcome to the Win-RAID Forum!
The only important thing regarding the choice of the “best” Intel RST/RST(e) driver is the system’s chipset.
AFAIK your MSI GT70 notebook has an Intel HM77 Express chipset, which belongs to the 7-Series.
Knowing this, you can easily find within the start post of this thread the Intel RST(e) drivers, which I recommend to install for your system.
Regards
Dieter (alias Fernando)
Thanks for your welcome 
Yep, by looking at it, it seems that v12.9.4.1000 are the "best" ones, since it says: Recommended for all Intel 5-Series, 6-Series and Mobile 7-Series Chipset systems…
Oh, forgot to mention: Does it matter that my system runs in AHCI mode, since I have only 1 SSD and 1 HDD installed?
Or do I need RAID mode for the "best" performance?
Edit: I guess it doesnt matter since topic says AHCI/RAID, was confused about the RST(e)…
@steddecx :
As long as you dont want to create a RAID array (consisting of 2 or more similar HDDs or SSDs), the AHCI mode is the best option.
Awesome, thanks!
One last question: Difference between “best” and modded from here: Modded Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers (digitally signed)
Is there something “special” baked in or are they just signed?
@steddecx :
Since the Intel RST(e) drivers, which I recommend for Intel 7-Series chipsets, do natively support them, there is no need to install any modded driver, but you can try some of them nevertheless (e.g. the mod+signed driver v13.2.8.1002).
Alright and if they are bad, I can basically uninstall them via device manager, reboot and either use default ones or the ones you recommend?
Edit: Did some benchmarks with stock, modded and recommend, the recommend ones are definitely the best ones for my system.
Thanks for the help, much appreciated.
Hi Fernando… I am in the process of upgrading an old Asus P6T7 WS SuperComputer X58 Series mainboard system (Chipset ICH10R) which though initially (at least) is to be operated in ACHI mode, I would also like to provision for future use in RAID (ideally with the TRIM modifications) mode. NB. Under ACHI mode the SATA AHCI Controller Device ID is DEV_3A22. I should also note that several years back I modded the BIOS to incorporate the Win-Raid OROM "Intel-RSTe_RAID-ROM_v12.7.0.1936_TRIM-mod-acc-CPL0"
I would be grateful if you could advise the current optimal (modded?) RST OROM/Driver/Console Software combination for best performance in Windows 10 Pro 64 bit??
Many Thanks
PC Pilot
@PC_Pilot :
You can find the Intel RST driver versions, which I recommend to use with X58 chipset systems in AHCI resp. RAID mode, within the start post of >this< thread.
The Intel RAID ROM version (TRIM modded or not) should belong to the same development branch (here: v11.2 resp. 11.7).
Has anyone tried the WHQL v16 package?
Hi Fernando
I have two motherboards (Gigabyte), one with H81 chipset and one with H97 chipset. In the driver download page of each one the following SATA/AHCI drivers are recommended:
H81 - Intel RST 13.0.3.1001 (for Windows 7 x64) and RST 14.5.0.1081 (for Windows 10 x64)
H97 - Intel RST 13.6.2.1001 (for Windows 7 x64) and RST 14.5.0.1081 (for Windows 10 x64)
In both I use only the AHCI mode. Do you recommend any changes to the drivers, such as using version 13.2.8.1002 with H81 in Windows 7 for example, or should I follow what the manufacturer recommends?
Thanks in advance for your help.
@ase-le :
According to my own comparison tests the Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v13.2.8.1002 is a very good (maybe the best) choice for your Intel 8-/9-Series Chipset systems.
You can compare this driver with other Intel AHCI driver versions and with the generic in-box MS AHCI drivers yourself.
What does your mainboard manufacturer recommend?
For the motherboard GA-H81M-S1 - Chipset H81 => Intel RST 13.0.3.1001 (for Windows 7 x64) and RST 14.5.0.1081 (for Windows 10 x64)
For the motherboard GA-H97M-Gaming 3 - Chipset H97 => Intel RST 13.6.2.1001 (for Windows 7 x64) and RST 14.5.0.1081 (for Windows 10 x64)
For this latter the driver recommended for Win7 (Intel RST 13.6.2.1001) is newer. The recommended by you is still better? And about the recommended version for Win10 (14.5.0.1081), should I use the one that you recommended?
Thanks