Performance of the Intel RST/RSTe AHCI/RAID Drivers

Important Drivers Specific: Intel AHCI/RAID Drivers
1 


Performance of the latest/best
Intel AHCI and RAID Drivers
(last updated at 09/16/2019)

Introduction
According to my experiences Intel has optimized their RST/RST(e) drivers for the usage under the following conditions:
    

  • favoured storage disks: SSDs

    • 

  • favoured Intel Chipsets and their related Intel SATA AHCI/RAID Controller models: depending on the drivers release date the currently available up-to-date ones

    • 

  • favoured Operating System: Windows 10

    • 

So it should not be a surprise, that there is no "ideal" Intel AHCI/RAID driver available, which will work rock stable and give the best performance with all Intel chipset systems. At the end each user has to find out himself, which version of the various Intel AHCI and RAID drivers suits the best his special hardware configuration and personal preferences.

Own benchmark tests
Beginning in February 2013 I have done a lot of benchmark tests running Win8/8.1/10 x64 in AHCI and RAID mode with different more or less up-to-date Intel chipset systems (Z68, Z77, Z97 and Z170) and different AHCI/RAID driver versions. 
I wanted to find out, which AHCI resp. RAID driver is giving the best possible performance for users with a reasonably new Intel chipset hardware configuration. 
My tests were done with the following different hardware configurations and SATA modes:
    

  1. 
Intel 6-Series Chipset AHCI system (ASUS P8Z68-V with a 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD running in AHCI mode), latest tests done in Nov/Dec 2018
    2. 

  2. 
Intel 6-Series Chipset RAID0 system (ASUS P8Z68-V with 2x250 GB Samsung 860 EVO SSDs as RAID0 array, stripe size: 64 KB), latest tests done in June 2018
    3. 

  3. 
Intel 7-Series Chipset AHCI system (ASUS P8Z77-V with a 512 GB Samsung 840 PRO SSD running in AHCI mode), given away in April 2015, latest tests done in January 2015
    4. 

  4. 
Intel 7-Series Chipset RAID0 system (ASUS P8Z77-V with 2x256 GB Samsung 840 PRO SSDs as RAID0 array, stripe size: 128 KB), given away in April 2015, latest tests done in January 2015
    5. 

  5. 
Intel 9-Series Chipset AHCI system (ASRock Z97 Extreme6 with a 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD running in AHCI mode), latest tests done in Nov/Dec 2018
    6. 

  6. 
Intel 9-Series Chipset RAID0 sytem (ASRock Z97 Extreme6 with 2x256 GB Samsung 840 PRO SSDs as RAID0 array, stripe size: 64KB), latest tests done in November 2015
    7. 

  7. 
Intel 100-Series Chipset AHCI system (ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Professional with a 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD running in AHCI mode), latest tests done in August 2019
    8. 

  8. 
Intel 100-Series Chipset RAID0 system (ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Professional with 2x250 GB Samsung 860 EVO SSDs as RAID0 array, Stripe size: 64KB), latest tests done in June 2018
    9. 


Although the results are not 1:1 transferable to other systems, they may be helpful for other users with an actual Intel system, who are searching for the "best" AHCI resp. RAID driver.

Preparations and test conditions
In order to perform this benchmark comparison tests under quite similar conditions, I have started my tests with a clean "UEFI mode" install of the OS (Win8 x64 resp. Win10 x64) onto the related system disk drive. Once the OS was up, I have done the normal performance boost settings I have layed down >here< for AHCI users and >here< for RAID users.
After having
    

  • a) installed all Windows Updates,
    • 

  • b) executed the "Windows Experience Index" (to let the OS detect the SSD) and
    • 

  • c) emptied the Recycle Bin,
    • 

  • d) used the "TRIM trigger" option of "Anvil's Storage Utilities" or run the Win8.1/10 "Optimizer" (to TRIM the system drive C:),
    • 

 I started my benchmark tests with the Windows in-box AHCI resp. RAID driver. After having "benched" the generic standard AHCI/RAID driver, I replaced it by different Intel AHCI/RAID drivers, which were manually installed from within the Device Manager. 
All benchmark tests were done without any CPU/memory overclocking. To get as realistic results as possible, nothing has been additionally done to boost the benchmark results (e.g. running in safe mode, disabling any Windows Services or Antivirus running in the background, disabling the CPU C-States within the BIOS).



