Intel RST Setup Issue

OnePingOnly

Senior member
Feb 27, 2008
296
2
81
Hello all,

I'm not quite sure how to setup the Intel RST feature on my new Z68 board. Here is some background on the hardware:

1x Crucial M4 64GB (Sata 3)
1x WD Black 640GB (Sata 2)

I'm starting completely from scratch (e.g. W7 not installed yet). I'd like to know how to properly set up a RAID array with my HDD so that I can have RST working correctly. Do I need to create a RAID0 with both the HDD and the SSD, together? How can I create a RAID0 array when I only have one HDD? Do I partition the 640GB? I'm at that point with the Intel RAID utility and could use some assistance. Thanks guys!
 

videopho

Diamond Member
Apr 8, 2005
4,185
29
91
Install w7 onto the WD 640gb HDD.
Then follow these instructions (I copied and pasted from the Intel RST user guide, there is a link at the end will provide more details if needed).

Intel® Smart Response Technology User Guide
Note: This feature requires that the SATA controller be set to RAID mode via the system BIOS.
Intel® Smart Response Technology is an Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (RST) caching feature that
improves computer system performance. It allows a user to configure computer systems with an SSD
used as cache memory between the hard disk drive and system memory. This provides the advantage of
having a hard disk drive (or a RAID volume) for maximum storage capacity while delivering an SSD-like
overall system performance experience. Intel® Smart Response Technology caching is implemented as a
single drive letter solution; no additional drive letter is required for the SSD device used as cache.
System Requirements:
For a system to support Intel Smart Response Technology it must have the following:
 Intel® Z68 Express Chipset-based desktop board
 Intel® Core™ Processor in the LGA 1155 package
 System BIOS with SATA mode set to RAID
 Intel Rapid Storage Technology software 10.5 version release or later
 Single Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or multiple HDD’s in a single RAID volume
 Solid State Drive (SSD) with a minimum capacity of 18.6GB
 Operating system: Microsoft Windows* Vista 32-bit Edition and 64-bit Edition, Microsoft Windows*
7 32-bit Edition and 64-bit
Setup Guide
Configure SATA Mode in BIOS Setup
1. Press the F2 during boot up to enter the BIOS setup menu
2. Go to Configuration > SATA Drives
3. Select the setting for Chipset SATA Mode and change the value to RAID
4. Press the F10 key to save settings and restart the system.
Operating System Installation
5. You may now begin installation of the operating system on the HDD (or RAID volume)
6. Install all required device drivers
7. Install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software version 10.5 or later
Enabling Intel Smart Response Technology
Note: The Intel RST software denotes Intel Smart Response Technology as Accelerate
8. Run the Intel RST software through the All Programs menu or the task bar icon.
9. Click “Enable acceleration‟ either under “Status‟ or “Accelerate‟.
10. Select the SSD to be used as a cache device.
11. Select the size from the SSD to be allocated for the cache memory.
Note: Any remaining space on the SSD may be used for data storage using the simple data
single-disk RAID 0 volume that is automatically created.
12. Select the HDD (or RAID volume) to be accelerated. It is highly recommended to accelerate the
system volume or system disk for maximum performance.
13. Select the acceleration mode, and then click “OK‟. By default, Enhanced mode is selected.
Note: Enhanced mode (default): Acceleration optimized for data protection.
Maximized mode: Acceleration optimized for input/output performance.
14. The page refreshes and reports the new acceleration configuration in the Acceleration View.
15. Congratulations! Your system is now successfully configured with the Intel Smart Response
Technology!
For more information on Intel Smart Response Technology, please visit:
http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/highlights/chpsts/imsm
* Other names, brands, and logos may be claimed as the ICnotpeyl,r tihgeh tI n©te 2l 0lo1g1o I, nIntetle lC Coorpreo,r aantido nC.o Arell Irnigshidtse raersee trrvaedde .pmraorpkesr otyf Ionft oetl hCeorrsp.oration in the U.S. and other countries.
 

OnePingOnly

Senior member
Feb 27, 2008
296
2
81
Thank for that info. I saw that, too, but I'm stuck around #3. The Intel SATA utility requires that I have two HDDs to create a Raid 0 array.
 

OnePingOnly

Senior member
Feb 27, 2008
296
2
81
Forgot to add this: I can set the SATA arrangement to RAID and Save it in the BIOS. Should I just skip the (Crtl + I) part where I need to create an array?
 

pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
7,419
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81
I'm totally confused... why would you want an SSD and a hard disk in RAID0 together? I thought RAID drives had to be two or more of the same drive technology/model/size. So two 64GB SSD's, or two 640 WD Blacks... not one of each...

[edit]
These guys agree with me: :)
http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/925708-raid0-ssd-hdd.html

I guess it could be done, but you'll have a 128GB hard disk (64GB x 2 because the 640GB will drop to 64GB to match the SSD) that won't be as fast as the SSD by itself and I'm not even sure how well it would work because you'd lose TRIM and the performance wouldn't be very good.

What I did with my SSD was install it alone into Windows and then I copied the C: \Users area over to my regular 1TB hard disk and then I deleted C: \Users and replaced it with a link from C: \Users to D : \Users. Thus all of my data is on the HD and my OS and programs are on my SSD.
 
Last edited:

OnePingOnly

Senior member
Feb 27, 2008
296
2
81
I'm totally confused... why would you want an SSD and a hard disk in RAID0 together? I thought RAID drives had to be two or more of the same drive technology/model/size. So two 64GB SSD's, or two 640 WD Blacks... not one of each...

These guys agree with me: :)
http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/925708-raid0-ssd-hdd.html

Hey pm,

I don't really want to use RAID either but it appears that it needs to be activated in order to use RST. IF I just keep it on SATA mode (instead of IDE mode) then I believe the RST won't work. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 

OnePingOnly

Senior member
Feb 27, 2008
296
2
81
Update: All good!

It's working now. I installed W7 in RAID mode (as opposed to just AHCI) and the "Accelerate" button now appears in the Intel RST software. Thanks all!
 

Meghan54

Lifer
Oct 18, 2009
11,684
5,228
136
Glad you found out, JRussell, that simply changing your SATA ports to RAID function in the BIOS doesn't mean you have to set up a RAID array....it doesn't. On the other hand, as you also found out, RAID has to be enabled to use the RST function in Windows. The RST program sets up an ersatz RAID array within the software itself when you add an SSD, but it's not a "real" RAID array in the traditional sense.

In fact, during my reading before I set up an RST setup on one of my Z68 mb's, one can set one's SATA ports to RAID and simply use them with single drives and the drives will function like you chose the ACHI setting as ACHI is a subset of RAID.
 

OnePingOnly

Senior member
Feb 27, 2008
296
2
81
I'm totally confused... why would you want an SSD and a hard disk in RAID0 together? I thought RAID drives had to be two or more of the same drive technology/model/size. So two 64GB SSD's, or two 640 WD Blacks... not one of each...

[edit]
These guys agree with me: :)
http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/925708-raid0-ssd-hdd.html

I guess it could be done, but you'll have a 128GB hard disk (64GB x 2 because the 640GB will drop to 64GB to match the SSD) that won't be as fast as the SSD by itself and I'm not even sure how well it would work because you'd lose TRIM and the performance wouldn't be very good.

What I did with my SSD was install it alone into Windows and then I copied the C: \Users area over to my regular 1TB hard disk and then I deleted C: \Users and replaced it with a link from C: \Users to D : \Users. Thus all of my data is on the HD and my OS and programs are on my SSD.

Hey pm,

Could you describe more in depth how to create a link for the User folder migration from SSD to HDD. I ended up reinstalling W7 on the SSD to compare speeds. I only have 22GB free out of 60GB!
 

=Wendy=

Senior member
Nov 7, 2009
263
1
76
www.myce.com
hmmm
RST and SRT should not be confused.

RST stands for Rapid Storage Technology
SRT stands for Smart Response Technology

RST is a driver for SATA AHCI or RAID mode.
SRT is the special feature on Z68 boards for using a small SSD to cache files from an HDD.

RST and SRT is not the same thing.
 

OnePingOnly

Senior member
Feb 27, 2008
296
2
81
hmmm
RST and SRT should not be confused.

RST stands for Rapid Storage Technology
SRT stand for Smart Response Technology

RST is a driver for SATA AHCI or RAID mode.
SRT is the special feature on Z68 boards for using a small SSD to cache files from an HDD.

RST and SRT is not the same thing.

Silly Intel with all of their acronyms. I believe I was using the correct term, RST - the SSD caching feature, when describing my issue. No bother now, I reformatted and put W7 on the SSD to try it out.
 

Diogenes2

Platinum Member
Jul 26, 2001
2,151
0
0
Actually, SRT is a feature of RST, it is not a separate application.

You do not have to actually install RST in order to run AHCI or RAID in Win7..

You can enable RAID in the BIOS and manage RAID arrays in the RAID BIOS ( Ctrl I ) during boot..

Installing the RST application in Windows gives you a management console that lets you create, delete, expand & etc. RAID arrays and SRT within Windows..

So, you were not really in error ..
You have to install RST, to get access to SRT ..