Z68 - SRT cache and boot volume on a single SSD disk - it works!

[Diogenes2]

If I understand your question, yes, a separate SSD can be dedicated for cache..

I have a 128gb ssd for system, and a 64gb for caching my 1.5tb RAID 1 data drive..

 

[Six6Sicks]

If I understand your question, yes, a separate SSD can be dedicated for cache..

I have a 128gb ssd for system, and a 64gb for caching my 1.5tb RAID 1 data drive..

Can you please provide instructions on how to do this.
I have a 128GB SSD I want to install Windows OS/All other programs, and use a separate 64GB SSD strictly for cache purposes.

I have tried numerous setups but I can never get it to work. No Smart response tech. available after windows install.

Your help would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Diogenes2]

Did you install the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology software/drivers

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20215&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%207%2C%2064-bit*&DownloadType=Drivers

Once you install this, there will be an icon in your system tray to run the application and set up the cache drive.

You will want to choose the " Acelerate " option.

You will also have to have " RAID " enabled in the CMOS ..

 

[Six6Sicks]

I'm using a Gigabyte GA-Z68XUD3H-B3.
I have my 128GB SSD in port GSATA_5 and my 64GB SSD in port GSATA_6.
Prior to installing Windows 7, in the BIOS I set GSATA 3 Controller to Enabled and the GSATA 3 Ctrl mode to RAID.
I set up RAID in the BIOS. Also prior to installing Windows I installed the Marvel RAID driver.

After Windows finished installing, I install the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology software/drivers that came with my mobo, the icon appears in the task bar, but there is no accelerate option.

I have a 500GB HDD in Sata3_0 port set as AHCI.
Do I need to have my 128GB SSD in that port, for it maybe to "trick" the mobo to think it's a HDD? Or does it just know the difference between SSD and HDD.

If I put the PCH SATA Control Mode to RAID, it gives me an error and won't boot.

Like I said. My goal here is to have the 128gb ssd as my C: drive, the 64gb ssd as strictly cache, and my 500gb hdd as storage.
Pretty much what you say you have done.

If you could tell me which ports you plugged your ssd's and hdd in, as well as your bios options, that might help me get over this crazy bump in the road.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

 

[Diogenes2]

To get the accelerate option, the Intel controller has to be set to RAID .. I'm not sure what your options are in the Gigabyte board, since it doesn't use UEFI ..
I don't use the Marvell controller; I have it disabled.

I'll try to find some screen shots of the Gigabyte BIOS and try to make some suggestions, but untill you get the Intel controller set to RAID, caching is not going to work ..


My OS is on a 128gb M4 on one of the Intel 6gbs ports and my 64gb M4 is on the other 6gbs port..

I have 2 x 1.5tb in RAID 1 config, on two of the Intel 3gbs ports, and have SSD caching set up to cache the RAID 1 to the 64gb SSD ..

 

[RandomSanity]

I haven't read through all 7 pages of posts, but I've noticed Diogenes2 has a similar setup to what I'm aiming for.

Just purchased a 2600k and an Asus P8Z68-V Pro motherboard (cheap bundle deal, I had to bite) and a 120gb Vertex 3 6gbs.

I'm looking to install my OS and applications on the 120gb drive and continue using my 1TB Samsung drive for steam games. However I have an older 60gb Vertex SSD I would like to set up for cache.

Is this setup possible? It seems everyone else is having trouble.

Thanks!

 

[Diogenes2]

I believe if you look at my last post, yours should work just fine with a similar arrangement..
The vertex 2 should work fine with any of the Intel ports, while the Vertex 3 would be best on a SATA 3 port..

To keep it simple I would first install The OS on the Vertex 3 without the other drives installed. Make sure you set the SATA mode to " RAID " in the BIOS .. Get Windows up and running, and configured the way you want it..

Connect the spindle drive on a SATA 2 port and make sure it is working as is ..