Comparison of different AHCI drivers

A. Latest test results with a Z68 system running in AHCI mode
(all tests done at 11/30/2018)
Test system:
    

  • Chipset: Intel Z68 (mainboard: ASUS P8Z68-V, BIOS version: 3603 without any Microcode update)
    • 

  • tested SSD:  Intel SATA connected brandnew 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD running in AHCI mode
    • 

  • OS: Windows 10 x64 Pro v1809 (=Redstone 5) incl. all Hotfixes, freshly installed in UEFI mode onto an NVMe SSD
    • 


Tested AHCI drivers:
    

  1. Win10 v1809 in-box MS Standard AHCI driver named storahci.sys (dated 09/15/2018, shown as being dated 06/21/2006)
    2. 

  2. Intel RST AHCI driver v11.2.0.1006 (dated 05/30/2012, last "conventional" Intel RST Series AHCI driver)
    3. 

  3. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v12.9.4.1000 (dated 04/07/2014, latest driver from the RST(e) v12 platform)
    4. 

  4. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v13.2.8.1002 (dated 07/09/2015, latest complete driver from the RST(e) v13 platform)
    5. 

  5. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v14.8.18.1066 (dated 09/06/2017, latest driver from the RST(e) v14 platform)
    6. 

  6. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v15.9.4.1041 (dated 03/20/2018, currently latest driver from the v15 platform)
    7. 

  7. Intel RST AHCI driver v16.7.9.1027 (dated 10/15/2018, currently latest driver from the v16 platform)
    8. 

Note: Depending on the related PC resp. its chipset I installed either the WHQL certified or the mod+signed variant of the driver. 

Here are my test results:








    

  1. 
MS Win10 in-box AHCI driver:
    

    Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-STORAHCI.png
    
Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-STORAHCI.png850×573 80.1 KB

    

    2. 

    

  2. 
Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 WHQL:
    

    Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-11201006.png
    
Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-11201006.png850×573 79.9 KB

    

    3. 

    

  3. 
Intel RST(e) driver v12.9.4.1000 WHQL:
    

    Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-12941000.png
    
Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-12941000.png850×573 80.2 KB

    

    4. 

    

  4. 
Intel RST(e) driver v13.2.8.1002 mod+signed:
    

    Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-13281002.png
    
Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-13281002.png850×573 80.8 KB

    

    5. 

    

  5. 
Intel RST(e) driver v14.8.18.1066 mod+signed:
    

    Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-148181066.png
    
Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-148181066.png850×573 80.4 KB

    

    6. 

    

  6. 
Intel RST driver v15.9.4.1041 mod+signed:
    

    Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-15941041.png
    
Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-15941041.png850×573 80.7 KB

    

    7. 

    

  7. 
Intel RST driver v16.7.9.1027 mod+signed:
    

    Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-16791027.png
    
Z68-AHCI-1TB860EVO-16791027.png850×573 80.4 KB

    

    8. 

 		
  	
  

Ranking of the best performing AHCI drivers for the tested Z68 System:
  1. 
Intel RST/RST(e) drivers v11.2.0.1006, v12.9.4.1000 and v13.2.8.1002 (differences are within the measurement error tolerance)

Recommended AHCI drivers for Intel 6-Series Chipsets:
  • Any of the 3 winners



B. Latest test results with a Z97 system running in AHCI mode
(all tests done on 11/29/2018)
Test system:
    

  • Chipset: Intel Z97 (mainboard: ASRock Z97 Extreme6, BIOS version: 2.80)
    • 

  • tested SSD:  Intel SATA connected brandnew 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD running in AHCI mode
    • 

  • OS: Windows 10 x64 Pro v1809 (=Redstone 5) incl. all Hotfixes, freshly installed in UEFI mode onto an NVMe SSD
    • 


Tested AHCI drivers:
    

  1. Win10 v1809 in-box MS Standard AHCI driver named storahci.sys (dated 09/15/2018, shown as being dated 06/21/2006)
    2. 

