Trim with Intel RST 11.2/11.5 and RAID 0? Update: Trying 11.5 RST with 11.5.x.x OROM

[Engineer]

AnandTech - Intel Brings TRIM to RAID-0 SSD Arrays on 7-Series Motherboards, We Test It

Just saw that. It's a crock of doo-doo that Intel isn't offering this for the 6 series chipsets. Was thinking about building a new rig but have decided to not build just because of this (and the fact that my budget is much lighter as I pay for my child to go to college in a week).

 

[el-Capitan]

AnandTech - Intel Brings TRIM to RAID-0 SSD Arrays on 7-Series Motherboards, We Test It

Thanks very much.

I fully support the finishing paragraph. As a z68 owner I too expect Intel to work in TRIM support.

 

[Coup27]

Intel will not provide TRIM for 6 series owners. I learned this when I watched X25-M G1 customers get shafted on TRIM firmware.

Hopefully some clever community members will come to the resuce.

 

[bryanW1995]

Just saw that. It's a crock of doo-doo that Intel isn't offering this for the 6 series chipsets. Was thinking about building a new rig but have decided to not build just because of this (and the fact that my budget is much lighter as I pay for my child to go to college in a week).

Agreed on the "crock of doo-doo", though I think that much stronger language would have been justified. Of course, you could always get the kid to delay college for a year or two and upgrade now... ()

 

[Fernando 1]

Meanwhile I have done some additional Trim tests with my Z77 system, where I have a Win7 and a Win8 partition within the RAID0 array.
This time I tested the combination of the Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 with the RST RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527.
Result:
Trim is active in both Operating Systems.

 

[Engineer]

Meanwhile I have done some additional Trim tests with my Z77 system, where I have a Win7 and a Win8 partition within the RAID0 array.
This time I tested the combination of the Intel RST driver v11.2.0.1006 with the RST RAID ROM v11.2.0.1527.
Result:
Trim is active in both Operating Systems.

Thanks for everything you've done Fernando. I personally think that the research that you've done has pushed Intel to release the statement from yesterday!

Now if you could push them to update the 6 series, lol!

:thumbsup:

 

[Old Hippie]

Thanks for everything you've done Fernando.

He has been on the ball. :thumbsup:

 

[Burner27]

Does the combo of OROM 11.0.0.1339 & IRST Driver version 11.2.1006 enable TRIM for RAID?

 

[Fernando 1]

Does the combo of OROM 11.0.0.1339 & IRST Driver version 11.2.1006 enable TRIM for RAID?

Although I haven't tested exactly this combination, I am pretty sure, that it will, if you have an Intel 7 series chipset system.
I have tested the Intel RAID ROM v11.0.0.1339 together with the RST(e) drivers v11.5.2.1001 and found out, that TRIM was active within the RAID array. So I think, that the combo with the v11.2.0.1006 driver will support Trim as well.

 

[Burner27]

Although I haven't tested exactly this combination, I am pretty sure, that it will, if you have an Intel 7 series chipset system.
I have tested the Intel RAID ROM v11.0.0.1339 together with the RST(e) drivers v11.5.2.1001 and found out, that TRIM was active within the RAID array. So I think, that the combo with the v11.2.0.1006 driver will support Trim as well.

I switched to an Intel 7 Series board. I am now running an Asus P8Z77-V Pro Mobo/3770K combo.

 

[Elganja]

Now at

Intel RAID Rom 11.5.0.1347 and 11.5.0.1184 Beta RST Windows Drivers.

Will see how well they work. Drives show up as SCSI devices in Device Manager.

