How to: Set up Intel Smart Response Technology (SSD caching)
Intel® Smart Response Technology User Guide:
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.
You can use a SSD to cache your secondary drives and RAID arrays. Just remember all data on the SSD you use will be wiped when you accelerate the other drives. And you can only have one volume accelerated at a time.
More info here: (link)
Also, before you try to set it up make sure your SSD has no partitions on it. So, go to disk management and delete all the partitions on the SSD or use the diskpart clean command to delete the partitions that way before you begin.
System requirements:
Option 2: Set up caching on a secondary drive with a separate, non-OS SSD for caching
Option 3:
Setting up the SSD as the OS drive and the cache drive. You will have to install on the HDD and set up the cache for xxGB of the SSD (up to 64GB). Then when you do that reinstall on the SSD in the unused space. Then set up SSD caching again on the previous cache space. (iirc)
Guide here: http://www.overclock.net/t/1404323/guide-using-1-ssd-as-system-drive-os-and-acceleration-drive-raid-smart-response-technology-ssd-caching
Now supported by X79 chipsets!
http://www.overclock.net/t/1217075/asus-p9x79-motherboard-owners-where-are-you-at/100_50#post_19487853
All you need is the IRST driver v11.7.x.xxx or newer!
No acceleration tab showing up for you? Here is the fix! (Note: You can not cache dynamic disks!)
Fix #2:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1227655/how-to-set-up-intel-smart-response-technology-ssd-caching/240#post_21550417
Quote:
Intel® Smart Response Technology User Guide:
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.
You can use a SSD to cache your secondary drives and RAID arrays. Just remember all data on the SSD you use will be wiped when you accelerate the other drives. And you can only have one volume accelerated at a time.
More info here: (link)
Also, before you try to set it up make sure your SSD has no partitions on it. So, go to disk management and delete all the partitions on the SSD or use the diskpart clean command to delete the partitions that way before you begin.
System requirements:
- Intel® Z68/Z77/H77/Q77 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 or multiple drives 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
- Install Windows onto the HDD with the SATA mode set to RAID in the BIOS/UEFI. If you have the OS installed and the SATA mode currently set to IDE or AHCI please look here on how to properly change to RAID mode: (link)
- Install the newest Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver with the Control Center (a check box in the bottom left corner when installing): (link)
- Have both the HDD you intend to accelerate and the SSD in system at this point
- Run the Intel RST software through the All Programs menu or the task bar icon.
- Click Enable acceleration either under the Status or Accelerate menu.
- When pop-up menu appears, chose which SSD you wish to use as the Cache device
- Select the size from the SSD to be allocated for the cache memory. 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.
- Select the drive (or RAID volume) to be accelerated. It is highly recommended to accelerate the system volume or system disk for maximum performance.
- Select the acceleration mode. By default, Enhanced mode is selected.
Enhanced mode: Acceleration is optimized for data protection.
Maximized mode: Acceleration is optimized for input/output performance.
- Click OK
- After clicking OK button, SRT will enable automatically, and the RST GUI will refresh to show the newly accelerated system configuration.
Option 2: Set up caching on a secondary drive with a separate, non-OS SSD for caching
- The system should already have windows installed on the main SSD and the SATA mode should be set to RAID, if you need to change your sata mode look here: (link)
- Once that is set, install on your caching SSD
- Install IRST
- Follow the instructions in the above guide, only instead of using your OS SSD as the cache SSD use the one you designated for caching the HDD.
Option 3:
Setting up the SSD as the OS drive and the cache drive. You will have to install on the HDD and set up the cache for xxGB of the SSD (up to 64GB). Then when you do that reinstall on the SSD in the unused space. Then set up SSD caching again on the previous cache space. (iirc)
Guide here: http://www.overclock.net/t/1404323/guide-using-1-ssd-as-system-drive-os-and-acceleration-drive-raid-smart-response-technology-ssd-caching
Now supported by X79 chipsets!
http://www.overclock.net/t/1217075/asus-p9x79-motherboard-owners-where-are-you-at/100_50#post_19487853
All you need is the IRST driver v11.7.x.xxx or newer!
No acceleration tab showing up for you? Here is the fix! (Note: You can not cache dynamic disks!)
- This is your issue, no option to enable acceleration right?
- Simply exit the Intel control panel and then delete the partition on your SSD you are going to use to accelerate
- Reopen the Intel control center and then under the status tab under the performance subsection you will have the Acceration using SSDs: Disabled and the ability to enable it.
- Click enable and here you go!
Fix #2:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1227655/how-to-set-up-intel-smart-response-technology-ssd-caching/240#post_21550417
Quote: