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

[machasm]

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

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

Are you sure?
The RST shows the SSD as being part of an array


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[Diogenes2]

I could be wrong about TRIM. Perhaps someone else could chime in ..

I do know the cache partition does not show up in Disk Management, but the OS partition will, and I don't believe it appears as a RAID volume ..

 

[bryanW1995]

SRT is considered to be some sort of special form of one-disk raid 0, so no SRT + TRIM until 11.5 comes out.

edit: technically, you could delete the SRT cache partition, run trim, then re-enable everything, but that is a monumental hassle and should only be done if you're having serious degradation issues. And since 11.5 is on the way (and available in beta form now if you're truly desperate), there's no reason to go that route.

 

[machasm]

Thanks guys.
I'll have a look for the 11.5 beta.
I know of an Alpha release but didnt see a beta.
gonna go have a look now.

 

[machasm]

Edit:
Found these
http://www.station-drivers.com/telechargement/intel/sata/11.5.htm
Alpha drivers but still no support for TRIM on RAID yet. Looks like next release.

 

[flaviowolff]

Guys, would it be possible to do the trick with only one HDD (not a spare one available)?
the steps I imagined would be the following:

1) Do the registry tweak to allow RAID on my current IDE HDD and then enabling RAID on BIOS;
2) Connect my brand new Vertex 2 120gb to the mobo;
3) Install SRT software and enable acceleration (64gb and the rest left for data);
4) Remove HDD from mobo, install Windows 7 on the SSD;
5) Reinsert HDD, boot from SSD, delete windows files off the HDD an adjust boot.ini accordingly to end the dual boot scenario.

Would the HDD be accelerated still?

If its right, I guess its an even simpler approach for this trick, as it wouldn't require a spare disk.

Thanks!

 

[chimaxi83]

The only reason for a spare is so that you don't have to fudge with your current HDD. I just reformatted HDD because I was going to anyway, and that was my "spare".

 

[flaviowolff]

oh, great! guess the steps I posted will work then! I will do it next week and tell how it goes

 

[chimaxi83]

I did it too, just an SSD and HDD, very easy install. Just make sure you have your mobo specific RAID drivers easily accessible, on a flash drive or something

 

[flaviowolff]

After reading it all, I am pretty worried about the corrupted cache problems (after BSODs/Hard resets/Big installs from DVDs). If it happens, could I simply undo the caching from the RST software and do it again without losing the data partition (with OS installed)?

I was very thrilled about all this, but after reading about these prolems I might just settle with my 120gig Vertex 2 and a regular HDD for games that I dont play often and other media.

 

[chimaxi83]

Yea, you have the option of removing acceleration through the RST software in Windows, and then reaccelerate, which should rebuild that cache as far as I know. Data is untouched. I haven't had any problems with mine.

 

[bryanW1995]

I've had it happen 7-8 times over the past 3 months. Nothing at all to it. I did end up running in just "enhanced" mode instead of "maximized", however.

To re-enable the cache, just reboot. It takes 5 minutes or so to rebuild the cache, then it will hang at the raid screen. When that happens, reboot again and you're fine.

 

[bryanW1995]

I keep linking this thread, so here's a courtesy bump.

And now that 128gb is the new 64gb, srt+cache on one disk is much more desirable in many instances these days.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I keep linking this thread, so here's a courtesy bump.

And now that 128gb is the new 64gb, srt+cache on one disk is much more desirable in many instances these days.

More room for games

 

[bryanW1995]

Haha, yeah, that's what I would use it for if I was still on SRT.

 

[Xazur]

Can you guys help me? I am trying to do this exact same thing, but on a notebook instead with HM77. The thing is, after installing SRT and what not, when I get down to installing OS on the empty side of the SSD. It doesn't appear on the "where do you want to install windows". Help please?

 

[colonelcasey]

Can you guys help me? I am trying to do this exact same thing, but on a notebook instead with HM77. The thing is, after installing SRT and what not, when I get down to installing OS on the empty side of the SSD. It doesn't appear on the "where do you want to install windows". Help please?

The other half you enabled as cache won't appear in the Windows Setup but it's there. When you re-install Windows and RST on the empty half, enable acceleration and you'll see the cache there.