Edit: About 2 hours ago, I placed a couple hundred files, just over 22GB worth, into a folder on the desktop. I deleted them and proceeded to empty the recycle bin. I tested with AS-SSD at 1453. Just did a retest at 1521. Not sure if TRIM had anything to do with it or was simply garbage collection from sitting (logged on) idle for the last few hours or the test simply ran on another portion of the drive. More testing is needed.

fyi... here are the EVGA X58 modified 83 BIOS's

edit:
http://www.evga.com/forums/fb.ashx?m=1605686

 

[Elganja]

I'm now running:

OROM 11.5.0.1582
Intel RST 11.5.2.1001 (11.5.0.1182 yielded non stop BSOD's for me)

 

[bryanW1995]

Keep up the pressure Fernando, all of us 6 series owners would really like to get this added to our boards!

 

[Fernando 1]

Maybe this excerpt of a PDF file is interesting for users with an SSD RAID0 and an Intel chipset system (important is the last sentence):

You can find the full text, if you download Intels official RST package v11.5.0.1207 from >here< and look into page 102 of the PDF file named "OEM Technical Guide 11.5.rev0.82".
Credits go to fdrsoft from station-drivers for the link.

 

[Engineer]

Thanks Fernando for the update. I was thinking of upgrading to a new Z77 system with 3770K chip but because of this, I'll hold off until much later and might not upgrade at all (don't really need anything, just a case of the wants and now that's gone).

Just a ploy by Intel hoping to sell more boards. This old man isn't buying one on principle on this one.

 

[Coup27]

I've just gone from 1x 128GB 830 to 2x in RAID0 and I really cannot tell the difference. I'm certainly not going to upgrade for TRIM - I'd rather go back to a single drive.

 

[Old Hippie]

After I purchased my P6T I decided not to upgrade until the Intel controller/chipset can handle more that two 6Gb/s ports.

Looks like it'll be awhile.

 

[Foonus]

After I purchased my P6T I decided not to upgrade until the Intel controller/chipset can handle more that two 6Gb/s ports.

Looks like it'll be awhile.

Same boat here.. running 4x Corsair Force GT 240's (6Gb/s) on the P6T7 WS board and cant see upgrading till there is a board with 4+ 6Gb/s ports...

I have been keeping a revised BIOS up to date over on the Asus forums, as they have not officially updated for a long time.

I managed to get a test version with 11.5.0.1582 OROM working on the P6T7WS Supercomputer board and have done testing with the 12.0.0.1013 RST driver set. Here are the results...

SATA II Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 60G (x3) - TRIM NON FUNCTIONAL:thumbsdown:
SATA III Corsair Force GT (x4) - TRIM NON FUNCTIONAL:thumbsdown:
SATA III Corsair Force GT (x1) - TRIM FUNCTIONAL:thumbsup:
SATA III Corsair Force GT (x4 Rebuilt with 11.5.0.1582 OROM) TRIM NON FUNCTIONAL:thumbsdown:

Confirms what others have been saying about the x58.. guess we have to wait for someone to figure a way around this limitation. I suspect as others do that its simply there to sell new products and can be "fixed" when the right person is motivated to do so.

 

[Fernando 1]

Here are the results...

SATA II Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 60G (x3) - TRIM NON FUNCTIONAL:thumbsdown:
SATA III Corsair Force GT (x4) - TRIM NON FUNCTIONAL:thumbsdown:
SATA III Corsair Force GT (x1) - TRIM FUNCTIONAL:thumbsup:
SATA III Corsair Force GT (x4 Rebuilt with 11.5.0.1582 OROM) TRIM NON FUNCTIONAL:thumbsdown:

How did you verify the TRIM function?

 

[Foonus]

How did you verify the TRIM function?

Created File, Ran winhex, selected file and recorded sector.. deleted file, empty recycle bin, rerun winhex and navigate to same sector and check if area still shows values or has been reset to all 00 00 00 (as in the case of the solo SSD). Borrowed the exact procedure from one of the links in this thread.

I actually ran the solo SSD test in part to see if i could produce a working TRIM result, and in part to see if my test was working right
Could rerun the procedure and take specific screenshots if it would help anyone out.

 

[Fernando 1]

@ Foonus:
Thanks for the quick reply.

Borrowed the exact procedure from one of the links in this thread.

