Trim with Intel RST 11.2/11.5 and RAID 0? Update: Trying 11.5 RST with 11.5.x.x OROM

[el-Capitan]

The Intel RST program to read. Go to help and then select the system report button.

See these threads as guides on the BIOS procedure (AMI BIOS for my board):

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/th...-old-title-Intel-ICH9R-7-6-0-1011-rom/page107

EDIT: English translated version (directly from the source) of the site translated below:

http://www.win-lite.de/wbb/board208...pci-rom-modules-of-an-ami-phoenix-award-bios/

Translated German version of the above link.

http://translate.google.com/transla...s-modding-aktualisierung-von-pci-rom-modulen/


Here is a thread (translated) with all of the binaries for various OROMs already extracted:

http://translate.google.com/transla...module-bereits-extrahiert/#post148637&act=url

The replacement of the OROM was almost "too easy", hence my apprehension as to whether it was done right or not, lol. I guess I could always upgrade to a new Z68 or something if I were to accidentally kill this BioStar board (assuming I could not get it repaired or BIOS chip replaced), lol!

Gigagbyte owners can go here for modded BIOS:

http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/48085-gigabyte-modified-bios.html

This worked like a charm on my Z68MA-D2H-B3

 

[Engineer]

Looks like, from actual testing, that Z77 owners can actually pass TRIM commands on Windows 7 using OROM 11.5.0.1414 and the new RST 11.5.0.1207. You can use WinHEX, look at the disk to see a file, delete the file and then re-examine the logical sector and the location is zeroed out. Does not seem to work on other chipsets at this time (confirmed via several here: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums...-RST-Drivers&p=5122967&viewfull=1#post5122967 )

 

[rgallant]

just putting it out there

stated by Raga@asus

"Yes, no RAID support for TRIM at present. And from what my source told me won't be here til next year at the earliest. "

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums...7-Motherboards-Official-Support-Thread/page22
post # 516 + 538

 

[Engineer]

just putting it out there

stated by Raga@asus

"Yes, no RAID support for TRIM at present. And from what my source told me won't be here til next year at the earliest. "

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums...7-Motherboards-Official-Support-Thread/page22
post # 516 + 538

Regardless, the people in the thread posting about using Z77 boards do seem to be getting TRIM with the latest versions of OROM and RST. I tested their method of examining a file before and after deletion (from recycle bin also) on a single drive system and it indeed zeroed the file out (i.e. TRIM indication). When testing on my P67 RAID setup, it did not zero the file. The P77 testers have the file zeroed, indicating TRIM is working.

I have also followed Fernando across several forums (Google translate is your friend) and he seems to agree (and he is very good from reading his posts).

While the poster in the thread you posted may actually be right because, in reality, I don't think anyone other than the Intel and MS folks know a damn thing, LOL! :biggrin:

 

[davidm71]

Regardless, the people in the thread posting about using Z77 boards do seem to be getting TRIM with the latest versions of OROM and RST. I tested their method of examining a file before and after deletion (from recycle bin also) on a single drive system and it indeed zeroed the file out (i.e. TRIM indication). When testing on my P67 RAID setup, it did not zero the file. The P77 testers have the file zeroed, indicating TRIM is working.

I have also followed Fernando across several forums (Google translate is your friend) and he seems to agree (and he is very good from reading his posts).

While the poster in the thread you posted may actually be right because, in reality, I don't think anyone other than the Intel and MS folks know a damn thing, LOL! :biggrin:

I wonder why only Z77? Wonder if the driver is locked perhaps?

 

[ShintaiDK]

I wonder why only Z77? Wonder if the driver is locked perhaps?

It also works on H77 etc. And basicly every board with the proper OROM.

 

[davidm71]

It also works on H77 etc.

Yeah but X58 or Z68 people are out of luck. Question is why if the firmware is the same it shouldnt matter right?

 

[ShintaiDK]

Yeah but X58 or Z68 people are out of luck. Question is why if the firmware is the same it shouldnt matter right?

It depends on 2 things.

1. If the OROMs are compatible with the older chipset.
2. If the board makers supplies BIOS updates with the newer OROMs.

X58 is very old and uses ICH10R. So I can almost guarantee it wont work there.

 

[davidm71]

It depends on 2 things.

