Recommended AHCI/RAID and NVMe Drivers


Preliminary notes:

Many AHCI and RAID users are unsure or don’t even know, which AHCI/RAID driver will give them the best results regarding stability and performance. They either don’t have the time or are not interested to do intensive tests comparing the different types and versions of the available AHCI/RAID drivers, which are or may be suitable for their system.
It is a fact, that there are no drivers available, which will be optimal for everyone. Simple reason: Each system (Hardware + Software) is different and the preferences of the users as well. This makes it very problematic to give any recommendation regarding the choice of the AHCI/RAID driver.
Nevertheless, I started this thread with the intention to help unsure users to find “the needle in the hay.”

How to find matching “Storage Drivers”?

Only drivers, whose specific *.INF file supports the HardwareIDs of the related device, can be installed.
Consequence: Before you are going to replace any AHCI/RAID/NVMe Driver by another one, you should check the HardwareIDs of the currently in-use AHCI/RAID/NVMe Controller.
This is the way to do it:

  1. Run the Device Manager and expand the “IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers” and - if applicable - the “Storage Controllers” section.
  2. Search for the specific Controller, whose driver you want to replace (its listed name should contain the word “Controller” and - depending on your specific hardware configuration - either “AHCI”, “RAID” or “NVMe”).
  3. Right-click onto the related device and choose the options “Properties” > “Details” > “Property” > “HardwareIDs”.

To find out whether a specific “Storage Driver” will work with your currently in-use AHCI/RAID/NVMe Controller, you should extract the downloaded driverpack, open its *.INF file(s) by using any text editor and looking for matching VendorID (VEN_xxxx) and DeviceID (DEV_xxxx).

How to get the wanted “Storage Driver” installed?

There are at least 2 different ways to change the driver of an AHCI/RAID/NVMe Controller:
a) by running an associated installer (= *.exe file)
b) manually from within the Device Manager (this is the method I prefer).

Notes regarding the manual installation:

  • The related AHCI/RAID/NVMe Controllers can be found either within the "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers or within the “Storage Controllers” section of the Device Manager (don’t try to update the driver of any device, which is listed within the “Disk drives” section!).
  • If you are unsure, which of the listed Controllers is the one, whose driver you want to update, check the HardwareIDs of all listed Controllers (right-click onto it > “Properties” > “Details” > “Property” > “HardwareIDs”).
  • When the installation fails with the message, that the “best driver is already running”, you can force the installation by using the "Have Disk" button (after having made sure, that the chosen driver and INF file are matching!).



Recommended AHCI/RAID and NVMe Drivers
for 32/64bit Windows OSs from Win7 up

(listed alphabetically by manufacturer name)

(Last updated: 07/25/2023)


Important:
The offered *.RAR files have to be extracted by a tool,
which supports the modern v5 RAR compression!


AMD AHCI/RAID and NVMe Drivers


ASMedia 106x SATA3 AHCI/RAID Drivers


Enmotus NVMe Drivers

  • latest pure drivers:
    • >64bit Enmotus NVMe Driver v4.39.25.992 WHQL< (>MIRROR<)
    • Note: This driver is dated 02/26/2021, WHQL certified and usable with Win8-10 x64. Supported is only the Enmotus NVMe Controller with the DeviceID DEV_1100. Thanks to Net7 for having found and posted the link.

HighPoint NVMe RAID Drivers


Intel Storage Drivers

    a) Intel RST/RST(e) drivers:
      (usable with nearly all Intel chipset systems running in AHCI or RAID mode)
      Details: (open/hide by a click)
      1. Intel RST drivers v11.2.0.1006
        (dated 05/30/2012, recommended for all AHCI/RAID users with an Intel Southbridge from ICH7R/M up, usable with all Windows Operating Systems from XP up):

        a) Original Drivers and Sets:
        • The related download links can be found within the start post of >this< thread.

        b) Modded Drivers and Sets:
        • You can find the related download links >here<.

