Intel Application Accelerator - Needed or Not?

[Janus]

I'm about to reconfigure my P4 system on an Asus P4T-E motherboard and this time around, I'm wondering whether I truly need to install the Intel Application Accelerator (IAA) software? I performed a search already on the AT Forums, but could not come to any definitive answers. My one concern is that some folks mentioned CD-RW probs when using the IAA; anyone have confirmation of this?

If the performance enhancement is worthwhile I'm all for it, but not at the expense of causing some sort of goofy hardware/software problems.

Thanks in advance.

 

[dullard]

I tried it. I saw no problems, but then I also saw no performance boost. So it basically did nothing. It is basically a different optimization - some things will perform better (expecially boots) and some will perform worse. I wouldn't bother with it if I were you.

 

[oldfart]

You dont NEED to install them, but you should. The MS IDE drivers will work just fine, but the Intel drivers are a little faster. If you dont like them, they will uninstall via add/remove programs.

 

[LarryJoe]

Anyone know if this application will effect a RAID controller, such as the HPT370? It appears that these just replace the regular chipset IDE drivers.

 

[oldfart]

Intel(R) Application Accelerator Help

Overview

The Intel(R) Application Accelerator is a desktop-based software package designed specifically to increase the performance of applications and computer systems running Intel(R) Pentium(R) III or Pentium(R) 4 Processor. This is achieved by use of several methods:


1. The Intel(R) Ultra ATA Storage Driver Technology - This technology increases the performance of the Input/Output subsystem transfer rate, greatly enhancing the system speed.

2. The Intel(R) Advanced Caching Technology - With this technology, available for Pentium(R) 4 processor based systems running Microsoft* Windows* 2000 Professional and Windows XP only, an overall additional performance enhancement is realized for Windows 2000 - based applications.

Software installation is flexible and fully automated for Microsoft* Windows* 98, Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), Windows Millennium Edition* (Me), Windows NT* 4.0, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP Home Edition and Professional operating systems.


*  other brands and names may be claimed as the property of others.

 

[LarryJoe]

So it doesn't sound like it would replace the Highpoint drivers listed under SCSI, nor would I want it to. So since I am booting off my HPT370 RAID 0 array, I don't see how this would help me.

Thanks for the input,

LJ

 

[Athlon4all]

No u don't need to install them, but I would at least install the latest Intel IDE Busmaster drivers (which I believe the IAA includes), which do increase performance a bit.

 

[AndyHui]

Intel busmaster IDE drivers only apply to 440 series chipsets.

The ATA Storage Drivers/Application Accelerators are a complete replacement of these drivers for the 8xx series chipsets.

 

[oldfart]

<< The Intel(R) Advanced Caching Technology - With this technology, available for Pentium(R) 4 processor based systems >>


Is this IDE related? On Intels support site, it also says:


<< Performance-enhancing Data Pre-fetcher for Intel® Pentium® 4 processor-based systems >>

 

[Gunbuster]

Last I heard it was just a fancy new name for ultra ata drivers and the magic accelerator app. never quite worked right and was not released, but that was a few months back

 

[oldfart]

<< never quite worked right and was not released, but that was a few months back >>


Actually, they are released and work quite well.

 

[Athlon4all]

<< Intel busmaster IDE drivers only apply to 440 series chipsets.

The ATA Storage Drivers/Application Accelerators are a complete replacement of these drivers for the 8xx series chipsets. >>

Sorry. I meant the ATA Storage Drives.

 

[LarryJoe]

Andy, I am curious to hear your input here on whether these do anything and if they have any impact on a HPT370 RAID controller.

Thanks.

 

[AndyHui]

The Intel Application Accelerator Drivers are a repackaged and tweaked version of the Intel ATA Storage Drivers. The IAAD replace and supercede the IASD.

During informal testing here on the forums, we found a consistent 10% decrease in boot times and other load times, over the standard Microsoft IDE Drivers for Windows 2000, running on Pentium III i815 systems. The increase in performance is slightly larger for Pentium 4 based systems, as the drivers leverage the extremely deep buffers found on the i845 and i850 chipsets.

These Application Accelerators ONLY AFFECT devices connected to the onboard i8xx IDE ports. These drivers are not used, and are irrelevant for ATA RAID Controllers such as the Promise and HighPoint Controllers. These controllers have their own drivers.

If you plan to use the onboard i8xx IDE ports, you may consider installing the IAAD. If you are only going to use the HighPoint controller for RAID, there is no point in installing these drivers.

 

[LarryJoe]

Thanks Andy. I use my 60GB RAID 0 array for my OS and all applications. I do have 2 more hard drives on the i8xx IDE ports, but these are just used for storage (mp3's, pics, etc). I think I'll pass.

LJ