Does the Intel RST need to be active on a non-raid system?

Compumind · 10 Jan 2020

Have a question -

Have another DELL XPS-8930-SE desktop with one internal 2TB m.2 SSD for boot and a 2TB SATA-6 HDD for secondary.
Do I need to have the Intel Rapid Storage Technology active?

Look at this BIOS - Isn't AHCI enough? The system is in a non-RAID configuration.
Yet, the BIOS warns we about changing it. Is this a "blanket" statement?

Does the Intel RST need to be active on a non-raid system?-bios.jpg

Can the IRST application be deleted? No Optane memory is installed (obviously.)

I want to make sure that my logic is correct.

Thanks.

AndreTen · 10 Jan 2020

You can change to AHCI, but it will require a repair later (check this thread at Dell.

IRST can be uninstalled. Intel SATA Drivers will remain on your computer

that procedure to change from RAID to AHCI is a bit long. Think it is the same as to change from IDE to AHCI: set to boot in safe mode / restart / change settings in BIOS / restart in Safe mode / change settings to boot in normal mode

Settings to boot in safe mode can be changed in msconfig

zbook · 10 Jan 2020

The IRST is to increase performance whether using or not using RAID.

Some of the computer's that I'm using have IRST.

A large capacity HD is setup to work with a SSD where the SSD works as flash cache.

To enable flash cache the IRST accelerator is enabled.

The computer's I'm using are HP and there could be differences in configuration by computer manufacturer.

The IRST can be disabled if not wanted.
The application is used to increase performance.
The end user can enable and disable the application to assess any impact.

These are some videos about the technology:

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/su...top-Boards.mp4
Flash Cache Intelligent Caching – Flash Storage | NetApp

Intel(R) Smart Response Technology User Guide

Others may have more information related to Dell or the computer's configuration.

AndreTen · 10 Jan 2020

Think your post is about Optane technology, zbook

zbook · 10 Jan 2020

The IRST is used for each:

Intel Smart Response Technology
and
Intel Optane Memory

The computer's with IRST that I'm using have it installed for the Smart Response Technology or flash cache.

The Intel Optane I've not used.
This is a Intel FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Installation and Configuration for...

Compumind · 10 Jan 2020

@zbook -

Here's what I don't get (yet) -

1. If the configuration is non-RAID, then why IRST?
2. If I just uninstall the IRST - is it just the app or something more?
3. Would uninstalling the IRST improve performance at all?

The NVMe SSD is acting like Optane memory, in a sense.

I read about some problems switching to AHCI.

Thanks, guys!

zbook · 10 Jan 2020

For older computers large size SSDs were expensive and computer manufacturer's used Intel Smart Response Technology to enable faster boot times.

The computer with the IRST accelerator enabled is substantially faster than the computer with IRST accelerator disabled.

So the IRST allows the Windows to boot faster from the HD using the SSD flash cache.

Yesterday I asked HP tech support whether to continue using IRST flash cache if the HD is replaced with a SSD.
For this computer a large size SSD cannot be connected to the motherboard.
It can only be attached using a SATA port.
They commented that the IRST should still be used as the SSD would be limited to 6 GB/sec and using the flash cache PCI will be faster.
So I'm planning to continue using the IRST flash cache. (SSD in SATA and motherboard PCI flash cache)

This may not be applicable to the Dell computer's configuration.
So it may be best to ask Dell in their forum about any performance pro and con when the accelerator is enabled or disabled.

AndreTen · 10 Jan 2020

Zbook, that is exactly why I said that IRST is not necessary, or useful in this case... It is for accelerating HDDs, in the times that SSDs were small . We are talking about system on the NVMe drive here.

OK, One could use it to speed up data read / write from (second) HDD. And you have to have RAID enabled for this. If not, turn it off

Intel® Smart Response Technology is an Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST). This technology is a caching feature that improves computer system performance. Intel® RST allows you to configure computer systems with a Solid State Drive (SSD), used as a cache memory between the hard disk drive and system memory.

Compumind · 10 Jan 2020

Got my answers...

1) Intel Rapid Storage Technology is not needed on a system when the boot drive is an SSD. It's an older technology.
2) You can use it for SSD/HDD RAID if you wish but who really uses RAID on a non-server/non-enterprise system?
3) I uninstalled the application with no ill effect. No performance difference.

https://www.dell.com/support/article...ration?lang=en

Also -

I do not have a need for Intel RMT - Ready Mode Technology but didn't uninstall it just yet.

What is Intel(R) Ready Mode Technology (Intel(R) RMT)?

Does anyone have a real use for it? Opinions?

Thanks again for all the replies!

Steve C · 11 Jan 2020

You don't need the RAID setting nor any IRST options set in the BIOS. You also don't need the IRST utility in Windows 10. You only need the IRST driver for good disk performance. Peruse this excellent site to find the best driver for your PC Forum - Intel RST/RSTe Drivers (latest: v17.5.8.1033 WHQL/v6.2.0.1238 WHQL)