Z68 SSD Caching Issue

[MBentz]

Hi guys, I'm hoping someone here can give me a hand with this annoying issue. I just got my system up and running and I'm trying to enable SSD caching. I'm using a GIGABYTE Z68X-UD4 motherboard, 1TB Samsung HDD and a 64GB Curcial M4 SSD. I also have Intel's latest RST drivers installed.

Basically, after creating the "Acceleration" with Intel's software I reboot the computer. I make it through the POST to the RAID screen, which shows my HDD disabled. I have to reset the drives to non-RAID status to get back to the desktop, but in doing so I lose the caching of the SSD. Any ideas on how to fix this are greately appreciated.

 

[nanaki333]

pretty sure you can't enable ssd cache with raid, unless it's using the intel controller for the drives in the array. do you have your drives plugged in to the intel ports on the board or the marvell? do you have the raid option set to RAID(XHD)?

 

[nanaki333]

i'm assuming you read through the howto on gigabyte's website? http://download.gigabyte.ru/manual/mb_manual_smart-response_e.pdf

 

[MBentz]

pretty sure you can't enable ssd cache with raid, unless it's using the intel controller for the drives in the array. do you have your drives plugged in to the intel ports on the board or the marvell? do you have the raid option set to RAID(XHD)?

Yes, they are plugged into the Intel ports, and RAID was enabled in the BIOS before the install of Win7.

I didn't know about the .pdf... I'll give that a shot now.

 

[MBentz]

Unfortunately the .pdf didn't help, but I appreciate your trying!

I had it working beautifully, but decided to update the BIOS, and since then I can't get the caching to work. (Yes, I rechecked the settings.)

 

[MBentz]

Just an update in case someone else has this issue in the future... a simple uninstall/reinstall of Intel's RST software solved the problem.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

How's that M4 working as a cache drive? Considering one for my build.

 

[nanaki333]

Sometimes the simple solution is the only solution. Glad to hear it started working

 

[MBentz]

How's that M4 working as a cache drive? Considering one for my build.

It is ridiculous. Granted this is my first experience with a solid state drive, but the system flies. I was originally going to use it as my boot drive, but I figured I would rather spread the goodness out, so to speak, over all the programs. I'm very glad I decided to do that, because once something is cached, the responsiveness is unbelievable. Win7 starts and shuts down extremely fast, and I no longer have time to run downstairs to grab a drink in between BC2 map changes. Overall, I highly recommend it.