  2. Intel RST AHCI driver v11.2.0.1006 (dated 05/30/2012, last "conventional" Intel RST Series AHCI driver)
    3. 

  3. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v12.9.4.1000 (dated 04/07/2014, latest driver from the RST(e) v12 platform)
    4. 

  4. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v13.2.8.1002 (dated 07/09/2015, latest complete driver from the RST(e) v13 platform)
    5. 

  5. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v14.8.18.1066 (dated 09/06/2017, latest driver from the RST(e) v14 platform)
    6. 

  6. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v15.9.4.1041 (dated 03/20/2018, currently latest driver from the v15 platform)
    7. 

  7. Intel RST AHCI driver v16.7.9.1027 (dated 10/15/2018, currently latest driver from the v16 platform)
    8. 

Note: Depending on the related PC resp. its chipset I installed either the WHQL certified or the mod+signed variant of the driver. 

Here are my test results:








    

  1. 
MS Win10 in-box AHCI driver:
    

    Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-STORAHCI.png
    
Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-STORAHCI.png850×573 80.2 KB

    

    2. 

    

  2. 
Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 WHQL:
    

    Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-11201006.png
    
Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-11201006.png850×573 81.1 KB

    

    3. 

    

  3. 
Intel RST(e) driver v12.9.4.1000 WHQL:
    

    Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-12941000.png
    
Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-12941000.png850×573 80.3 KB

    

    4. 

    

  4. 
Intel RST(e) driver v13.2.8.1002 mod+signed:
    

    Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-13281002.png
    
Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-13281002.png850×573 81 KB

    

    5. 

    

  5. 
Intel RST(e) driver v14.8.18.1066 mod+signed:
    

    Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-148181066.png
    
Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-148181066.png850×573 80.2 KB

    

    6. 

    

  6. 
Intel RST driver v15.9.4.1041 mod+signed:
    

    Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-15941041.png
    
Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-15941041.png850×573 81.1 KB

    

    7. 

    

  7. 
Intel RST driver v16.7.9.1027 mod+signed:
    

    Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-16791027.png
    
Z97-AHCI-1TB860EVO-16791027.png850×573 81 KB

    

    8. 

 		
  	
  

Ranking of the best performing AHCI drivers for the tested Z97 System:
    

  1. Intel RST(e) drivers v13.2.8.1002
    2. 

  2. Intel RST driver v16.7.9.1027
    3. 

  3. generic MS Win10 in-box AHCI driver
    4. 


Recommended AHCI drivers for Intel 9-Series Chipsets:
  • Intel RST(e) driver v13.2.8.1002



C. Latest test results with a Z170 system running in AHCI mode
(all tests done on 08/13/2019)
Test system:
    

  • Chipset: Intel Z170 (mainboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Prof. Gaming i7, BIOS version: 7.50)
    • 

  • tested SSD:  Intel SATA connected 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD running in AHCI mode
    • 

  • OS: Windows 10 x64 Pro v1903 Build 18362.1 (=Redstone 6), freshly installed in UEFI mode onto an NVMe SSD and updated thereafter to latest Build
    • 


Tested AHCI drivers:
    

  1. Win10 v1903 in-box MS Standard AHCI driver named storahci.sys (dated 03/19/2019, shown as being dated 06/21/2006)
    2. 

  2. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v13.2.8.1002 (dated 07/09/2015, latest complete driver from the RST(e) v13 platform)
    3. 

  3. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v14.8.18.1066 (dated 09/06/2017, latest driver from the RST(e) v14 platform)
    4. 