1. If the OROMs are compatible with the older chipset.
2. If the board makers supplies BIOS updates with the newer OROMs.

X58 is very old and uses ICH10R. So I can almost guarantee it wont work there.

Well yesterday I flashed my X58 EVGA Classified to 11.5.0.1414 with 11.5.0.1207 successfully though I'm not running a raid 0 setup right now just single SSD boot drive and mechanical raid 5 array. Got like a ten percent solid boost in AS SSD Bench score at least without any side effects that I have noticed. Added benefit at least though not sure if it was the new drivers. Hopefully someone can figure out how to mod the bios' tables to be compatible with Trim. Way over my head!

 

[ShintaiDK]

That surprises me. Given the date of the X58/ICH10R. Good to hear tho!

 

[Fernando 1]

I wonder why only Z77?

Because Z77 boards were the only Ivy Bridge ones, which were tested for Trim support within RAID0.

Wonder if the driver is locked perhaps?

No, it's not the driver.
The Trim support within a RAID array is much more complicated than within an SSD, which is not member of an array. Furthermore the Trim command itself cannot pass the SCSI filter of the RAID done by the iaStorF.sys and has to be switched to an Unmap command.

 

[Engineer]

Because Z77 boards were the only Ivy Bridge ones, which were tested for Trim support within RAID0.
No, it's not the driver.
The Trim support within a RAID array is much more complicated than within an SSD, which is not member of an array. Furthermore the Trim command itself cannot pass the SCSI filter of the RAID done by the iaStorF.sys and has to be switched to an Unmap command.

Welcome to AT Fernando. As I stated above, I have followed your posts across several boards (with the help of Google Translate). Thanks for all of your posting. I have used it to help flash my BIOS several times using upgraded OROM's.

Again, WELCOME!

 

[Fernando 1]

@ Engineer:
Thanks for the welcome!

@ all:
Here is my contribution to the topic:
Until now I know about 3 users with the required RST(e) drivers/ROM version combination, who have published their test results:

• btester aka SSDFreak (board: GIGABYTE Z77X-UD5H, OS: Win7 x64)
  He has published his test results >here<, >here< and >here<.
• andressergio (board: ASUS Maximus 5 Gene, OS: Win7 x64)
  You can find his test results >here<.
• Fernando=me (board: ASUS P8Z68-V, OS: Win7 x64 and Win8 x64 on different RAID partitions)
  I have published my test results >here<. The screenshots were taken while running Win8 x64, but the results with Win7 x64 were exactly the same.

All 3 users have done a quite similar test to verify, if Trim is working within the RAID or not:

1. Copy any file into the root of drive C (= OS partition),
2. Open Drive C with a Hex Editor and search for the Offset and Sector data of the just copied file.
3. Delete the file and empty the Recycle Bin.
4. After some minutes reopen Drive C with the Hex Editor and search again for the test file data (enter the previously noticed Offset/Sector digits)
5. If you see just Hex data 00 00 00 00 00, the Trim resp. Unmap command has cleaned the related SSD cells.

My conclusion: Trim/Unmap obviously works within the RAID0 array unter Win7.
Preconditions:

• mainboard with an Intel Z77 chipset (it probably will work with other Intel chipsets of the 7-Series too),
• BIOS with an Intel RAID ROM v11.5.0.1414 or higher and
• use of the actual Intel RST(e) drivers of the v11.5 series (v11.5.0.1184 or higher).

My own test results show, that Trim/Unmap obviously is not working within the RAID array, if the system has an Intel Z68 chipset (neither on Win7 nor on Win8).

Another detection with my Z68 RAID system using the said Intel RAID OROM/Driver combination:
Windows 8 doesn't use the Intel SCSI filter driver iaStorF.sys anymore! The driver is not even present within the Windows\System32\Drivers folder. All drives are shown as "normal" ATA drives within the Device Manager.

Since I am going to build a Z77 system tomorrow, I may be able to put some more light into the dark.

Regards
Fernando

 

[Mir96TA]

So if I am not using Raid; then there is no benfit ?
I have old Gigbyte P45 UD3R MB; I guess I have no benfit ?
I am using AHCI mode.
Mir Thanks

 

[Makaveli]

So if I am not using Raid; then there is no benfit ?
I have old Gigbyte P45 UD3R MB; I guess I have no benfit ?
I am using AHCI mode.
Mir Thanks

If this doesn't work on X58 it surely won't work on a socket 775 board.

