Which Intel RAID driver for X79 Chipset running Win10?

Fernando · August 4, 2016, 4:36pm

That was not a good idea, because this way you may have lost all your RAID0 data.

This has to be set to RST, if you want to use non-Enterprise Edition Intel RST drivers and RAID OROM modules.

Dark_Light · August 4, 2016, 4:42pm

That was not a good idea, because this way you may have lost all your RAID0 data.

This has to be set to RST, if you want to use non-Enterprise Edition Intel RST drivers and RAID OROM modules.

I know that, I didn’t want my data. I’ll set it to RST mode again and look again for a utility. But if that doesn’t work then I am not sure, seems like that bios might just not work with my motherboard and\or my drives, I could update the firmware but I don’t think that would have an affect because it’s not even loading the utility.

Fernando · August 4, 2016, 4:58pm

@Dark_Light :
Maybe you have done something wrong while trying to get the Intel RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527 into your mainboard BIOS.
Can you attach the orignal and the modded BIOS (has to be compressed by using Winzip or WinRAR)?

Dark_Light · August 4, 2016, 5:42pm

Sure, here it is. I’ll try looking through the bios again tomorrow and let you know.

P9X79PRO.CAP.zip (4.73 MB)

Fernando · August 4, 2016, 5:57pm

@Dark_Light :
Thanks for the attached modded BIOS file.
The Intel RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527 has been correctly inserted into the BIOS, but will not support the TRIM in RAID0 feature for your system.
If you are using SSDs as members of your RAID array and want TRIM support, you should integrate a TRIM in RAID0 modified Intel RAID ROM module.

Dark_Light · August 4, 2016, 8:24pm

Do you mean a bios version and driver that supports TRIM or to modify an existing bios?

Fernando · August 4, 2016, 10:46pm

What I meant is: If your RAID0 array members should be SSDs (and not HDDs), I recommend to flash a BIOS, which contains a TRIM in RAID0 supporting Intel RAID ROM module. Such modded Intel RST RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527 is available, but not within your currently used BIOS.

Dark_Light · August 5, 2016, 9:26am

What I meant is: If your RAID0 array members should be SSDs (and not HDDs), I recommend to flash a BIOS, which contains a TRIM in RAID0 supporting Intel RAID ROM module. Such modded Intel RST RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527 is available, but not within your currently used BIOS.

I am using 11.2.0.1527, so will that bios version support TRIM?

OROM IRST RAID for SATA - 11.2.0.1527

Dark_Light · August 5, 2016, 11:08am

Dark_Light · August 5, 2016, 1:35pm

Hi,

I have re-read the some of the threads and I am still a bit confused, do I have to mod the bios module to get TRIM support in 11.2.0.1527? But wouldn’t I get better performance with the new 13.1.0.2126 bios? Also if I did change the bios to a newer version would I have to recreate the ISO, couldn’t I just use the normal method of adding drivers in the installation method since the ones I would be using would be newer than the ones that are already in a install image?

Fernando · August 5, 2016, 4:06pm

@Dark_Light :
I am sorry about my late reply, but I still have no idea why you are not able to see and to enter the LEGACY mode Intel RST RAID Utility v11.2.0.1527.

No, you don’t have to mod the related Intel RAID ROM module, because the already TRIM in RAID0 modded variant of the module is available for everyone within the start post of >this< thread. If you use the UBU tool, the replacement of the current Intel RAID ROM module by the TRIM in RAID0 modded Intel RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527 will be done automaticly, if you choose the related option “T” and the desired Intel RAID ROM version.

No, you will get the by far best RAID0 performance, if you use the “classical” Intel RST RAID driver v11.2.0.1006 and have the matching Intel RAID ROM version v11.2.0.1527 within your mainboard BIOS.
On the other hand you may have to look for an alternative option, when your system is unable to load the Intel RAID ROM v11.2.0.1529 while booting. In this case the insertion of the TRIM in RAID0 modded Intel RST RAID ROM v13.1.0.2126 into the mainboard BIOS would be a good choice.

No, there is no need to touch the Win10 ISO file, if you want to use any Intel RST(e) driver of the v12 or v13 line from scratch.

Yes, you can load the desired Intel RAID driver at the beginning of the Win10 installation by using the “Load Driver…” option.