  4. Intel RST(e) AHCI driver v15.9.8.1050 (dated 07/31/2019, currently latest driver from the v15 platform)
    5. 

  5. Intel RST AHCI driver v16.8.3.1003 (dated 07/15/2019, currently latest driver from the v16 platform)
    6. 

  6. Intel RST AHCI driver v17.5.2.1024 (dated 07/08/2019, currently latest driver from the v17 platform)
    7. 

Note: Depending on the related PC resp. its chipset I installed either the WHQL certified or the mod+signed variant of the driver. 

Here are my test results:








    

  1. 
MS Win10 in-box AHCI driver:
    

    Z170-860EVO-AHCI_MS-STORAHCI.png
    
Z170-860EVO-AHCI_MS-STORAHCI.png850×573 84.7 KB

    

    2. 

    

  2. 
Intel RST(e) driver v13.2.8.1002 mod+signed:
    

    Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-13281002.png
    
Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-13281002.png850×573 83.9 KB

    

    3. 

    

  3. 
Intel RST(e) driver v14.8.18.1066 WHQL:
    

    Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-148181066.png
    
Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-148181066.png850×573 88.6 KB

    

    4. 

    

  4. 
Intel RST driver v15.9.8.1050 WHQL:
    

    Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-15981050.png
    
Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-15981050.png850×573 88.5 KB

    

    5. 

    

  5. 
Intel RST driver v16.8.3.1003 WHQL:
    

    Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-16831003.png
    
Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-16831003.png850×573 88.6 KB

    

    6. 

    

  6. 
Intel RST driver v17.5.2.1024 WHQL:
    

    Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-17521024.png
    
Z170-860EVO-AHCI_Intel-17521024.png850×573 84.4 KB

    

    7. 

 		
  	
  

Ranking of the best performing AHCI drivers for my Z170 System:
    

  1. v13.2.8.1002
    2. 

  2. Intel RST(e) driver v14.8.18.1066
    3. 


Recommended AHCI drivers for Intel 100-Series Chipsets:
  • 
mod+signed Intel RST(e) driver v13.2.8.1002
    Note: Don't forget to import the Win-RAID CA Certificate before trying to install any mod+signed driver.


Have fun with the best performant Intel AHCI drivers for your specific system!
Fernando
            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


                

                      

                        
                        
                      

                      

                        
                        
                      

                

          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              2
              
            

            

              
Comparison of different RAID drivers

A. Latest test results with a Z68 Chipset RAID0 configuration
 (all tests done in June 2018)

Test systems:
    

  • Chipset: Intel Z68 (mainboard: ASUS P8Z68-V, BIOS version: 3603 incl. Spectre/Meltdown Microcode Updates)
    • 

  • SSDs: 2x250 GB Samsung 860 EVO SSDs as RAID0 (stripe size: 64KB, both SSDs were brandnew)
    • 

  • OS: Windows 10 x64 Pro v1803 (RS4 final release with all available Updates), freshly installed in UEFI mode (CSM enabled, EFI modules prefered, if available)
    • 

  • All RAID0 performance relevant settings according >this< thread were done.
    • 

  • Tested RAID0 volume: Drive C (= system drive)
    • 

  • Since an update of the Intel RAID ROM/EFI modules to any v15 platform version was not working, not all tests could be done by using the best matching Intel EFI RaidDriver version.
    • 


Tested Intel RAID drivers:
    

  1. Intel RST RAID driver v11.2.0.1006 WHQL (dated 05/30/2012, latest "conventional" Intel RST driver) in combination with Intel RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527
    2. 

  2. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v12.9.4.1000 WHQL (dated 04/07/2014, latest driver from the v12 platform) in combination with Intel EFI RaidDriver v12.9.0.2006
    3. 

  3. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.2.8.1002 WHQL (dated 07/09/2015) in combination with Intel EFI RaidDriver v13.2.0.2134
    4. 

  4. mod+signed Intel RST RAID driver v13.44.0.1026 (dated 02/22/2017, Win10 v1709 in-box RAID driver) in combination with Intel EFI RaidDriver v13.2.0.2134
    5. 

