Does SSD have TRIM in RAID (XHD) on Z68?

alien.46.uk · 17 Dec 2011 at 23:16

Hi All,

I've got a new build which I'm running a 120Gb SSD as the OS and Main programs storage, then 4 mechanicals running in RAID 10 for Storage and other programs/games ...

Just for reference, this is a Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3.

In the BIOS the 'PCH SATA CONTROL MODE', I've set it to RAID (XHD) to be able to run the RAID 10 set-up but obviously this stops me from running the AHCI mode which is optimal for the SSD.

Does the RAID on the Z68 chipset run AHCI as defauly or do I have to do something to enable this?

Basically after the SSD running in AHCI and the HDD's running in RAID 10 ... all as optimal as possible.

How do I go about doing this?

Been searching the past few hours and not found a suitable answer.

Many thanks for your time.

Surveyor · 17 Dec 2011 at 23:22

RAID mode includes all the benefits of AHCI.

Try this to see if TRIM is working:

Open an Elevated Command Prompt window: Click on the Start Orb > Type "CMD.exe" in Search box > Right click on "CMD" and select "Run as Administrator" (If you receive a prompt confirmation, click YES).

In the Elevated command Prompt window, type the following without the quotation marks:

"fsutil behavior query disabledeletenotify"

Results explained below:

DisableDeleteNotify = 1 (Windows TRIM commands are disabled)
DisableDeleteNotify = 0 (Windows TRIM commands are enabled)

Edit

You should also make sure to run with Windows Experience Index so that Windows "knows" you have an SSD and sets itself up accordingly.

alien.46.uk · 17 Dec 2011 at 23:32

Right ok ... that sounds promising.

As the the TRIM prompts. They can return a false TRIM reading. You can get a return of 0, but if the controller doesn't know what to do with the TRIM commands it still wont do as it's told, but windows will continue to return a TRIM return of 0 ... 'Working' ...

However if RAID mode gives the benefits of TRIM, even on the single un-RAID'ed SSD all is well ...

Surveyor · 17 Dec 2011 at 23:37

The TRIM command will work as the SSD isn't part of the RAID array.

alien.46.uk · 17 Dec 2011 at 23:49

No, the SSD isn't part of the RAID array, but the SATA controller is set to RAID (XHD) and has the RAID mechy's plugged into the 3GB/s and the SSD plugged into the 6GB/s sockets (All on the Intel chip set to RAID (XHD) ... I have Marvell 6GB/s sockets, but dont want to touch the Marvel controller) ...

Just want to make sure all is well before I continue. Got windows and all drivers on, just wanted to check before I go swapping the file/folder locations etc so I didnt have to end up doing it all again!

Surveyor · 17 Dec 2011 at 23:54

As far as I'm aware it will work fine.

Before you go any further did you have the HDD RAID array connected when you installed Windows onto the SSD?

You should install Windows with only the SSD connected as if you have other drives connected then Windows may install files to them instead of the SSD.

alien.46.uk · 18 Dec 2011 at 00:03

The RAID was connected but unformatted. Now formatted through windows so now clean as a whistle.

Buchanan0204 · 18 Dec 2011 at 00:36

Trim doesn't work on raided SSD's. I have this setup and can confirm it doesn't work. (I have to re image every few months to get back to speed)

The CMD commands also report 0 for me... it of course doesn't make any difference.

Surveyor · 18 Dec 2011 at 00:45

Buchanan0204 said:
Trim doesn't work on raided SSD's. I have this setup and can confirm it doesn't work. (I have to re image every few months to get back to speed)

The CMD commands also report 0 for me... it of course doesn't make any difference.

The OP doesn't have SSD's in a RAID array.

He has a single SSD with the controller set to RAID mode.

TRIM should still work with that setup.

Buchanan0204 · 18 Dec 2011 at 00:50

Surveyor said:
The OP doesn't have SSD's in a RAID array.

He has a single SSD with the controller set to RAID mode.

TRIM should still work with that setup.

Ahh... Should work fine then.