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

[meros]

80gb SSD.....

your ssd will probably die on you since its like 3 years old +

Bought it last summer, with Intel cashback promotion.

Have you tried following the beginning of this thread?.

Yes I have read allmost everything, started right after posting, although I must say the last few pages were most helpfull, specially the posts from......

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..

I pieced most together from your previous posts, but this completes it, I will try this weekend to reinstall Win7 after I put everything together again ( and adding a second 560 TI card and placingold and new components in a brand new CM Storm Trooper Casing ).

Thanks for the sharing the knowledge!

p.s. one more question I assume I need to choose the 19 gb option? since the 65gb takes too much from 80 gb ssd?

 

[Diogenes2]

I kind of messed up based on the purpose of the thread, which was to have OS and cache on the same drive.

I think with the 80 GB drive, it would be best to have OS on the HDD and just use the SSD for cache, which is the steps that I gave.

With that set-up, I think using 64gb for cache would give you the best performance, leaving a small amount of SSD for misc ..

Your HDD I/O performance is going to be real close to stand alone SSD, unless you run a lot of different applications or access a lot of really huge media files.

Since there have been a lot of questions about OS and Cache on the same SSD, I am going to try to do a step by step guide, and put it all in one place in the near future, since this is such a long thread and a bit cluttered ..

I will also do a step by step of OS on HDD with cache on SDD just for clarification.

Stay tuned..

 

[bryanW1995]

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

That is completely incorrect. x25m will last a LONG time, it's probably the most reliable ssd ever made. I personally ran my rig for 6 months with an x25m g2 80gb in SRT + Primary OS, and that ssd is still going strong.

 

[chimaxi83]

Bought it last summer, with Intel cashback promotion.




Yes I have read allmost everything, started right after posting, although I must say the last few pages were most helpfull, specially the posts from......



I pieced most together from your previous posts, but this completes it, I will try this weekend to reinstall Win7 after I put everything together again ( and adding a second 560 TI card and placingold and new components in a brand new CM Storm Trooper Casing ).

Thanks for the sharing the knowledge!

p.s. one more question I assume I need to choose the 19 gb option? since the 65gb takes too much from 80 gb ssd?

Yes sir, that's how I have my 64GB M4 set up. Running flawlessly.

That is completely incorrect. x25m will last a LONG time, it's probably the most reliable ssd ever made. I personally ran my rig for 6 months with an x25m g2 80gb in SRT + Primary OS, and that ssd is still going strong.

Exactly what I said :thumbsup:

 

[bryanW1995]

To touch on my earlier assertion about the reliability of the x25 series of ssd's, Anand has some great reliability info in some of his ssd writeups. The SSD anthology and the original x25m writeup are a couple of good articles for starters. The information that he alludes to in these articles has certainly been proven true over the past 4 years. Links to follow:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2614 - x25m article

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2738/ - ssd anthology

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I thought I looked at the ISRT specs for some Z77 motherboards. I don't see anywhere that they increased the maximum cache size beyond 64GB, but I had heard earlier that they would.

Anyone know something to the contrary? I know I posted in this thread last year, may have mentioned the "hiccups" I got for using an Intel Elm Crest 128GB as both cache and partitioned drive (but not for the OS).

I'm starting to pick parts for another machine -- probably an Ivy Bridge system. I'd used the Patriot Pyro 60GB to replace the Elm Crest, and the Elm Crest went into the machine for a member of my fam-damn-ily. Now I'm looking at the Intel Cherryville 60GB.

I don't care what anyone says about ISRT with the IRST software. This setup has been stellar now for almost a year. It's so stable, I'm inclined to use the "Maximized" setting, and there've been no losses, no problems. No "slowdowns," hiccups, nothing but the promised speed.

 

[bluc]

Hey all first post here. I am trying to setup my ssd following the guide on page 1 I get cache setup no worries but then when I got back in to re install windows the windows installation cant see the ssd data partition. Perhaps I need a driver to see the ssd but I have no idea which one I need or where to get it. Help appreciated trying to set it up with windows 8 release preview.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Hey all first post here. I am trying to setup my ssd following the guide on page 1 I get cache setup no worries but then when I got back in to re install windows the windows installation cant see the ssd data partition. Perhaps I need a driver to see the ssd but I have no idea which one I need or where to get it. Help appreciated trying to set it up with windows 8 release preview.

I"ve been touching base on this thread since more than a year ago. I'm not going to go back and review what you may have read.

If you are setting up "HDD acceleration with SSD caching" or "ISRT" with the IRST software, you shouldn't be "re-installing" windows.

Also from your wording, I could wonder if you didn't get a larger SSD, use 64GB for the cache and the remainder for a "data partition?" Not a good idea, in my opinion.

