Intel Rapid Storage and X58 - Platform not supported

[dkm777]

Hi everyone,

I managed to destroy my Windows installation a little while ago and finally decided to move the SSD from my experimental rig to my main one. Installed Windows 7 64-bit without problems until it was time to install IRST drivers. So, I download the latest version from Intel's site but setup just blurted out "Platform not supported" and that was it. Not being quick to give up I tried an old version from mobo manufacturer and that worked, but when I tried to upgrade it the setup ran just fine, but the service wouldn't start. Obviously something was wrong. Since then I completely removed IRST and reinstalled my SATA controller drivers using Intel INF-whatchamacallit, but with an SSD I feel like I am not getting max performance. The strangest thing is that Readme states X58 should be supported. Anybody know how to solve this? Or should I just forget about everything since IRST isn't going to help much with such an old chipset?

 

[gpse]

same issue here, google what the latest version os Intel Rapid Storage Technology will work with X58.

 

[Fernando 1]

The compatibility of the different Intel RST/RSTe drivers and software versions doesn't depend on the chipset, but on the Southbridge resp. the Intel SATA Controller specification of the mainboard.

Although the name "X58" may implicate, that the X58 Chipset belongs to the Intel 5-Series Chipsets, it doesn't. It is member of Intel's 4-Series Chipsets and the X58 Chipset on-board Intel SATA Controller either has an ICH9R or ICH10R chip.
So users with an Intel X58 chipset system running their HDD/SSD in AHCI mode, who want to know the latest suitable Intel AHCI driver version, should look into the Device Manage for the exact name of the listed "Intel(R) SATA AHCI Controller" or for the HardwareIDs of it ("Properties" > "Details" > "Property" > "HardwareIDs").

Here are some additional informations:

1. None of the actual Intel RST(e) Drivers & Software Sets v12 can be used with an X58 chipset AHCI system, because only Intel Chipsets from 5-Series up are supported by them.
2. The latest Intel RST(e) AHCI drivers, which natively (unmodified) do support Intel ICH10R SATA AHCI Controllers, are v11.7.4.1001 WHQL dated 03/05/2013.
3. Users with an Intel ICH9R SATA AHCI Controller, who want to use an original Intel RST driver, have to stick with the Intel RST v10 series (latest version: v10.8.0.1003 WHQL dated 10/17/2011).
4. Nevertheless it is possible for X58 users to get the latest Intel RST(e) drivers installed, but the INF files have to be modified and the installation has to be forced by using the "Have Disk" button.

General advice for Intel AHCI users:
Since the Intel RST Console and RST Services neither are essential for AHCI systtenms nor will have any positive performance impact (it will rather drop it), I do not recommend to install the Intel RST/RST(e) Software.

 

[hennessy1]

You can see if your board manufacturer has any updates to the BIOS or if anyone else that has your board has supplied their own customized BIOS. The thing that will allow you to install the most recent version of the iRST software/driver is your OROM. I have an evga x58 board and in their forums someone was kind enough to modify the most recent BIOS with the most recent intel OROM.

http://forums.evga.com/tm.aspx?m=1586609

 

[Fernando 1]

You can see if your board manufacturer has any updates to the BIOS or if anyone else that has your board has supplied their own customized BIOS.

You are speaking about X58 RAID systems. An Intel RAID ROM update will not help X58 AHCI users regarding the use of actual Intel RST drivers.

 

[hennessy1]

I am just relaying the information I have personally done myself. I ran into the same issue on a system not in RAID but AHCI I updated the ROM and since then I can use the latest iRST drivers.

 

[Fernando 1]

I ran into the same issue on a system not in RAID but AHCI I updated the ROM and since then I can use the latest iRST drivers.

Does that mean, that after the update of the Intel RAID ROM you were able to get the newest Intel RST Drivers & Software Set v12.8 installed onto your X58 system running in AHCI mode? Or have you just done a manual installation of the Intel AHCI drivers v12.8 from within the Device Manager? If it was the latter, did you use the original drivers and how did you manage the installation?

 

[hennessy1]

That is correct after that BIOS update I was able to install v12.8 irst drivers from the software package onto the system. I have 1 system in AHCI mode with them installed and I have another system in RAID but the Windows OS disk is a single disk in AHCI mode.

 

[Fernando 1]

I was able to install v12.8 irst drivers from the software package onto the system.

So you installed the IRST drivers v12.8 manually without running the EXE file of the RST package?
Did you use the "Have Disk" button?

 

[hennessy1]

Sorry about that I installed them from running the exe.

 

[Fernando 1]

Sorry about that I installed them from running the exe.

That is hard to believe. The Intel ICH9/ICH10 SATA AHCI Controllers are not supported by the Intel RST drivers v12, because the related Intel SATA AHCI RAID Controllers DeviceIDs are missing within the INF files and an update of the Intel RAID ROM module doesn't change the DeviceID of the on-board SATA Controller.
Which mainboard has your X58 system?

 

[hennessy1]

It is an evga x58 board.

 

[Fernando 1]

It is an evga x58 board.

Please open the Device Manager and check the DeviceID (DEV_XXXX) of the Intel SATA AHCI Controller (right click onto it >"Properties" > "Details" > "Property" > "HardwareIDs").

 

[hennessy1]

 

[Fernando 1]

@ hennessy1:
Your screenshot verifies, that you are running your system drive in RAID mode, where the Intel 4-Series Chipset SATA Controllers are fully supported by the Intel RST(e) drivers v12.
Some posts above you had written, that you were able to get the newest Intel RST(e) v12.8 drivers installed without any problem while running your HDD/SSD in AHCI mode. This was the statement I do not believe, because Intel ICH9R/10R SATA AHCI Controllers are not supported at all by any original Intel RST(e) driver of the v12 series.

 

[Fernando 1]

Ooops - double post!

 

[hennessy1]

I apologize for not clarifying that post. You are correct that is from the system running in RAID the other system I mentioned I do not have in my possession and is currently running in a family members house.

Correct me if I am wrong though but if you had a single disk as your OS disk and you set your BIOS to raid mode won't that still set a single disk into AHCI and also allow you to load the v12 software?

 

[Fernando 1]

Correct me if I am wrong though but if you had a single disk as your OS disk and you set your BIOS to raid mode won't that still set a single disk into AHCI and also allow you to load the v12 software?

As long as you have set the Intel SATA Controller to "RAID" within the BIOS, you will be able to get any Intel RST(e) Drivers & Software Set installed without any problem, because the DeviceID DEV_2822 of the RAID Controller is supported by them.
But if you have set the SATA Controller to "AHCI", you will not succeed with the installation of the RST(e) v12 series (see my first post).
By the way: The Intel SATA Controller works totally different in "RAID" mode than in "AHCI" mode. Nevertheless the Controller will support some AHCI features even if it has been set to "RAID".

 

[dkm777]

So, if I understand correctly, IRST is only required when running RAID (which I never intend to do because hardware cards like LSI Logic do a much better job) and when using just AHCI it is better to leave it out, because I'll get unnecessary load on my PC?

A slightly unrelated question - how to check if TRIM is working?

 

[Fernando 1]

So, if I understand correctly, IRST is only required when running RAID (which I never intend to do because hardware cards like LSI Logic do a much better job) and when using just AHCI it is better to leave it out, because I'll get unnecessary load on my PC?

If you mean the Intel RST Software (RST Console and RST Services), you are right: The installation is only useful for RAID users.

A slightly unrelated question - how to check if TRIM is working?

If you want to check, if the OS (Win7 or newer) is sending TRIM commands to the SATA Controller where your SSD is connected, you should run the Command Prompt as Administrator and enter the following command:

fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify

If the result is "0", TRIM is eabled by the OS.
Another question is, if the TRIM command passes through the related SATA Controller and is active within the SSD. You can test it by using the TrimCheck Tool or manually by using a Hex Editor. For details you may look >here<.

 

[dkm777]

If you mean the Intel RST Software (RST Console and RST Services), you are right: The installation is only useful for RAID users.
If you want to check, if the OS (Win7 or newer) is sending TRIM commands to the SATA Controller where your SSD is connected, you should run the Command Prompt as Administrator and enter the following command:

fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify

If the result is "0", TRIM is eabled by the OS.
Another question is, if the TRIM command passes through the related SATA Controller and is active within the SSD. You can test it by using the TrimCheck Tool or manually by using a Hex Editor. For details you may look >here<.

Thanks, TRIM is working and I'll forget that Rapid Storage ever existed.

 

[Z15CAM]

Nevertheless the Controller will support some AHCI features even if it has been set to "RAID".

Correct as long as the Device is not a member of a Raid Array.

The Tim Check Tool Should Verify that TRIM is working with BIOS Sata Control Enabled in Raid Mode.

One thing I will point out that some SSD Software such as Samsung Magician only supports AHCI Mode and not SATA Raid Mode.