Make sure the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology software is installed and running.

Connect the Vertex 2 drive on a SATA 2 port, open the control panel for the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology software; choose the " Accelerate Tab "..

It's pretty much a couple of clicks from there, and fairly self explanatory ..

 

[BinaryDemon]

Sorry to bump this inactive thread, I just wanted to say I followed aszu's directions and they worked great. Thanks OP!

 

[apatch]

Hello anandtech members, I followed this guide but when I try to make a 18gb SSD cache on my 60gb OCZ V3, it allways makes a full disk cache which is 56GB total capacity. I tried it on 2 different win 7 installations, with 10.6 and 10.8 RST. After reading some posts I concluded that it's possible with 60GB SSD http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=31996824&postcount=117, so what I am doing wrong ?

My config :
Asrock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3 L1.12 BIOS - OROM 10.6
SSD OCZ V3 60GB (real capacity 56GB)
4xRaid0 WD/Seagate 1,8TB
Toshiba 320GB 5400 just for SSD Cache activation

 

[bryanW1995]

Sorry to bump this inactive thread, I just wanted to say I followed aszu's directions and they worked great. Thanks OP!

I agree, this thread has been a lifesaver. I was confident enough after reading the thread that I decided to go through the hassle of installing windows on an old 640gb drive that I wasn't using, then install the irst software, etc etc etc until I'm now at the happy end stage where my ssd and cache are on the same drive, and the cache is accelerating my 2 tb storage drive.

Issues that I encountered: First of all, I originally installed the os on the extra spindle drive in ahci mode insted of raid mode. After I got through that, I tried the link from earlier in this thread (on page 4 or 5) to intel's RST drivers. Unfortunately, as mentioned later in the thread, intel no longer has the driver on their site. So I went to gigabyte's site and downloaded the raid drivers for my z68ma-d2h here. When I turned the computer off, disconnected the 640gb spindle drive, and rebooted with my win 7 disk, I was unable to get windows to recognize my driver off of my usb drive. Turns out, the driver is in an .exe format, and you have to extract the file onto your usb drive. Once I did that and restarted, everything else was great. Overall, it was a bit of a PITA, and my wife thinks I'm insane, but getting ssd-like performance (sometimes) out of my 2 tb drive while keeping the same ssd performance for my OS/browser was just too enticing to pass up!

comments 5 hours after successful install Just wanted to tell you guys that this is absolutely worth the effort. I just loaded up civ5 from steam (on the 2tb data drive), in the past it has taken 15-20 seconds, long enough that the old man starts talking and I've become sick of that stupid intro music. Now, it literally takes 3 seconds to load. Everything else I've used on the G: drive is likewise now almost ssd-fast. I fear that I will be forced to get an ssd on my other computers...

rig:

i5 2500k @ 4.8
GB z68ma-d2h-b3
2x4gb kingston ddr3 1600
x25-m g2 80gb
wd20ears 2 tb

I also have the old 640 gb wd6400aaks that I used during the install, but I'll probably just give that to mom.

 

[chimaxi83]

Getting ready to redo my OS install and split my M4 between Sindows and cache. Nice to see it working out well for you guys

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

 

[awatz]

Hi guys. I just want some clarification.

Will Win7 on the SSD automatically recognize/use the Cache that you made on the regular HDD?
Any further tweaking needed?

 

[bryanW1995]

You have to click the "accelerate" tab in the intel rapid storage technology menu. It is pretty self explanatory once you get there. IIRC, I didn't have to re-accelerate when I removed the original boot disk and installed windows onto the ssd data volume.

 

[Trancesistor]

If I configure my 120gb SSD to have a 80gb OS partition and a 40gb SRT parition (caching an applications drive), will I still have TRIM support? Is there a way to test if TRIM is active?

 

[GotNoRice]

If I configure my 120gb SSD to have a 80gb OS partition and a 40gb SRT parition (caching an applications drive), will I still have TRIM support? Is there a way to test if TRIM is active?