Without further info about your rig, I can recommend at least two SSDs for an ISRT arrangement: Patriot Pyro 60GB, or an Intel "Cherryville" 520 60GB. Using the cache drive for anything more than ISRT cache is asking for trouble in my opinion.

The only driver you should need is the Intel RAID driver for your controller when you initially installed Windows.

 

[bluc]

If you had read original post (not trying to be offensive) You would see this is for setting up rst cache and os on same ssd. And as part of the process you install windows on a mechanical drive setup cache then re install windows to the ssd. Anyway I got it sorted I needed the rst f6 intel driver wich you get here http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...apid+Storage+Technology+(Intel®+RST)&lang=eng cheers anyway.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

If you had read original post (not trying to be offensive) You would see this is for setting up rst cache and os on same ssd. And as part of the process you install windows on a mechanical drive setup cache then re install windows to the ssd. Anyway I got it sorted I needed the rst f6 intel driver wich you get here http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...apid+Storage+Technology+(Intel®+RST)&lang=eng cheers anyway.

No problem, but I still don't think it's a good idea . . .

EDIT/UPDATE: This may not have been the specific thread I referred to about posting a year ago, or maybe it was. Here's why I think using the same SSD for cache and OS partition is a bad idea.

We want to capture the sustained throughput maximum from an SSD. On newer SATA-III SSDs, this can be about 500 MB/s sequential read and almost that much with writes (more like 450). The ISRT caching will improve the throughput for even an SATA-II drive as much as 400%, but more concretely to around 80% of the SATA-III SSD's maximum performance.

What do you think is happening when you use a single SSD connected to a single SATA-III port for simultaneous HDD caching/acceleration and for the OS at the same time?

 

[fuzionmicro]

Sorry to bump this old thread.

Just wanted to ask if anybody tried this with the Z77/H77 Chipset? Is there anything I should be aware of or changes in the procedure?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Sorry to bump this old thread.

Just wanted to ask if anybody tried this with the Z77/H77 Chipset? Is there anything I should be aware of or changes in the procedure?

Thanks in advance!

Maybe someone else has figured that out, but it couldn't differ too much.

Again, I don't think it's a good idea. You want the ISRT caching for a performance bump on the hard disk. Using part of the SSD as a boot and system partition could double the throughput demands on a single port of the same controller.

Recent published articles, possibly in Maximum PC etc. or even blogs I found on the web stated that "ISRT caching requires an SSD of 64GB or less," noting that several manufacturers were producing drives specifically for that purpose in that size or smaller. The information wasn't more explicit than that, but I think my argument is sound. Perhaps, though, someone here can give testament to problem-free performance for such a configuration, and we can assess whether their experience is credible or reliable for what it needs to be.

 

[orangedude]

Hi,

I am currently on the Z77 chipset.

I'm planning to follow the steps in this thread after buying a 256 GB SSD (Crucial M4).

My question (before I jump in and make my purchase) for all those who have installed the OS/SRT combo on single SSD:

Does TRIM now work on either the SRT cache or the remaining SSD portion since Intel has released the new drivers (11.5) to support Raid 0 trim?

Thanks

 

[Gibsins]

A heart-felt "thank you" to the OP for his advice! I followed the steps provided to install Win7x64 onto a Crucial M4 128 GB SSD with a 55 GB data partition, and a 64 GB cache for a WD 1 TB Black HDD. The process got a little squirrelly because I used the WD for the first installation of Win7 and subsequent initialization of the cache partition on the SSD using Intel RST.

If you take the same path, then be sure to format the HDD from within the installer for Win7 before installing the O/S on the data partition on the SSD. If you forget to format the HDD within the Win7 installer, then Windows won't let you format the HDD later. It will recognize the HDD as a system drive, even if it is no longer the drive being used to load the O/S.

 

[bryanW1995]

Maybe someone else has figured that out, but it couldn't differ too much.

Again, I don't think it's a good idea. You want the ISRT caching for a performance bump on the hard disk. Using part of the SSD as a boot and system partition could double the throughput demands on a single port of the same controller.

Recent published articles, possibly in Maximum PC etc. or even blogs I found on the web stated that "ISRT caching requires an SSD of 64GB or less," noting that several manufacturers were producing drives specifically for that purpose in that size or smaller. The information wasn't more explicit than that, but I think my argument is sound. Perhaps, though, someone here can give testament to problem-free performance for such a configuration, and we can assess whether their experience is credible or reliable for what it needs to be.

Your argument is simply wrong. I used my x25m with cache and boot volume for 6 months, and it "was a good idea" for me. Only getting 80% of the speed on your ssd + the enormous speed boost from the cache was huge for me, and it helped me to get an extra 6 months worth of "useful" life out of my x25m before I finally took it to the office.