Obviously it was the procedure, which I have layed down miyself after having done a lot of tests.

@ all:
For those, who are interested in the test, >here< is the entire guide about how to do it (with screenshots).

 

[Foonus]

Yep, will show same results whichever app you use to check it.

The simpliest way to verify if TRIM is working is with WinHEX

1/ Copy a JPEG file (for example) to the root directory of your RAID
2/ Open WinHEX then press F9 (Open Disk) then choose your RAID partition
3/ Choose your files and look at his content, note the first cluster / offset
4/ Then delete the file under Windows
5/ Under WinHEX press F9 to reopen your partition and choose "Take a new one"

=> When you choose your (deleted) file you must see 00 00 00 or FF FF FF (etc.) instead of the old content. If the content did not change then TRIM is not ok.
=> If the file is not here use alt+g or ctrl+g to go to the good location and see if you got 00 00 00 or FF FF FF (etc.) or the older data

Found where i got the exact procedure for WinHex... was from Marc_HFR Here

Also... another aside.

The most welcoming piece of news is that Intel RST 11.5 will even support several year old Eagle Lake (3-Series) and Montevina (4-Series) Chipsets. We are talking about ICH9M, ICH9ME, ICH10R, ICH10DO and ICH10D Southbridges. Support for Ibex Peak (5-Series), Cougar Point (6-Series) and Panther Point (7-Series - Maho Bay, Chief River and Carlow-WS) is also a given. RST 11.5 is expected to formally debut in the first half of 2012 (alpha versions are in the wild already), with 11.6 being a refreshed version with full support for Windows 8 which are expected to arrive during third quarter of this year.

Read more: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-r...d-trim-and-many-more/14638.html#ixzz25LATyth2​

I wonder were these guys got this specific information, they provide no links at all... in hindsight they mention 11.6 RST when we already can see that Intel went right from 11.5 to 12.x

 

[Fernando 1]

Found where i got the exact procedure for WinHex... was from Marc_HFR

That is the source of my guide as well.

Also... another aside.
I wonder were these guys got this specific information, they provide no links at all... in hindsight they mention 11.6 RST when we already can see that Intel went right from 11.5 to 12.x

The article was written in January. I doubt, that the rumors about Intel's roadmap are still realistic.

 

[Foonus]

The article was written in January. I doubt, that the rumors about Intel's roadmap are still realistic.

Right, still would be interested where this source got this information from since it was one of the most detailed posts about the older controllers, they obviously had some sort of document from Intel they got this info from to be able to specify so many details, and it almost parrots the Intel release notes (from station drivers you linked).

My theory is that with only 2 SATA III ports on the latest Intel onboard RAID controller (they really dropped the ball with this), Intel has to find some other incentive to force current SSD RAID users to upgrade platforms, and since only 2 Ports is unattractive to a RAID user, they try to persuade to purchase this new chipset just to get the TRIM support.

Really stinks of Intel wanting to sell more of these x77 based boards that aren't selling well to the SSD RAID user due to lack of more than 2 6G ports.
More profiteering at the expense of the end user??? Par for the course these days... wouldn't be the least bit surprised. Would be even less supprised if this decission was reached after consultation with mainboard vendors (IE Asus) which never update their Intel RST OROMS during thier BIOS updates. This also gives the user the impression that newer drives can't be supported with the current product and potentially tricks an ignorant user into another purchase, when all it needed was a flashed/Current OROM to support the newer hardware.

Heres a clasic example of the above, where i am forced to update the OROMS on a specific Asus product to support a 3TB HD among other things since Asus has not updated the OROM for the Intel controller since the boards release. I have been trying to get these companies to show some accountability in regards to this for a VERY long time now, and they have yet to even reply even after being called out on their own official forum.

"As I noted in this thread on created 11/21/2010 Asus hadn't included any OROM updates with this product's BIOS revisions. To this day there has not been a single OROM update on this product.."

 

[Foonus]

Double post.