Windows 10: Intel Rapid Storage Technology Application - Do I Need It?

I upgraded my desktop PC from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 last week. I have an Intel SSD system disk, a 2T hard drive for user files, an old 500Mb hard drive for miscellaneous backups and an external 2T USB hard drive for backups.

I had Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) application v 12.9.0.1001 under Windows 8.1 and this remains operational after the upgrade. My Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H motherboard has an Intel 7 Series SATA AHCI Controller.

Do I really need the IRST application or should I uninstall it? I've seen in other posts on the forum that the IRST software may be the cause of occasional slow logins I experience on my desktop PC and laptop (both have IRST software).

:)

 

My DVD/RW drive is not recognized by Windows 10

There seems to be an issue with the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver such as this repetitive Application error logged in the Event logs:

Faulting application name: IAStorDataMgrSvc.exe, version: 14.8.1.1043, time stamp: 0x564b505a

Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 10.0.16299.192, time stamp: 0x16e7ff7f

Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology\IAStorDataMgrSvc.exe

Can you uninstall the presently installed Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver and then install the following one from Intel which I believe is the latest for the Intel 8 Series/C220 Series:

Download Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) User Interface and Driver

As a general precaution create a System Restore Point beforehand and restart the computer afterwards.

 

Cannot shutdown my Windows 10 PC?

I have found solution for my case by removing Intel rapid storage technology driver and using MS default Intel rapid storage technology driver.

 

I would recommend you try using it, then compare performance when it's not installed. It is explained somewhat in this old thread

What is Intel Rapid Storage Technology? Do I need it? Solved - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

You don't technically NEED the IRST Software Application , you can enable the writeback cache if desired for performance enhancements and then uninstall the Application , the writeback setting it still retained in this case.

There is lots of info about IRST Drivers , the Software etc at the WinRaid Forum. Fernando the site's Owner knows his stuff ,the site has been around for many years.

1st post has info on the IRST software
http://www.win-raid.com/t2f23-Intel-...QL-v-WHQL.html

and his suggested list of "best" drivers.... table at the bottom of the 1st post is easiest to read

http://www.win-raid.com/t25f23-Which...D-drivers.html

 

Update found this on WinRaid this morning so thought I'd post it here for Others Info :


Do some performance boost settings from within the Intel RST Console.
This requires the installation of the Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology (RST) Console Software (only once, because the settings will stay untouched even when the RST Software will be uninstalled or the RST/RST(e) drivers will be changed later).
Do the following:

• Run the Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Console Software.
• Hit the "Manage" tab and double click onto "Advanced".
• Enable the "Cache Mode" option "Write-Back".
• If the RST Console shows a "Performance" tab (depends on the RST Software version), hit it and check the option "Dynamic Storage Accelerator" on the left side.
• Set the "Dynamic Storage Accelerator" to "Enabled".
• Choose the option "Power and Performance" on the left side.
• Set the "Link Power Management" to "Disabled".
  By the way: You may get the same effect, if you enter the BIOS, go to the "Storage Configuration" settings and disable the "SATA Aggressive Link Power Management".
• Close the Intel RST Console (and uninstall the RST Software, if you want to, the previously done settings will stay active).

Full Post is here
http://www.win-raid.com/t23f28-How-t...rformance.html

 

Now I'm confused!

Windows 10 has installed iaStorA.sys driver v12.9.0.1001 and that works fine.

The WinRaid Forum above says the best driver for my Intel Series 7 Motherboard is v13.1.0.1058. I tried to install that version but it fails saying it needs .NET Framework 4.5 which isn't installed in Windows 10.

I looked at the Intel site which shows the latest version for Windows 10 is v14.8.0.1042 but when I run that version I get the error "This platform is not supported".

The WinRaid Forum says the latest version is v14.8.9.1053 which does not appear on the Intel site. This also fails with the error "This platform is not supported"

I think I'll just stick with the version installed by Windows 10 unless someone knows better.

 

Hopefully I can help a bit here Steve C (funny because this is also my name and initial ).

First off you may be getting the error due to the program requirments. I have used win-raid (and the help there) and I have come to a conclusion that the Intel RST program is not needed. I currently have boards X58, P67, Z77, Z87, Z97 and Z170 and not one have I ever installed the program. I just install the driver. One reason is that the program will use up some system resources and it will need NET Framework so I never install it. As Kbird said you don't technically need it.

For 7 series the site does say to use 13.1.0.1058, but this depends. To go off the track here, I usually update my Intel OROM which is the Intel firmware in the BIOS to match the Intel RST driver branch. Is it a must? No, but it removes certain factors of issues and can improve performance. For my 7-series boards I am using Intel RST driver 12.9.4.1000 as this gave me the best write performance out of the v12.x.x.x branch. I did try the v13.x.x.x branch and my writes were lower, reads were still good though. Testing your system performance is what determines the best action. The 7-series I have; Asus, AsRock and MSI boards and for those three the v12.x.x.x branch gave me the best performance.