 

[Xazur]

The other half you enabled as cache won't appear in the Windows Setup but it's there. When you re-install Windows and RST on the empty half, enable acceleration and you'll see the cache there.

No no, I have a 240gb ssd, when I turn 64gb of it into cache, and proceed to the step of removing the hdd and installing the OS into the ssd portion, I don't see the rest of the space left on the ssd as part of a the option to install the new OS into.

 

[colonelcasey]

No no, I have a 240gb ssd, when I turn 64gb of it into cache, and proceed to the step of removing the hdd and installing the OS into the ssd portion, I don't see the rest of the space left on the ssd as part of a the option to install the new OS into.

Did you try loading your F6 RAID drivers for your motherboard? Put it on a USB flash stick and hit Load Drivers when you don't see anything.

 

[Xazur]

Did you try loading your F6 RAID drivers for your motherboard? Put it on a USB flash stick and hit Load Drivers when you don't see anything.

I don't exactly know what your talking about, care to link my page and download of what your referring to? I googled raid drivers and dled a rar file with a bunch of stuff, loaded it during install but it did nothing.

 

[WT]

I've had it happen 7-8 times over the past 3 months. Nothing at all to it. I did end up running in just "enhanced" mode instead of "maximized", however.

I set mine to 'maximized' and never looked back. I'm curious to see if anyone else has theirs set as such. I do have full backups on my WHS, so I really don't worry too much about data loss.

Every so often, maybe once a week I have a system 'pause' that may last for a minute before everything starts back up. I initially tracked it down to a broken Silverlight update as well as a .Net framework issue, but the pause still happens.

 

[meros]

Would someone with good technical knowledge make a step by step plan how to replace my current mobo with Asrock z68 extreme4 with SRT (which I just bought), so I can get the best of both worlds?

Current:
-Mobo Asrock p67 pro3 (broken).
-Intel x25 ssd 80gb (win 7 64 bit, nothing else atm).
-1tb samsung HD103SJ harddisk (half full, can format if necesary).

Thanks in advance.

Marc.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

80gb SSD.....

your ssd will probably die on you since its like 3 years old + youve used it for that long + the extra wear and tear that youll put on the ssd while its the boot drive AND a cache drive.


best to leave it as a boot drive. OR make it a cache drive

 

[chimaxi83]

Would someone with good technical knowledge make a step by step plan how to replace my current mobo with Asrock z68 extreme4 with SRT (which I just bought), so I can get the best of both worlds?

Current:
-Mobo Asrock p67 pro3 (broken).
-Intel x25 ssd 80gb (win 7 64 bit, nothing else atm).
-1tb samsung HD103SJ harddisk (half full, can format if necesary).

Thanks in advance.

Marc.

Have you tried following the beginning of this thread?

80gb SSD.....

your ssd will probably die on you since its like 3 years old + youve used it for that long + the extra wear and tear that youll put on the ssd while its the boot drive AND a cache drive.


best to leave it as a boot drive. OR make it a cache drive

Nah. I'm using a 64GB Crucial M4 that's a year old, has been a boot/cache drive for almost as long, and SMART life remaining is still 99% through 4000 hours of on time and ~1000 power ons. He's good.

 

[Diogenes2]

Would someone with good technical knowledge make a step by step plan how to replace my current mobo with Asrock z68 extreme4 with SRT (which I just bought), so I can get the best of both worlds?

Current:
-Mobo Asrock p67 pro3 (broken).
-Intel x25 ssd 80gb (win 7 64 bit, nothing else atm).
-1tb samsung HD103SJ harddisk (half full, can format if necesary).

Thanks in advance.

Marc.

Leave SSD disconnected..
Install OS on HDD, connected to Intel SATA port with RAID enabled in BIOS..

After OS is up and running, install Intel RST driver package.
Connect SSD to Intel SATA port and run the Intel RST console. Click on the ' Accelerate ' tab and choose the options to use the SSD as a cache.
Once you reboot a couple of times, the OS will load almost as fast as it would from the SSD alone. The apps you use most frequently will load fast also..

If you have any problems, come back and we can take them one at a time..