Hi all,
because I was still unable to find more detailed infos towards above mentioned Intel C246 chipset (backward) compatibility with Win7x64, I´d like to clarify, if this newer Coffe lake chipset (‘2018) usually ported on MBs with Socket 1151 (H4) like Gigabyte C246-WU4 is compatible also with Win7x64, so not only with Win10x64 and higher ?
Up to now I´ve found only these infos:
- in “Intel Chipset device software driver” package version 10.1.17667.8084 there was included an Intel statement „dropped certification for older OSes (Win7, Win8, Win8.1, WinSrv2008 + 2012)“… BUT…
- one of the first release of „Intel Chipset device software“ driver package, which include support for C240 series chipsets, should be version 10.1.4.4. But it seems to me, that this driver version supports C246 chipset only for Intel CPU Gen5, not above
, and probably only for Win10 x64 and higher Win OSes ?
- found infos inside „Intel Chipset Device software 10.1.17570.8068 (WHQL)“ package, that it is still for Win7x64 (and even Win7x86)!
- last (?) release of „Intel Chipset device software“ driver package, which include support for C246 chipset, should be version 10.1.16.6, because in readme inside this package Intel claims, that it is for „300 Series Chipset Family and C240 Series Chipset Family“; I presume that C240 series family include my dreamed-of C246 chipset; but it seems to me that it´s only for Win10 x64 and higher Win OSes
- although majority of MBs vendors don´t list chipset driver support for older OSes than Win10 x64, I´ve found some interesting drivers inside DVD driver ISOs „CDR-X11-UP_1.30_for_Intel_X11_UP_platform.iso“ on Supermicro web for X11SCA. They seem to be for SATA and called „iaStorE.free.win7.64bit.5.6.0.1006“ or „iaStorA.free.win7.64bit.4.7.0.1098“. Am I right that these could be used as add-on drivers inserted into org. Win7x64 bootable ISOs through nLite etc. utilities ?
- hate official statements like in that of support.hp.com „due to agreement between Micro$oft and (not only) HP, PC vendor will not list/mention any drivers compatibility towards older Win7 or Win8.x OSes :-(( Only Supermicro (sometimes) and MSI list event Win7-Win8.x compatibility…
Will appreciate any more detailed infos towards C246 and Win7x64 (even when this org. topic is old 
With regards from Czech rep.
@Cestovatel
Welcome to the Win-Raid Forum!
Since you obviously don’t want to create an Intel NVMe RAID Array while running Win7 x64, I have moved your request into another Forum Category and tried to give the freshly created thread a short, but meaningful title (you can change it at any time by editing the start post).
Now to your questions/infos:
- All v10.1 Series Intel Chipset Device Software Sets (inclusive the currently latest v10.1.19900.8599) and the “Latest Intel Chipset Device INF Files Sets”, which are offered >here<, do support Intel C246 Chipset systems, no matter, which Windows version has been or will be installed.
Simple reason: They don’t contain any real divers (= .SYS files), but just simple text (.INF) files.
- For the support of the on-board Intel SATA/sSATA AHCI/RAID Controllers you will have to use an Intel driver, which belongs to the “Enterprise Edition” Rapid Storage Technology (RSTe). The latest Intel RSTe drivers, which do support Windows 7, are the “64bit Intel RSTe AHCI & RAID drivers v5.5.4.1034 WHQL for Win7 x64” ones (the download links can be found >here<). If you want to use these drivers with Win7 x64 from scratch, I recommend to integrate them into the Win7 boot.wim and install.wim Images.
Good luck!
Hi Fernando,
thank you for quick response. And for huge work with these drivers, driver mods, infos about portability etc.!
All I´m doing is to port Win7x64SP1 to some board with PCI slot (2x at best) with as fast CPU as possible. Better with CPU that passes legal CPU validity tests during Win11 install (so Intel 8th-9th+ gen, at best probably Core i9-9900KS). It´s because I use high-quality RME AIO PCI soundcard on PCI slot, have still bunch of (160-250-320-500GB) IDE disks connected through add-on PCI IDE cards (which have only Win7 drivers) and have some special SW that correctly run only on Win7 max. (under Win10 they unfortunatelly generate errors)…
In fact the best MB I´ve now found is either MSI MS-98K9 v2.1 (rare pieces available in Austria at spectra-austria.at as for now), or Gigabyte C246-WU4 like the man from original topic or Supermicro X11SCA-F (some of subvariants). Next my “standby” choices should be only Asrock C246-WS-2l, Asus P11C-E-4l-SP or Asus P11C-X…
As of Intel RST(e) drivers 15.9 you linked for (?), I´ve found your additional info: " The Intel RST(e) drivers v15.9.8.1050 WHQL are dated 07/31/2019 and usable with all Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up. Only Intel 100-Series/C230 Chipsets, 200-Series Chipsets and other Chipsets with an Intel Skylake or KabyLake CPU are natively supported by these drivers. These drivers additionally do support the “Intel(R) Optane™ Memory System Acceleration” and the “Intel(R) Smart Response Technology”.
So my dreamed C246 chipset is NOT natively supported (under Win7) at all ?
And do you know the appropriate purpose of security update KB4457144 (9/2018) concerning to chipset drivers ? In some sources (Dell claiming issues pointed to CVE-2019-14596) I´ve found info that this update is necessary before installing chipset drivers. But I´m a bit confused, because Dell highlights only Win2008 R2 srv, but this KB is available also for Win7x64/x86. Has the Dell right?
Thanx,
C.
PS: only for zealous can confirm I successfully:
-
ported even old WinXPx86SP3 (wastly modded 2020+ release from some unofficial russian source
) on my Supermicro X9SRH-7F board. I should be probably the last man using XPx86 with 12-core E5-2697v2 
-
install Win7x64SP1 on ancient Supermicro C2SBA+ II. (Socket 775, G33 chipset) with Samsung 970 Evo NVMe SSD through NVMe PCIe x4/x8 card (but without NVMe disk bootable). Of course using your signed drivers It´s funny speed, I know, but on Core2 Quad Q9550s this 970 Evo gives cca 430MB/s writes and 700-720MB/s reads is not as bad concerned 2008-2009 board…
After some deeper searching I´ve found from some unofficial sources that Intel 9th gen CPU and chipset C246 (and C300 family) really has Win7x64 drivers. Even though I still don´t know whether for all devices or only some.
Some guys made under Win7 x64 (aka 2023/2024 updated release) success with:
- Core i3-9100F on Intel 300-series family chipset (Gigabyte H310M) -could share pic,
- Core i9-9900K on Asrock Z390 Taichi - could share pic,
- Core i5-9600K on Gigabyte C246M-WU4 ( “fdamours” here on winraid.level1techs.com )
But I wonder if drivers like for “Intel Serial I/O” does exist on Win7x64 (=Supermicro X11SCA iso image claims Serial I/O drivers only for Win8.1 and 10). Is this driver in anyway important for “basic” Win7 usage ?
Intel AMT drivers, which are also rare under Win7, doesn´t bother me…