  5. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v15.5.2.1054 WHQL (dated 04/24/2017, known for its good RAID0 performance) in combination with Intel EFI RaidDriver v13.2.0.2134
    6. 

  6. mod+signed Intel RST RAID driver v15.44.0.1010 (dated 02/07/2018, Win10 v1803 in-box RAID driver) in combination with Intel EFI RaidDriver v13.2.0.2134
    7. 


Here are my test results:








    

  1. 
Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 WHQL:
    

    Z68-RAID0-960EVO-11201006.png
    

    2. 

    

  2. 
Intel RST(e) driver v12.9.4.1000 WHQL:
    

    Z68-RAID0-960EVO-12941000.png
    

    3. 

    

  3. 
Intel RST(e) driver v13.2.8.1002 WHQL:
    

    Z68-RAID0-960EVO-13281002.png
    

    4. 

    

  4. 
mod+signed Intel RST driver v13.44.0.1026:
    

    Z68-RAID0-960EVO-134401026mod.png
    

    5. 

    

  5. 
Intel RST(e) driver v15.5.2.1054 WHQL:
    [[File:Z68-RAID0-960EVO-15521054+SW.png|none|900px|450px]]
    6. 

    

  6. 
mod+signed Intel RST driver v15.44.0.1010:

    

    Z68-RAID0-960EVO-154401010mod.png
    

    7. 

 		
  	
  

Evaluation of the Z68 RAID0 benchmark results:
    

  • Due to its outstanding WRITE scores the winner was again the old "classical" Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006, but this time it had very performant rivals. Finally the OVERALL results were very close together.
    • 

  • Surprisingly the v15 platform Intel RST RAID drivers v15.5.2.1054 and v15.44.0.1010 (= Win10 v1803 in-box driver) gave my Z68 RAID0 array the by far best READ and additionally very good WRITE scores (keep in mind, that v15 platform Intel AHCI drivers natively do not support Intel 6-Series Chipset at all!).
    • 

  • Unfortunately there are some restriction regarding the installation and the usage of the 3 best performant Intel RAID drivers:
      

    • Users, who want to use the Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006, 
      a) have to use it from scratch (no later downgrade possible) and
      b) have to customize the desired Win10 Image and to replace the Win10 in-box Intel RAID driver by this one.
      • 

    • Intel 6-Series chipset RAID users, who want to use any of the v15 platform Intel RAID drivers, cannot use the matching v15 platform Intel RAID ROM/EFI BIOS modules and have to use v13 platform ones.
      • 

    

    • 

  • Note for the usage of the v13.44.0.1026 or v15.44.0.1010 RAID drivers, which have been mod+signed by me:
    After the import of the Win-RAID CA Certificate it is no problem to get these drivers installed, but you will get an "unrepairable error" message after the reboot. This is caused by the enhanced security features of Win10 v1803 and can be solved very easily by choosing the "Advanced boot options" and hitting F7 ("Disable driver signature enforcement"). After having done that, you can use these correctly signed drivers without any problem.
    • 


Ranking of the best performing RAID drivers for my Z68 RAID0 System:
    

  • 
1. Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 WHQL and Intel RST(e) driver v15.5.2.1054 WHQL

    • 

  • 3. Win10 v1803 in-box RST RAID driver v15.44.0.1010
    • 


Recommended RAID drivers for Intel 6-Series RAID0 Systems:
    

  • a) Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 WHQL (has to be used from scratch) or
    • 

  • b) Intel RST(e) driver v15.5.2.1054 WHQL (only usable with an Intel RAID BIOS module, which belongs to a much lower RST platform).
    • 





B. Latest test results with a Z170 Chipset RAID0 configuration
 (all tests done in June 2018)

Test system:
    

  • Chipset: Intel Z170 (mainboard: ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming i7, BIOS version: 7.50 incl. Spectre/Meltdown Microcode Updates)
    • 

