hi everyone! I’d like to ask you a (possibly) easy question.
currently I’m using an old faithful Asus P5B Deluxe mobo (P965 Express chipset, ICH8R) in RAID mode with 2x2TB RAID1 arrays for data and standalone SSD for system (Windows 7 x64 Professional), with “Intel RST Komplett-Paket v9.6.0.1014 WHQL entpackt von Fernando”.
I wonder if there’s a way to use a newer RST driver. some years ago, I tried a newer RST (version 10.something if I remember correctly, it was in april 2012), which made my OS freeze a few seconds after Windows started, so I reverted to 9.6 and lived happily with it. the only thing is, is there actually a newer version of RST, no matter if original or modded/repacked?
my aim is to try RAID10 array from the existing drives (that would result in 4TB partition, which I understand is not supported in RST 9.6 - or is it?) or even bigger one.
regarding the future, is there a chance I’ll be able to use my rig with Windows 10? I assume I’ll either have to live with some Microsoft-bundled RST (if they include it in Win10 or Windows Update), or use some modded version, as I don’t expect Intel to release drivers for old products. I don’t need any advanced features, no safe removal icon in the system, just the Control panel would be nice (to know it RAID works fine or is broken via systray icon) and that’s it.
what do you think about it, is there a way to improve my rig in the future and use it safely with Windows 10 (I completely bypassed Win8/8.1), or I have to forget it and stay with Win7?
thanks for your job here! 
@ backora19:
Welcome at Win-RAID Forum!
All questions are easy, but sometimes it is difficult to get the correct answer.
This is what you can do to improve your system and make it fit for the future:
1. Update the Intel RAID ROM module of your mainboard BIOS. I recommend to insert the Intel RST RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527.
2. Install an Intel RST driver version, which matches the new (updated) Intel RAID ROM version (that means: is from the same development branch). My tip: Take the Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006.
Regarding the future use of Windows 10 I am very optimistic, that your Intel ICH8R RAID system will be fully supported.
Regards
Dieter (alias Fernando)
.
thanks for your reply. I just found out, you already solved a very similar problem here https://communities.intel.com/thread/43487 and it seems the P5B-ASUS-Deluxe-1238_mod_by_Fernando could be also useful for me (my BIOS is v 1238, too, if I remember correctly, it’s the same file for both wifi and non-wifi version of P5B Deluxe). I guess I’ll try it myself soon, possibly after some backup. hopefully I won’t brick the mobo
I can confirm that the modded BIOS flashed like a charm. maybe because the original version of the BIOS itself was the same, it even preserved all BIOS settings, only RAID BIOS now says v11 instead of v6. the existing RAID arrays are preserved, too.
I can also confirm that the recommended RST driver v11.2 works, altough the RST service was set to Automatic (Delayed Start) and it took some time to go green after system start, so I just changed it to Automatic. it still takes much longer time to initialize all automatically started programs after system start, it seems something is waiting for something else to start - hard to say, maybe just some services batting for resources, my Windows 7 installation is really old anyway so I’m not going to fiddle with this now.
now, all I need to do is to test big RAID arrays - will delete the 2 2x2TB RAID1 arrays with MBR partitions and create 1 4x2TB RAID10 GPT array. just maybe some time later, I’ll create some more backups to make sure I won’t lose 4TB of data.
I guess I’m now ready for Windows 10, as the modded RST driver v11.2 declares Win10 compatibility.
how is it with Intel INF update? I use some original one, 1.1.43.0. is there also some newer modded version for new Windows, or does the old one work well, or is it even neccessary to install it on newer Windows?
thanks for help!
Why did you install the modded version of the Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006? The original WHQL variant should work for your system as well.
Don’t care about the Intel Chipset Device INF files for your old system. All Windows Operating Systems from Win7 up will detect these devices and know, that no driver is required.
If the OS should neverlesess show a "missing driver" flag at any Intel Chipset Device, please let me know it. For further informations please read the start post of >this< thread.
Why did you install the modded version of the Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006? The original WHQL variant should work for your system as well.
two reasons.
1. the old version had 2TB limitation per RAID array and I want to try a bigger RAID10 array instead of 2 small RAID1 ones - that would be impossible with the old RST.
2. I think Win10 would work with some integrated driver (whatever version will be there, haven’t tested yet), but I like to have RST icon in system tray, indicating that RAID arrays are green
yep, no missing drivers, so I guess I leave the INF thing alone.
What do you mean with "old RST"?
I repeat: If you have set your Intel SATA Conroller to "RAID", you can install the original Intel RST Drivers & Software Set v11.2.0.1006.
You can install any original Intel RST Drivers & Software Set, if your Intel SATA Controller has been set to "RAID" mode.
By the way: The Win10 in-box Intel RST RAID driver is v13.2.0.1022.
with old RST I mean v9.6. yes, I have set the controller to RAID mode. I just wasn’t really sure if original v11.2 fully supports ICH8R (judging by info at Intel website, it was made for a bit newer chipset series, but I might be wrong), so having a great experience with modded v9.6, I just went straight for your modded v11.2 as recommended above.
does the v13 driver support ICH8R? and is there some RAID status indication included, or is it just a driver without GUI?
Yes, but only in RAID mode (common DeviceID of all Intel SATA Controllers from ICH8R up: DEV_2822).
It is just a driver, which is able to detect and to manage the Intel SATA RAID Controller DEV2822 from scratch. The Intel RST Console Software is not in-the-box of Win10.
OK, thanks for the valuable info, much appreciated! great to talk to someone with deep knowledge, how things work.
BTW, do you have some experience with Windows Storage Spaces on workstation PCs? I mean, if there’s really such a huge difference between, for example, ICH8R RAID10 and “softRAID” using SS Parity mode? that would be an alternative without any additional console software or drivers, with Windows themselves watching for “array” health… of course, in my case, I’ll probably stick to RAID10 which is simple enough, but I’m just curious about the alternative solution
@ backora19:
According to my knowledge an Intel RAID array created by any Intel RAID Utility is better than any Windows SoftRAID feature.
That is why I always prefer the Intel RAID solution.
question: is there any HDD size limitation when I already have the modded RAID BIOS? I know it supports >2TB drives and >2TB RAID arrays now, but is that upwards-unlimited? I’m planning to try one 8TB Seagate Archive HDD, connecting it to ICH8R (in RAID mode but this drive will be standalone).
thanks
Yes, but the newer Intel RAID ROM module (>v10.5.) breaks the 2 TB limit for RAID volumes.
No, there is still a limitation. For details you may look >here<.
I think, that it will work (pre-condition: You are using the GUImode Partition Table (GPT).
yes, of course I’ll have to use GPT, I guess Windows wouldn’t even let me use MBR.
I think I will be testing this setup in 2-3 weeks or so, I’ll let you guys know.
sooooo everything works flawlessly (so far). removed both RAID1 volumes using RST utility and created a new RAID10 volume, all without restarting Windows. read and write speeds are around 150MB/s which is a significant improvement of course. 8TB drive works also normally. no problems at all.