 

[Makaveli]

Because Z77 boards were the only Ivy Bridge ones, which were tested for Trim support within RAID0.
No, it's not the driver.
The Trim support within a RAID array is much more complicated than within an SSD, which is not member of an array. Furthermore the Trim command itself cannot pass the SCSI filter of the RAID done by the iaStorF.sys and has to be switched to an Unmap command.

Also wanted to welcome you to AT i've been following your guide and post on the other forums. Please let us know how the testing goes when you can.

Also anyone know if the idle garbage collection on the G2 intel drivers are decent if this doesn't work I want to know if I still raid 0 my drives that it may correct performance if left idle long enough.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Also anyone know if the idle garbage collection on the G2 intel drivers are decent if this doesn't work I want to know if I still raid 0 my drives that it may correct performance if left idle long enough.

Intel own controller got excellent garbage collection.

 

[Fernando 1]

So if I am not using Raid; then there is no benfit ?
I have old Gigbyte P45 UD3R MB; I guess I have no benfit ?
I am using AHCI mode.

Since you don't have a RAID system, I recommend to take the "normal" Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 in combination with the Intel RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527.

 

[Mir96TA]

Since you don't have a RAID system, I recommend to take the "normal" Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 in combination with the Intel RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527.

I have a Raid option; however I am not enabling/using it. There was a time I did used (Raid) it with HDD.

 

[Mir96TA]

If this doesn't work on X58 it surely won't work on a socket 775 board.

Please explain WHAT doesn't work ?
That is what I am trying to figure it out
Thanks
Mir

 

[Fernando 1]

I have a Raid option; however I am not enabling/using it. There was a time I did used (Raid) it with HDD.

Until now the Intel RST(e) v11.5 series branch has mainly been developed to bring the Trim command into an SSD RAID array. The development seems not to be finished yet.
You will not get much benefit by the currently available Intel RST(e) drivers of the 11.5 series, because

1. you don't have a RAID0 system with 2 or more SSD's in the array,
2. even if you would buy a second SSD and create a RAID array, you probably will not get the RST(e) v11.5 feature "Trim support within RAID0" and
3. the Intel RST(e) Control Panel software v11.5.0.1184 and v11.5.0.1207 have a memory leak issue.

 

[Makaveli]

Please explain WHAT doesn't work ?
That is what I am trying to figure it out
Thanks
Mir

I will leave this one for Fernando to explain he can provide more detail about it than I.

 

[bryanW1995]

Also wanted to welcome you to AT i've been following your guide and post on the other forums. Please let us know how the testing goes when you can.

Also anyone know if the idle garbage collection on the G2 intel drivers are decent if this doesn't work I want to know if I still raid 0 my drives that it may correct performance if left idle long enough.

GC is pretty good on the old g2 intels. Not like the newer gen drives, but good enough that you don't need TRIM to keep them running pretty well. I'll see if I can find Anand's article on the g2's:

Anandtech SSD relapse Older info, but still useful in comparing the g2 with other drives of its era. Current drives would probably perform similarly. That entire article is very useful for background info on ssd's.

 

[Fernando 1]

Please explain WHAT doesn't work ?

Makaveli probably meant, that the Trim support of a RAID0 array will not work with your system. I would agree.

 

[bryanW1995]

Until now the Intel RST(e) v11.5 series branch has mainly been developed to bring the Trim command into an SSD RAID array. The development seems not to be finished yet.
You will not get much benefit by the currently available Intel RST(e) drivers of the 11.5 series, because

1. you don't have a RAID0 system with 2 or more SSD's in the array,
2. even if you would buy a second SSD and create a RAID array, you probably will not get the RST(e) v11.5 feature "Trim support within RAID0" and
3. the Intel RST(e) Control Panel software v11.5.0.1184 and v11.5.0.1207 have a memory leak issue.

Huh. Either this whole "RAID 0 + TRIM" issue is more complicated than we thought, or, more likely, intel just isn't very concerned about it. By my calculations, this situation is due to lack of competition in the cpu market, which is due to AMD's suckiness since 2006, which is due to...HECTOR RUIZ! In the future, tech companies that go bust will say "We got Hector Ruiz'ed".

Sorry guys, I haven't ranted about him in ages. That felt pretty good.