        Compatibility:
        • AHCI mode: The WHQL certified 32/64bit drivers v11.2.0.1006 do not support ICH8R/M, ICH9R, ICH8/9/10, X79 and 8-Series chipset AHCI systems, whereas the modified drivers do support all Intel AHCI systems from ICH7R/M up.
        • RAID mode: The WHQL certified 32/64bit drivers v11.2.0.1006 do not support ICH7R/ICH7M and X79 chipset RAID systems, whereas the modified drivers do support all Intel RAID systems from ICH7R/M up.

        Comments:
        • These are the latest and probably last "classical" Intel RST AHCI/RAID drivers, which are managing the Intel SATA AHCI/RAID Controller with just 1 single driver named iaStor.sys.
        • "TRIM in RAID0" is supported (Precondition: An actual Intel RAID ROM or EFI RAID "SataDriver" from the v11.2 series or a TRIM in RAID0 modded Intel RAID module is present within the BIOS).
        • Advantages:
          a) They are running absolutely stable and will give the users AHCI/RAID system a very good performance (especially if being used with SSD RAID0 configuration).
          b) They are the last Intel AHCI/RAID drivers, which do fully support Windows XP (32/64bit).
        • Disadvantage:
          Not all features of the newest Intel chipsets will be supported.

      2. 
        
      3. Intel RST(e) drivers v12.9.4.1000
        (dated 04/24/2014, recommended for all AHCI/RAID users with an Intel 5-, 6- or 7-Series Chipset system, only usable with Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up):

        a) Original Drivers and Sets:
        • The related download links can be found within the start post of >this< thread.

        b) Modded Drivers and related original Software Set:
        • You can find the related download links >here<.

        Compatibility:
        • AHCI mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v12.9.4.1000 WHQL do not support any Intel ICH7-ICH10 Southbridge, whereas the modified drivers do support them additionally.
        • RAID mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v12.9.4.1000 WHQL do not support ICH7R/ICH7M and X79 chipset RAID systems, whereas the modified drivers may support them additionally.

        Comments:
        • These are the latest of Intel’s AHCI/RAID drivers of the v12 series and primarily designed for the Intel 6- and 7-Series Chipsets.
        • Contrary to the "classical" Intel RST drivers the RST(e) drivers are working with an additional SCSI filter driver named iaStorF.sys.
        • "TRIM in RAID0" is supported (Precondition: An up-to-date Intel RAID ROM or EFI RAID "SataDriver" from v11 up is present within the BIOS).
        • Advantage:
          These drivers do support some new features, which partially can be used by users with an Intel AHCI/RAID system, which is not up-to-date anymore.
        • Disadvantage:
          The WRITE performance with Intel RAID0 systems is not as good as with the "classical" Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006.

      4. 
        
      5. Intel RST(e) drivers v13.1.0.1058
        (dated 05/02/2014, recommended for all AHCI users with an Intel 7-Series or X79/X99 Chipset system, only usable with Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up):

        Original Drivers and Sets:
        • The related download links can be found within the start post of >this< thread.

        Compatibility:
        • AHCI mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v13.1.0.1058 WHQL do support all Intel 7-, 8- and 9-Series Chipsets (incl. X79 and X99 Chipsets).
        • RAID mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v13.1.0.1058 WHQL do support all Intel Southbridges/Chipsets from ICH8R up and X79/X99 Chipset running in RST mode (DEV_2822).

        Comments:
        • These are the latest of Intel’s AHCI/RAID drivers, which natively do support Intel 7-Series Chipsets.
        • Contrary to the "classical" Intel RST drivers the RST(e) drivers have an additional SCSI filter driver named iaStorF.sys (not relevant for Win8/10).
        • "TRIM in RAID0" is supported (Precondition: An up-to-date Intel RAID ROM or EFI RAID "SataDriver" from v11 up or a TRIM in RAID0 modded RAID module is present within the BIOS).
        • Advantage:
          These drivers do support some new features, which partially can be used by users with an Intel AHCI/RAID system, which is not up-to-date anymore.
        • Disadvantage:
          The WRITE performance with Intel RAID0 systems is not as good as with the "classical" Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006.