I don't think you can do that. You have the option of either using ~20GB or 64GB. The only semi-exception would be if your SSD was only 40GB, in which case your choices would be ~20GB or the entire drive. You don't really have much control over the partition sizes as it reconfigures them anyway when you first setup caching.

 

[bryanW1995]

You can't trim while you have a drive accelerated. However, you could remove the cache partition, trim, then re-accelerate the spindle drive.

 

[jokapo]

My Rig
GB-Z68X-UD3H-B3
I5 2500K
8 GB
SSD Crucial m4 128 Gb
HDD WD 2Tb ears

After installing Windows 7x64 to a normal HDD and installing the latest Intel driver management I am assigning 64Gb (Intel aint accepting my choice of 18GB) as cache drive.

When i turn of the power disconnect the HDD and want to reinstall Windows but this time onto the SSD windows setup is not seeing any drive

I have downloaded Raid drivers of the intel site but windows setup claims it to be the wrong ones.

My Bios is set to raid

Does someone have a clue what i am doing wrong or how I can meke it work.

Im also curious what BrianW1995 did to make it work

 

[Hlafordlaes]

@OP,

Thanks for the original info. Makes great sense for loaded system drives, such as with multiple Elder Scrolls installs plus mod packaging files. Seems your solution should accelerate a RAID 0 HDD arrays, which has been my choice for loaded system drives so far.

 

[bryanW1995]

My Rig
GB-Z68X-UD3H-B3
I5 2500K
8 GB
SSD Crucial m4 128 Gb
HDD WD 2Tb ears

After installing Windows 7x64 to a normal HDD and installing the latest Intel driver management I am assigning 64Gb (Intel aint accepting my choice of 18GB) as cache drive.

When i turn of the power disconnect the HDD and want to reinstall Windows but this time onto the SSD windows setup is not seeing any drive

I have downloaded Raid drivers of the intel site but windows setup claims it to be the wrong ones.

My Bios is set to raid

Does someone have a clue what i am doing wrong or how I can meke it work.

Im also curious what BrianW1995 did to make it work

IIRC, intel recommends that you get the drivers off of your motherboard website now, instead. Get the raid drivers off of Gigabytes website and you should be fine. Remember that you have to unpack/unzip them before using them.

 

[jokapo]

i will give it a shot

 

[jokapo]

In setup which driver did you select?

 

[jokapo]

I finally got everything working well.

I Just have a few little questions:

1. What is the best blocksize for an SSD
2. Is it correct that when you are using SSD for Windows and Caching and you do a benchmark the scores will be lower then when just installing windows and using the ahci drivers?

this was my benchmark with SATA set to AHCI and no caching pertition

this was my benchmark with SATA set to RAID and with a caching pertition

 

[bryanW1995]

Yes, my sequential reads dropped 25-30%, and I've seen other mention this as well. However, I've noticed no difference at all when actually using my drive.

When I think about it, I assume that the reads are slower b/c your ssd is now effectively "smaller" than it was before. In my case, I lost ~ 25% of the ssd to the cache, so it makes sense that my read speed would drop by a similar amount. If you do it on a 256gb drive then it would probably be a pretty minimal hit, but on smaller drives like ours it ends up being a pretty significant % of the total storage area.

 

[machasm]

Thanks for this info.
After following it I now have my RAID accelerated using my SSD Boot drive.
I understand that I lose TRIM functionality since the SSD is now essentially a member disk of a RAID array.
Is there a way to manually TRIM this drive until intel finally release the 11.5 version of RST (supports TRIM to RAID member disks).

 

[Diogenes2]

You don't lose TRIM on the non-cache partition and it is not considered part of a RAID array.

Is there a way to manually TRIM this drive until Intel finally release the 11.5 version of RST (supports TRIM to RAID member disks).

The cache partition is transparent to the OS. There is no way to to access it with software other than the RST console.