  • SSDs: 2x250 GB Samsung 860 EVO SATA SSDs as RAID0[/b], stripe size: 64 KB, both SSDs brandnew
    • 

  • OS: Windows 10 x64 Pro v1803 (RS4 final release with all available Updates), freshly installed in "clean" UEFI mode (CSM disabled)
    • 

  • All RAID0 performance relevant settings according >this< thread were done.
    • 

  • Tested RAID0 volume: Drive D (outside the system drive)
    • 

  • Since my mainboard BIOS doesn't allow any "downgrade" of the stock Intel RAID ROM/EFI modules, not all tests could be done by using the appropriate Intel EFI RaidDriver.
    • 


Tested Intel RAID drivers:
    

  1. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v13.2.8.1002 WHQL dated 07/09/2015, latest officially released driver from the v13 platform (in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v14.8.2.2397
    2. 

  2. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v14.8.18.1066 WHQL dated 09/06/2017, currently latest from the v14 platform (in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v14.8.2.2397)
    3. 

  3. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v15.5.2.1054 WHQL dated 04/24/2017, performance winner during my last comparison test (in combination with the RaidDriver v15.5.1.3017)
    4. 

  4. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v15.5.5.1059 WHQL dated 06/01/2017, currently latest from the v15.5 series (in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v15.5.1.3017)
    5. 

  5. Intel RST RAID driver v15.44.0.1010 dated 02/07/2018 = Win10 RS4 in-box Intel RAID driver (in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v15.5.1.3017)
    6. 

  6. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v15.9.3.1026 WHQL dated 01/17/2018, currently latest from the v15 platform (in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v15.9.2.3365)
    7. 

  7. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v16.0.10.1104 WHQL dated 04/27/2018, currently latest from the v16 platform (in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v16.0.2.3402)
    8. 

  8. Intel RST(e) RAID driver v16.5.0.1013 dated 04/05/2018, currently latest from the v16.5 series (in combination with the Intel RaidDriver v15.9.2.3365)
    9. 

Note:
  • Intel RST(e) RAID drivers from the v11/v12 platform could not been tested with my Z170 RAID system (a matching Intel RAID ROM/EFI RaidDriver module was not available resp. couldn't be successfully inserted into the BIOS).


Here are my test results:








    

  1. 
Intel RST(e) v13.2.8.1002 WHQL:
    

    RAID0-860EVO-Z170-13281002.png
    

    2. 

    

  2. 
Intel RST(e) v14.8.18.1066 WHQL:
    

    RAID0-860EVO-Z170-148181066.png
    

    3. 

    

  3. 
Intel RST(e) v15.5.2.1054 WHQL:
    

    RAID0-860EVO-Z170-15521054.png
    

    4. 

    

  4. 
Intel RST(e) v15.5.5.1059 WHQL:
    

    RAID0-860EVO-Z170-15551059.png
    

    5. 

    

  5. 
generic Win10 RS4 in-box Intel RST v15.44.0.1010:
    

    RAID0-860EVO-Z170-154401010.png
    

    6. 

    

  6. 
Intel RST(e) v15.9.3.1026 WHQL:
    

    RAID0-860EVO-Z170-15931026.png
    

    7. 

    

  7. 
Intel RST(e) v16.0.10.1104 WHQL:
    

    RAID0-860EVO-Z170-160101104.png
    

    8. 

    

  8. 
Intel RST(e) v16.5.0.1013:
    

    RAID0-860EVO-Z170-16501013.png
    

    9. 