      6. 
        
      7. Intel RST(e) drivers v13.2.8.1002
        (dated 07/09/2015, recommended for all AHCI users with an Intel 8- or 9-Series Chipset system, only usable with Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up):

        a) Original Drivers and Sets:
        • The related download links can be found within the start post of >this< thread.

        b) Modded Drivers and related original Software Set:
        • You can find the related download links >here<.

        Compatibility:
        • AHCI mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v13.2.8.1002 WHQL do support all Intel Chipsets from 8-Series up.
        • RAID mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v13.2.8.1002 WHQL do support all Intel Southbridges/Chipsets from ICH8R up and X79/X99 Chipset running in RST mode (DEV_2822).

        Comments:
        • These are the latest Intel AHCI/RAID drivers, which have been optimized for being used with Intel 8- and 9-Series Chipsets.
        • Contrary to the "classical" Intel RST drivers the RST(e) drivers have an additional SCSI filter driver named iaStorF.sys (not relevant for Win8/10).
        • "TRIM in RAID0" is supported (Precondition: A matching Intel RAID ROM or EFI RAID "SataDriver" module is present within the BIOS).
        • Advantage:
          These drivers do support some new features, which partially can be used with older Intel AHCI/RAID systems.
        • Disadvantage:
          The WRITE performance with Intel RAID0 systems is not as good as with the "classical" Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006.

      8. 
        
      9. Intel RST(e) drivers v14.8.18.1066
        (dated 09/06/2017, recommended for all AHCI/RAID users with an Intel 8-/9-Series chipset system and for Intel X99 Chipset systems running in AHCI mode, only usable with Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up):

        a) Original Drivers and Sets:
        • The related download links can be found within the start post of >this< thread.

        b) Modded Drivers and related original Software Sets:
        • You can find the related download links >here<.

        Compatibility:
        • AHCI mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v14.x.x.xxxx do not support any Intel ICH7-ICH10 Southbridge or 5-7 Series Chipset system, whereas the modified drivers do support them additionally.
        • RAID mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v14.x.x.xxxx do not support ICH7R/ICH7M and X79 chipset RAID systems, whereas the modified drivers may support them additionally.

        Comments:
        • These are the currently latest Intel AHCI/RAID drivers of the v14 platform and primarily designed for the Intel 100-Series and Z99 Chipsets.
        • Contrary to the "classical" Intel RST drivers the RST(e) drivers have an additional SCSI filter driver named iaStorF.sys (not relevant for Win8/10).
        • "TRIM in RAID0" is supported (Precondition: A matching Intel RAID ROM or EFI RAID "SataDriver" is present within the BIOS).
        • Advantage:
          These drivers do support some new features, which partially can be used by users with an Intel AHCI/RAID system, which is not up-to-date anymore.
        • Disadvantage:
          The performance with Intel RAID0 systems has not yet been fully optimized by Intel.
        • Alternative for Intel 8-/9-Series Chipset AHCI/RAID systems:
          A good alternative is the usage of the very fast and stable running Intel RST(e) drivers v13.2.8.1002, which can be found >here< (original drivers) resp. >here< (modded drivers).

      10. 
        
      11. Intel RST(e) drivers v15.9.8.1050 (dated 07/31/2019),
        recommended for AHCI/RAID users with an Intel 100-, 200- or 300-Series chipset system, usable with Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up:

        a) Original Drivers and Sets:
        • The related download links can be found within the start post of >this< thread.

        b) Modded Drivers and related original Software Sets:
        • You can find the related download links >here<.

        Compatibility:
        • AHCI mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v15.x.x.xxxx WHQL do only support Intel 100-, 200- and some 300-Series Chipset systems.
        • RAID mode: The original 32/64bit drivers v15.x.x.xxxx WHQL may be installable with older Intel Chipsets/Southbridges from ICH8R up (due to the universal external DeviceID DEV_2822), but will only work flawlessly with Intel 100-/200-Series Chipset systems.