So without knowing exactly what Intel OROM you have and/or just ignoring that factor, a safe bet would be the 12.9.4.1000 since your system had a v12.x.x.x driver. One thing to add here is which operating system version you have because I have done this before. 32-bit or 64-bit. I have 64-bit and I accidentally downloaded the 32-bit driver. It happens.

A side note, the Intel RST driver branches are optimized for each chipset. 7-series the V12 branch and in some cases the v13 branch. 8 and 9 series definitely the v13 branch. 100-series the v14 branch. It is a bit confusing, but it is not determined by what operating system you have. It is based on your chipset on your motherboard.

Sorry for the long response, but I just wanted to add my experience with this and share it.

 

AirPower's advice/notes are good ....

just wanted to add that "this Platform is not supported" refers to the Intel Chipset , not the version of Windows used , but your system Specs aren't filled in but I think you have a Z77 ? I assume you are talking about your desktop? so Follow my advice in the other thread re a manual install.

I thought the 14 series was only for X79/X99 Chipset Boards but maybe wrong about that....

 

@Kbird - the X79/X99 are best with the v13.x.x.x branch. But the X99 can run with v13.x.x.x branch, but is best paired with the v14.x.x.x branch.

Kbird is right Steve C (thanks for pointing that out Kbird), some drivers in the branch may be specific to a chipset. A driver may work on a board that is an H77, but not work on a Z77. Usually the next revision covers the one that is left behind. Example Intel RST 12.7.0.1018 did not have a driver for my Z77 board, but there was one for my H77 board. Then Intel RST 12.7.0.1022 covered my Z77 board. So sometimes that might occur. The way to be sure is finding your vin id of the Intel SATA. Usually it starts with 8086&DEV_XXXX. Only if you want to do this, but you can find it in device manager > right click on the Intel SATA, select properties > click the tab "details" > use drop-down and select "Hardware Ids" and you will see it. Then I compare that to the actual driver in the package I download; to see if it is there.

In any case stick to 12.9.4.1000 version. Thanks Kbird

 

Thanks AP ,

I usually use WinRaid / Fernando's Modified (INF only) Driver Versions so they will install on nearly All Chipsets , you just have to Right Click the Certificate in the Folder in the Zip file >Install , so windows will allow the "Signed Driver" to install with Fernando's Digital Certificate. (All above board by the way ,this is not a "hack")

http://www.win-raid.com/t11f23-Modde...ly-signed.html

BTW his modded Drivers add the DEV.XXXX number to the Name in Device Manager so it is easy to find.

 

Thanks for the above advice. I managed to install v13.1.0.1058 from the WinRaid site using 7 Zip. I don't know why I had problems installing drivers from the Intel site. The read/write speeds to my external USB3.0HDD are indeed a few percent less than the v12.9.0.1001 driver Windows 10 originally installed so I might try v12.9.4.1000 suggested in Post 8.

I enclose the Hardware ID of my SATA driver - which is the bet driver suggested by this?




Airpower4ever said "I usually update my Intel OROM which is the Intel firmware in the BIOS to match the Intel RST driver branch." How do I
do this?

I'll also uninstall the IRST application as suggested above. Note my system spec is now updated.

 

The intel OROM is part of the Bios for your motherboard , so you need to get the latest Bios for you MB to update the ORom if indeed it does get an update as part of the Main Bios update. If possible it is best to use an OROM from the same series as the Driver in USE or vica versa . You may have a 12.XXXX OROM which is why the driver may work a bit better , latest is not always best remember.

I would not worry about a few % , it's not noticeable in everyday use , Stability is more of a concern , it looks like you have the best Driver for Z77 chips already ....the Intel RST(e) v13.1.0.1058. looking at Fernando's Best List.

However did you turn on write caching in the IRST software before uninstalling it as suggested ? might be your "few %" ?

 

I have a Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H motherboard with the F16G BIOS. I can see no evidence of the "Intel OROM" on the BIOS screens but some Googling research suggest it probably has v11.6.0.1702. I just uninstalled the IRST application and Windows restarted with IRST driver iaStorA.sys v11.6.0.1030, yet I don't have the IRST application! Perhaps I'm better off with the 11 series driver if it's a better match to the BIOS. Yes, I did turn on write caching and the disk policy still allows me to change it..

 

It may only show if you are using Raid , so you would need to set the Controller to Raid temporally , boot , Hit Ctrl+I (eye) to access the Raid setup utility, check the number, use escape to exit the Utility and restart, go back into the bios and reset the Controller to AHCI before going back into windows.

Uninstalling the IRST Software does not uninstall the Driver , as that could cause the Computer to not boot with a stop error , you would need to switch it manually to the M$ AHCI Driver manually in Device Manager.

What version of the UD5H do you have cos I don't see a F16G bios available... F15Q seems to be the latest.
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/pro...?pid=4440#bios


That ( .1702 ) is the OROM I am using on my X58 Giga. Board along with the 11.7.1004 Driver , but I was using 11.2.1006 Driver before that.


edit:

Found this on WinRaid too by Fernando , pretty much what I said above.

http://www.win-raid.com/t98f23-Need-...OM.html#msg862