Intel rapid storage drivers after 500GB ssd upgrade

Have a Dell 15Z 5523 ultrabook. I've been using a 1TB HDD and 32GB mSata SSD for HDD caching. It was managed by Intel Rapid Storage Technology software. Worked great.
I just cloned the 1TB drive to a Samsung 500GB SSD.
MZ7KM480HAHP - Enterprise SSD | Samsung Semiconductor Global Website
It works fine. But now the IRST software is useless. So I uninstalled it but the drivers remain in use by Windows.
The BIOS is currently set to use IRST. If I try to change to AHCI, a BIOS warning pops that says the system may become non-responsive.
I don't want to get into trouble so I figured I'd seek some advice here, my question is:
If I switch the BIOS to AHCI, will there be any advantage over the current IRST drivers or should I just leave it using the IRST drivers?
Is there a specific procedure to follow make the change from IRST to AHCI that will ensure windows boots properly?
Current benchmark:
http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/5258233
TIA

Hi,

These Intel RST drivers support AHCI mode as well. You can leave everything as is.
Dell factory sets the SATA controller to RAID (IRST) if memory serves me correctly.

Cheers,

Caledon Ken said:

Hi imaddicted2u

The IRST drivers are required for your device, that is the hardware installed.

I think you might be confusing, or maybe its me that is confused, drivers and BIOS controller mode, either AHCI or IRST. I think the IRST use to be labelled Raid (older gear) and you entered the Raid software as machine booted. Was chatting with one member and they implied the Raid set up is now within BIOS.

In your BIOS do you have a panel to control IRST? By control I mean which drives are in a raid, type of raid? I went to Dell, manual was miserable and had no real information except how to disassemble and reassemble.

Do you have a method for telling your 32GB mSata card is acting as a cache? Maybe a better question, where do you set up caching?


Ken

The IRST software used to cache the mechanical HDD and indicate it was doing so. Since the 500GB SSD is installed the IRST software has nothing to cache. When I first booted from the SSD, the IRST software complained that the cached drive no longer exists and offered to reset the 32GB, which I did. Now it's showing as an unformated drive.

I have IRST and AHCI settings for the SATA in BIOS. It's working fine on IRST so I guess I'll leave it there. I have a HDD caddy on order to replace the DVD drive with the 1TB mechanical drive, so I guess the ISRT could become useful again.

dalchina said:

Hi, this may be of interest:
Enable AHCI in Windows 8 and Windows 10 after Installation

Please feel free to browse and search the extensive tutorial section
Windows 10 Tutorial Index

Thanks for this!

fdegrove said:

Hi,

These Intel RST drivers support AHCI mode as well. You can leave everything as is.
Dell factory sets the SATA controller to RAID (IRST) if memory serves me correctly.

Cheers,

Thanks a bunch, I'll leave it alone.