 		
  	
  


Evaluation of the Z170 RAID0 benchmark results:
    

  • The choice of the best performant RAID driver for modern Intel Chipset RAID systems is much easier than I expected. Contrary to the results I got while running my system in AHCI mode, my Z170 RAID0 system gave me extremely different results while testing the different Intel RAID driver versions.
    • 

  • All tested Intel RAID drivers, which belong to the v15 or v16 platform, gave me very good OVERALL scores.
    • 

  • Due to their outstanding WRITE performance the explicit winners were the quite old v15.5.2.1054 (best READ and very good WRITE scores) and the brandnew Intel RST RAID driver v16.0.10.1104 (by far best WRITE scores and slightly better OVERALL scoores). The difference between these 2 protruding RAID drivers will probably not be noticeable by the users.
    • 

  • As in my previously done benchmark comparison tests the old Intel RST(e) driver v13.2.8.1002 RAID driver gave me again good results (much better than those of the tested latest Intel RST v14.8 series driver).
    • 


Additional discoveries:
    

  • After having flashed a modded BIOS, which contained any v16 platform EFI RaidDriver module, I got problems while trying to enter and to navigate within the BIOS. Very often I got a freezing.
    I suspect, that the stock BIOS system modules of my ASRock Z170 mainboard are not able to properly manage the v16 platform Intel RAID EFI modules, which are much bigger sized than any of the v13/14/15 platform RaidDriver modules.
    • 


Ranking of the best performing RAID drivers for my Z170 System:
    

  1. Intel RST RAID drivers v16.0.10.1104 (absolutely best WRITE scores) and v15.5.2.1054 (absolutely best READ scores)
    2. 

  2. with big distance: Intel RST RAID driver v16.5.0.1013 (due to the possible BIOS problems not recommended for Z170 chipset systems)
    3. 


Recommended RAID drivers for Intel Z170 Chipset RAID0 systems:
    

  • either Intel RAID driver v16.0.10.1104 or v15.5.2.1054 (absolutely outstanding OVERALL scores)
    • 

  • no real alternative
    • 



Have fun with the best performant Intel RAID drivers for your specific Intel system!
Fernando

Z68-RAID0-960EVO-15521054+SW.png

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              3
              
            

            

              
here are the bench results:


100PIER-Pic1.png


100PIER-Pic2.png




here are the infos:


RAID_0_SAMSUNG_SSD840PRO_DXM05B0Q.PNG



W7 64 bit SP1 is on the C drive (RAID 0 structure)

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              4
              
            

            

              
@ 100PIER:

That are awesome benchmark results, much better than those I got with my 2x256GB Samsung 840 PRO RAID0 system.
Which Stripe size did you choose while creating your RAID0 array?

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              5
              
            

            

              
Stripe size : 128 Ko.
I think my bench results are about 20% LESS than compared to some bench results i have seen on the net (for the same hardware), i don"t understand why.
the best ANVIL PRO result i got about 9610 (another bios and  iRST versions) but far from 11000 +
(uploading function don’t work at the moment, seem freezed?)

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              6
              
            

            

              

That is interesting. My RAID0 stripe size is currently 64 KB.



There are several tricks to push the benchmark scores (e.g. by executing the test on a totally empty RAID0 partition or by booting in safe mode).

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              7
              
            

            

              
After seeing a bench test with different stripe, the best reads an overall was a 16k, which is what I use, this seems to be also recommenced by Intel for RAID 0.

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              8
              
            

            

              
Stripe size : 128 Ko.
I think my bench results are about 20% LESS than compared to some bench results i have seen on the net (for the same hardware), i don"t understand why.
the best ANVIL PRO result i got is about 9610 (another bios and  iRST versions) but far from 11000 +
(uploading function don’t work at the moment, seem freezed? i can’t send you a capture)

@odiebugs :
ASUS User Guide recommends a lower stripe size for server systems, and a higher stripe size for multimedia computer systems used mainly for audio and video editing.
Typical value for RAID 0 is 128 KB compared to 64 KB for RAID 5 or 10.

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              9
              
            

            

              
@ odiebugs:

I agree with 100PIER: The best stripe size for a typical RAID0 user is 64KB or 128KB (depending on the size of the files, which are mainly read and written).

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              10
              
            

            

              
Asus also said the Marvell 9128  was true Sata 3. ROLOL

A while back in the RST notes of Intel they recommended 16k for 2win 7 gen usage with SSD’s.  Also read that higher strip was better for servers.