        Comments:
        • Due to the problems the user may get once the related driver is running, I do not really recommend to install any Intel RST(e) driver of the v15 platform onto an older Intel system (incl. Intel 8/9-Series and X99 Chipsets).

      12. Intel RST driver v17.11.3.1007 (dated 09/30/2022) or
        Intel RST driver v18.37.6.1010 (dated 09/19/2022) or
        Intel RST VMD driver v19.5.1.1040 (dated 08/25/2022),
        recommended for users with a modern Intel chipset system from 300-Series up, usable only with Win10 x64:<br
        Original Drivers and Sets:
        The related download links can be found within the start post of >this< thread.

    b) Intel RSTe (“Enterprise Edition”) drivers:
      (only usable with C600/C600+ Series Chipsets like X79, X99 or X299 running in RSTe mode)
      Details: (open/hide by a click)
      1. Intel RSTe drivers v4.7.0.1098
        (dated 11/24/2017, recommended for X79/X99 Chipset systems with an Intel RSTe SATA or sSATA Controller, available is the support of Win7 and Win8-10)
      2. 
        
      3. Intel RSTe drivers v5.5.0.1334
        (dated 08/03/2018, recommended for X99/X299 Chipset systems with an Intel RSTe SATA or sSATA Controller, only usable with Win8-10 x64)
      4. 
        
      5. Intel RSTe drivers v6.3.0.1022
        (dated 01/13/2020, recommended for X99/X299 Chipset systems with an Intel RSTe SATA or sSATA Controller, only usable with Win8-10 x64)
      6. 
        
      7. Intel RSTe RAID drivers v7.0.0.2286
        (dated 04/20/2020, recommended for X299 Chipset systems with an Intel RSTe SATA or sSATA Controller runnimg in "RAID" mode, only usable with Win8-10 x64)

      Original Drivers and Sets:
      • The related download links can be found within the start post of >this< thread.

    c) Intel NVMe Drivers:
      Details: (open/hide by a click)

      1. Latest specific Intel NVMe drivers

      2. Latest Intel NVMe drivers from the RSTe v7 platform

      3. Intel RST SATA RAID drivers from v14.8 series up do support NVMe RAID arrays!
        Supported are only modern Intel systems from 100-Series up, whose Intel SATA Controller has been set to RAID mode.
      4. 
        
      5. All v16, v17 and v18 platform Intel RST drivers do contain a generic NVMe driver!
        These Intel RST drivers are compatible with all NVMe SSDs. The installation has to be forced by using the "Have Disk" button and choosing the INF file named iaStorAC.inf. The SATA mode doesn't matter.

JMicron JMB 36x SATA RAID Drivers


Lite-On NVMe Drivers (for Plextor SSDs)


Marvell SATA AHCI/RAID Drivers


Micron NVMe Drivers


Microsoft’s NVMe Hotfixes for Win7/W2k8 R2
    (for integration into the ISO file)
      Details: (open/hide by a click)
        Here are the download links to the MS NVMe Hotfixes KB2990941-v3 and KB3087873-v2 for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2: Notes:
        • These Hotfixes have to be integrated as Hotfix/OS Update into the boot.wim and install.wim of the related 32/64bit Win7/W2k8 R2 ISO file. They cannot be installed/integrated/loaded as “pure” NVMe driver (not even after having extracted the driver from the installed OS.
        • Win7 ISO files with integrated SP2 or SP3 only need the Hotfix KB2990941, older Win7 Images up to Win7 SP1 may need both Hotfixes.
        • Additional information about the usage of the Hotfixes can be found >here<.