 

[Andreh]

Hopefully not pulling a nerve bumping this old topic.
First would like to congrats the op and all comments for the great thread. Ive done this 5 years ago and it served me greatly, without any problem. Last 3 years, this desktop saw little action, and last week while playing a game, had a BSOD and restart. Windows was loading and pausing, stuttering and I did the worst possible thing, a cold reset.
System was built as suggested by the op, a Z77 MB (gigabyte), OCZ SSD sataIII 128GB, a WD 2TB hdd, os windows 7
cant remember if the acceleration mode was default or enhanced

After the restart windows wouldnt load with a BCD not found error
CTRL-I showed volume 1(cache) as disabled, the rest as expected.
Acceleration option says that there is no volume for acceleration.

Windows repair couldnt find the os, after installing raid drivers, found windows 7, but with 0 size and no location

after bootrec.exe at dos prompt windows begin to load but hangs.

Any tips?
Ive found some pages suggesting changing to non-raid at ctrl-i, but that would make me loose data, wouldnt?

Thanks for reading and any help

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Hopefully not pulling a nerve bumping this old topic.
First would like to congrats the op and all comments for the great thread. Ive done this 5 years ago and it served me greatly, without any problem. Last 3 years, this desktop saw little action, and last week while playing a game, had a BSOD and restart. Windows was loading and pausing, stuttering and I did the worst possible thing, a cold reset.
System was built as suggested by the op, a Z77 MB (gigabyte), OCZ SSD sataIII 128GB, a WD 2TB hdd, os windows 7
cant remember if the acceleration mode was default or enhanced

After the restart windows wouldnt load with a BCD not found error
CTRL-I showed volume 1(cache) as disabled, the rest as expected.
Acceleration option says that there is no volume for acceleration.

Windows repair couldnt find the os, after installing raid drivers, found windows 7, but with 0 size and no location

after bootrec.exe at dos prompt windows begin to load but hangs.

Any tips?
Ive found some pages suggesting changing to non-raid at ctrl-i, but that would make me loose data, wouldnt?

Thanks for reading and any help

Well, you "can't remember," but it sounds more likely that you used "Enhanced." "Enhanced" implements a deferred-writes feature. Even if you've been OCD about hardware perfection and UPS-supported power solutions, that feature still represents a risk, even if it's a lower risk.

Don't you have a backup of your boot-system disk? Hopefully, you could do a bare-metal restoration.

I suppose that I anticipated all these little possibilities among the sieve of possibilities. I have a home server which backs up all the household workstations nightly, and I've probably made four or five bare-metal restorations over the last few years -- some of them simply done to replace a disk with a faster one or higher capacity.

The problem with Intel ISRT caching is the same as that of the Samsung RAPID feature for RAM-caching of a Sammy SSD or the Hyper-Duo solution provided with some Marvell controller chips. It is proprietary to the hardware -- Intel disk controller, Samsung SSD or Marvell controller card.

For 2.5 years, I've been using PrimoCache from Romex Software. The only competitive software product I found came from some Massachusetts outfit -- "SuperCache" I believe it was called. This latter software only allows for RAM caching, even if it is storage-mode agnostic. It doesn't implement any SSD-caching of HDDs, and there is no deferred-writes feature.

Primo is sort of like a Swiss Army Knife of caching configuration. You can set up caching for any SSD, any HDD, either AHCI or RAID storage modes mixed together, and multiple controllers.

I just hope you made a backup of that boot-system disk recently. If you didn't -- live and learn, Bro!

 

[Andreh]

Thanks for answering Bonzai.
Indeed, I cant remember, as I used to switch from default to enhanced and back, but its probably that it was left on enhanced. As I said recently this system had seen very low use.
I have a back up of the boot disk, though not recent, and I fear that doing this wont be that different than a new install.
AT Ctrl+I environment:
What will happen if a I reset the disks to non raid?
ANd what is the recovery volume options?

thanks for your attention

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Thanks for answering Bonzai.
Indeed, I cant remember, as I used to switch from default to enhanced and back, but its probably that it was left on enhanced. As I said recently this system had seen very low use.
I have a back up of the boot disk, though not recent, and I fear that doing this wont be that different than a new install.
AT Ctrl+I environment:
What will happen if a I reset the disks to non raid?
ANd what is the recovery volume options?

thanks for your attention

To your first question, that was a deal-breaker for me. Of course I had to set up the entire system from the get-go with RAID storage mode. When the VelociRaptor went south, and I was set on buying the 840 Pro drive as a replacement, it was a slight hurdle. I was curious about "RAPID" and wanted the 840 Pro to boot into windows with AHCI storage mode. You could only use RAPID with AHCI.

But a broken ISRT should still leave you with a readable HDD even if you switch modes without "doing anything." The hurdle is making a conversion so a Windows installation is bootable in AHCI mode. There are Windows Fixit tools which will do it for you, and you'd only have to reboot the system and follow some simple instructions.