Now looking for that info have come across a few benches, can’t find the other info as the links are no longer there.

So now looking at some benches I see that 64k seems to be the best, as this is with HDD’s and not SSD.

Here is one test, showing 64k to be the best, and the author said that 128k was nice but had some problems with it.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tYiMA5tKAys8KokNozSIFfg&w=90&h=222


So do I say thanks, or I hate you because now I want to reinstall. LOL

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              11
              
            

            

              

The first option is better (for me). LOL

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              12
              
            

            

              
LOL,   I hit both of yours Thanks buttons.   Don’t have a cow,   ROLOLLMAO


I hope you realize that is a funny American saying, don’t have a cow,  not being disrespectful.

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              13
              
            

            

              
Update of my Intel AHCI and RAID Performance Test Results

Yesterday I have completely rebuilt my Intel Z77 system from scratch. Now my 2 x 256 GB Samsung SSDs are running as single drives in AHCI mode and not anymore as members of an Intel RAID0 array.
The sense of this work was my interest to test the Samsung RAPID mode, which the brandnew Samsung SSD tool Magician v4.3 is now offering even for Samsung 840 Pro SSDs (look >here<).

This is what I have done:
    

  • Creation of a complete backup of my RAID0 partitions
    • 

  • Delition of my Intel RAID0 array
    • 

  • Secure erasure of both SSDs
    • 

  • Clean install of Win 8.1 Pro x64 in clean UEFI mode onto one of the Samsung 840 PRO SSDs
    • 

  • Optimization of the OS
    • 

  • Doing some benchmark tests with different AHCI drivers
    • 

  • Install of Magician v4.3 and activation of the RAPID mode
    • 

  • Redoing some benchmark tests with different AHCI drvers.
    • 


Within the start post of this thread you can find the test results, which I haven’t expected at all.

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              14
              
            

            

              
Fernando, those results are unbelievable. Did you do IOPS benchmarks as-well ?

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              15
              
            

            

              
Fernando,
I had the same idea as you on my Z77 PC, but not yet get time to do that.
can you bench with ANVILPRO and let us know the results ?

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              


                

              
                  
                  
              16
              
            

            

              


Here we are:



Anvils-Tool_Samsung-840-PRO_AHCI_RST-v12.8.6.1000_RAPID-mode.png
Anvils-Tool_Samsung-840-PRO_AHCI_RST-v12.8.6.1000_RAPID-mode.png864×580 80 KB

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              17
              
            

            

              
@ saglamtimur and 100PIER:

Here you can see the Samsung Magician GUI with the results of its own "Performance Test" and some details regarding the health condition of my Samsung 840 Pro SSD:



Samsung Magician Performance Test.png

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              18
              
            

            

              
I have a 840 Pro in RAPID mode, too but I get very low IOPS. Any idea why? I have hibernation disabled and OS optimization in Samsung Magician to "Max Performance". Drivers are RST_12.8.6.1000, board is a Sabertooth z77, OS is Win 8.1 x64


as-ssd-bench Samsung SSD 840  11.12.2013 05-33-00.png


2013-12-09_18-17-21.png

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              19
              
            

            

              
@ Stan:
Welcome at Win-RAID Forum!



I don’t know the reason for the benchmark differences. We both have a very similar system.
I have disabled hibernation as well, but didn’t choose Magician’s "Max Performance" settings.
Question: How much RAM is within your PC and how are your RAM settings within the BIOS?

Regards
Fernando

            


            

              
              
              
            


            

                
                
              


          

          

            

              



              
                  
                  
              20
              
            

            

              

I don’t know the reason for the benchmark differences. We both have a very similar system.
I have disabled hibernation as well, but didn’t choose Magician’s "Max Performance" settings.
Question: How much RAM is within your PC and how are your RAM settings within the BIOS?

Regards
Fernando 

Hi and thanks for the welcome!

I have 16GB RAM and what kind of setting do you want to know? They are 4x4 Modules running at 800 Mhz.