NVIDIA nForce SATA AHCI/RAID Drivers
OCZ/Toshiba NVMe Drivers
Phison’s generic NVMe Drivers (usable for all NVMe Controllers!)
Realtek NVMe Drivers
Samsung NVMe Drivers (original and modded)
Silicon Image SATA RAID Drivers
SiliconMotion NVMe DriversSolidigm NVMe Driver
    Latest Solidigm NVMe driver:
    • >64bit Solidigm NVMe driver v2.2.0.1017 WHQL for Win10-11 x86< (>MIRROR<)
    • This driver is dated 04/24/2023, WHQL certified and only usable with 64bit Windows Operating Systems from Win10 up. According to the *.INF file only certain old Intel NVMe Controllers (with the HardwareIDs VEN_8086&DEV_F1AA or VEN_8086&DEV_FAF0), but all Solidigm NVMe Controllers (the DeviceIDs don’t matter) are supported by this driver. According to my own tests this driver seems to work fine even with non-Intel/Solidigm SSDs after having forced the installation (don’t forget to set a “Restore Point”!). Thanks to westlake for the source package.

VIA SATA RAID Drivers
Western Digital/HGST NVMe Drivers
Additional remarks:
  1. All RAR archives have been packed by using WinRAR v5.xx or newer. So you should use a modern WinRAR or 7-Zip version to get them successfully unzipped.
  2. The listed AHCI/RAID drivers only belong to on-board AHCI and RAID Controllers. Other extern AHCI/RAID Controllers (on PCI cards etc.) have not been included.
  3. The information (= .INF) files of some linked driverpacks have been customized by me to make the associated drivers usable with as many different Controllers as possible. Although I have done my very best while customizing the INF files, the use of the "modded" driverpacks will be at own risk. Before you install any of my "modded" driverpacks, you should have read the last chapter of >this< start post.
  4. All linked XP and XP x64 AHCI and RAID drivers are already prepared for an easy and successful integration into a Windows XP resp. XP x64 CD.
  5. Some of the linked XP driverpacks differ from the original driverpack regarding the folder structure and the content of the file named TXTSETUP.OEM, which is needed at the beginning of the XP installation to detect the HDD/SSD/RAID. The only reason for my customization was to make the AHCI/RAID driver integration as easy as possible and to minmize the risk of a later XP installation failure. None of my modifications has any impact on the functionality of the real drivers (= .SYS files), which have always left absolutely untouched.
  6. If I should have forgotten the drivers of an important on-board AHCI/RAID Controller or if you should find a newer resp. better driver, please let me know it (with a link to the related driver).

Good luck!
Fernando

2 Likes

deleted

1 Like

Hi
Here is AMD RAID driver, 3.8.1540.7
For Win8, Only 64bit.

AMD_v3.8.1540.7.zip (173 KB)

Thanks for the driver. Where did you find it?
Interesting: According to the INF file this driver is dated 12/12/2012!

Thanks for the driver. Where did you find it?
Interesting: According to the INF file this driver is dated 12/12/2012!




It is from HP, 3.8.1540.3 is 09/21/2012 though :slight_smile:

Thanks, the 64bit driver is now listed within the start post.

Today (08/27/2013) I have updated the start post of this thread.

Changelog:

  • 32/64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI & RAID drivers v12.8.0.1016 WHQL dated 08/02/2013
  • Intel RST(e) Drivers & Software Set v12.8.0.1016 WHQL dated 08/09/2013
  • 32/64bit Intel RST(e) AHCI & RAID drivers v12.8.0.1016 mod by Fernando
  • 32/64bit Marvell 91xx/92xx AHCI & RAID drivers v1.2.0.1038 for Win8/Win7/Vista dated 06/20/2013
  • 32/64bit Marvell 91xx/92xx AHCI & RAID drivers v1.2.0.1038 for XP/XPx64 dated 06/20/2013

Have fun!
Fernando

Today (09/18/2013) I found within the AMD Catalyst Motherboard/IGP package 13.9 new AMD AHCI drivers for Win8.1, Win8 and Win7/Vista.
Meanwhile I have updated the start post of this thread.

Changelog:

  • 32/64bit AMD AHCI drivers v1.3.1.156 WHQL for Windows 8.1 dated 07/23/2013
  • 32/64bit AMD AHCI drivers v1.3.1.154 WHQL for Windows 8 dated 06/28/2013
  • 32/64bit AMD AHCI drivers v1.2.1.349 WHQL for Win7Vista dated 06/27/2013

Have fun!
Fernando

please no italics (does not read nice)…

You are right, but the post you had seen is already deleted. The italic text was caused by the fact, that I had quoted it.
I wanted to edit the first post, but hit the “Quote” button by mistake.