Dark_Light · August 5, 2016, 4:42pm

I tried out the default bios, think it was 12.7.0 and with it I was able to access the legacy RAID menu. I then forced UEFI and it came up with the same message as it did with the modded bios, however I did notice a new menu. I was able to enter the UEFI RAID menu and create an array, although it still came up with a message but I expect if I tried to install something on it it would find the array, I then tried this with the modded bios and I was able to enter the same UEFI menu when I forced it. I’m going to try the modded 11.2.0.1527 module and see if that somehow fixes the issue, although if the only difference is TRIM then I would expect it not to do anything. The only thing I am concerned about is where did that bios module come from, I presume it’s not official whereas the other “un-modded” modules are official.

Another thing, if I can’t get it to work what module should I use? And is there any point in trying older bioses?

EDIT by Fernando: Unneeded fully quoted post removed (to save space)

Dark_Light · August 5, 2016, 6:17pm

I tried the TRIM 11.2.0.1527 it doesn’t work, I can’t get into the legacy RAID. It seems the system is just not loading it and going straight into UEFI since it finds a problem with the legacy version or it’s not supported or something. I think I might have to use a different version, the only other things I can think of is to try older versions of the bios or to somehow remove the UEFI RAID module.

Fernando · August 5, 2016, 9:29pm

@Dark_Light :
Meanwhile I have downloaded and checked all the screenshots of your BIOS settings.
These are the correct BIOS settings to get the LEGACY mode Intel RAID ROM loaded at bootup:

SATA Mode: “RAID”
Intel Rapid Storage Technology: “IRST”
Option ROM Messages: “Force BIOS”
Fast Boot: “Disabled” (Attention: Your setting was “Enabled”. You should try the option “Disabled” just for the creation of the RAID array and for the OS installation. Later on you can choose the “Enabled” option.)
CSM: “Enabled”
Boot from Storage Devices: “Legacy OPROM”
Secure Boot: “Disabled”

If you should still not be able to get access to the LEGACY mode Intel RAID Utility v11.2.0.1527, I recommend to do the following:

Let the UBU tool update the current TRIM modded Intel RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527 to the TRIM modded v13.1.0.2126.
Enter the BIOS, set everything to "DEFAULT"and flash the modded BIOS.
Enter the BIOS again, set everything to “DEFAULT” and then the SATA Controller to “RAID” and the Intel Rapid Storage Technology to “IRST”, save the changes and power off the computer for a while.
Enter the BIOS again, do all the other above mentioned settings and save the changes.
Reboot and look what happens.
If you get access to the Intel RAID Utility, delete the existing RAID array and create a new one.
Boot off the Win10 image you want to get installed onto the RAID0 array.
Load the Intel RAID driver v13.1.0.1058 WHQL when you get the option to do it.
Create a new partition for the OS (size: according to your wishes).
Let the Win10 Setup install the OS onto the desired partition of the RAID0 array.

There is nothing to worry about the “TRIM in RAID0 modded” Intel RAID ROM modules, which are offered within this Forum and by the UBU tool. All these modules have been modified by me according CPL0’s method. Only 1 single bit, which is responsable for the TRIM in RAID0 feature, has been altered. Thousands of users (inclusive myself), who have successfully flashed a BIOS with this “TRIM in RAID0” modded module and got this way TRIM in RAID0 support, cannot be wrong.

I do not recommend to do that.

Good luck!

Dark_Light · August 6, 2016, 12:41pm

11.2.0.1527 doesn’t work, I tried disabling fast boot and a few other things, it just won’t work. I’m using 13.1.0.2126 and I am able to get into the utility fine. Just one last question, what is the best strip size?

Fernando · August 6, 2016, 1:08pm

@Dark_Light :
Thanks for your report. I still have no idea why you were not able to get the Intel RAID Utility v11.2.0.1527 working with your X79 system.

For “normal” users I recommend to choose 64KB as RAID0 stripe size.

Dark_Light · August 6, 2016, 2:30pm

I installed Windows 10, although the benchmark does show a slower speeds at 4k.

Old:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19573402/Benchmark.png

New:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1957…indows%2010.png

Fernando · August 6, 2016, 4:12pm

Maybe you have not yet done all the settings, which are required for the best possible performance (look >here<).
What about the “Power Options”? Have you set them to “High Performance”?
Furthermore the CrystalDiskMark is not the best benchmark tool for single and RAIDed SSDs. Much better is the tool named “Anvil’s Storage Utilities”.