@ all:
Since I forgot it yesterday, I have updated the first post of this thread again.
Changelog:

  • new: Original 32/64bit Intel RST(e) drivers v12.8.2.1000 WHQL dated 08/30/2013
  • new: Modded 32/64bit Intel RST(e) drivers v12.8.2.1000
  • new: Intel RST(e) Drivers & Software Set v12.8.2.1000 WHQL dated 09/06/2013

Fernando,

I slip-streamed your AMD SATA drivers on a clean WinXP-32 via nLite. But for a newer Acer Aspire 5250 laptop (came w/ Win7-64) I get an error ‘amd_sata.sys not found’. Should I rename the file/s or modify txtsetup.oem?

Please help!

Bunty.

Fernando,

Additionally, my WinLite CD with all your WinXP-32 driver packs works fine with other Intel/AMD-based laptops. Not sure why the Acer Aspire 5250 complains amd_sata.sys not found.

Bunty.

@ abanerus:

Hello Bunty,
welcome at Win-RAID Forum!

The message “Could not find the file xyz.sys” (or similar) can be caused by the following reasons:

  1. The media is bad and cannot been read by the OS Setup. > Solution: Create/borrow a readable installation media.
  2. The user has integrated a textmode driver, but additionally presses F6 while starting the installation. > Solution: Don’t press F6, if you have integrated the needed driver.
  3. The TXTSETUP.OEM content is not correct or refers to files, which are not present or not usable. > Solution: The TXTSETUP.OEM has to be modified resp. the missing files have to be added, before the nLite processing hasto be started from scratch.

Question:
Which driverpack did you integrate and where did you get it?

Regards
Fernando

Fernando,

Thanks I used your AMD drivers for WinXP-32bit & will try again on a new CD-RW disc. I have not pressed the F6 key or modified your TXTSETUP.OEM file.
But curious do we need to rename the files from ahcix*.* to amd_sata*.*?

Bunty.

From where did you download it? I suspect, that you have downloaded and inserted the (wrong) Vista/Win7 instead of the correct Windows XP AMD AHCI driver. The driver named amd_sata.sys can only be used with Operating Systems from Vista up. The correct AMD AHCI driver is named ahcix86.sys

No, that will not work at all.

Fernando,

I am no Windows expert but here’s what I could guess:

amd_sata & ahcix86/ahcix86s are AMD’s chipset & raid drivers, respectively. Your package has the RAID drivers but does the pre-install process complain about missing chipset driver when it says ‘amd_sata.sys not found’?

If so, where can I get the correct chipset drivers to slipstream with your RAID drivers?

Bunty.

@ abanerus:
You should just slipstream the correct 32bit AMD AHCI/RAID driver and not any other AMD chipset drivers.
Here is the link: https://mega.co.nz/#!kENkwBSC!Ef3jjR8MDm…46JaYMskpdG3Fok

Sorry our emails crossed. I checked your correct full AMD WinXP-32 package was slip-streamed on a clean WinXP-32 disk. The laptop came with Win7-64 so I updated the BIOS before trying to install WinXP-32. I didn’t erase the Win7-64 partitions & also included the standard AMD Chipset & RAID packages along with some other similar packages.

This time I will wipe all partitions, include only your package & use a new CD-RW disk.

Bunty.

Victory at last !!! Your drivers alone work !!!
I will still slipstream your Intel, AMD, nVidia, VIA & other SATA drivers into the mother of all WinLite disks !!!

Thanks much Fernando!

Bunty.

@Fernando
Hi
I found some newer AMD RAID drivers.
Win8 32/64 DriverVer=03/11/2013, 3.8.1540.11
Win7 32/64 DriverVer=12/10/2012, 3.3.1540.40

AMD_32_64_RAID.zip (2.04 MB)