How do i properly setup a win 7 SSD system?

[Rofflay]

Hi all im about to DIY my first build and well i have a bit of a problem i have never had to setup a HDD before with software.My old build was driver less IDE.


So what do i need to do on my new system? Im guessing that there is a F6 AHCI driver but what is it called? And what is intel RST? I presume that one would install the F6 driver in windows 7 install and then once done run the intel RST like any other chipset driver? My motherboard is Asus Z77VPRO and im so confused as to what to setup and what software i need to get max performance :/ I find the following on Asus website.


Asmedia SATA Controller Driver ( no idea what this is)
Intel Rapid Start Technology Software ( no idea what this is)



Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Driver Software V11.1.0.1006 for Windows XP/7 32bit & 64bit.(WHQL)
Intel(R) AHCI/RAID Driver for Windows XP/7 32bit & 64bit.


Im not sure if the above RST is an exe you run outside windows or is it the F6 driver i put on my usb pen?

 

[wazza300]

asmedia are the other controller sata3,stick to intel(white) sata3 ports on the mb,they will be faster and more reliable

you dont need any pre install drivers for win7,just makesure you set the sata ports to ahci before you install windows

once its complete from within windows itself,download and install the latest intel rapid storage drivers from asus website and thats it,they will improve read/write figures for your ssd

 

[Rofflay]

Thankyou mate it makes a bit more sense now after your post and reading up a little more on the topic.I understand now windows will use its own msachi driver and i use Intel RST off asus motherboard once in windows from the exe.

But and here is another question... if i want to not use ms AHCI in favour of intel driver can i do this and will it be a it more optimal?

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...apid+Storage+Technology+(Intel®+RST)&lang=eng

Im linked to version 11.6.0.1030 with two files one is x64 for F6 and the other the normal RST exe for windows.If i look at the versions this seems more up to date than the Asus site.But do these work on all SSD's and motherboards? f6flpy-x64.zip Version:11.6.0.1030 (F6 Driver) /// iata_enu.exe Version:11.6.0.1030 (Intel RST EXE)


Please can someone tell me if i now understand and i am correct about using F6 and have linked the correct files?

 

[Admiral Huddy]

You do not have to use the F6 to install the drivers. Just simply set the the controller type to AHCI in the BIOS then install Windows as normal. The OS will use the standard driver set unles you opt to use the RST drivers.

You can check if AHCI is active after install by checking the following:

1. Startup "Regedit
2. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlset / Services
3. Open msahci
4. Check the value of the Data field is "0"
5. exit "Regedit"

 

[Rofflay]

Thankyou Huddy im sure that command will be useful to check after install.

Can i ask why they bother uploading the F6 driver and the RST exe if MSAHCI is automatically swapped out for the intel ahci driver upon installation of the intel RST?

And when you say opt to use do you mean that its all done automatically by windows? Or is there a promt somewhere in the RST exe to use a different AHCI driver other than MSAHCI?

Again thanks

 

[Grummkol]

Theres a default windows driver. This works fine. You can change drivers by installing the intel driver package afterwards and it will update. F6 was a holdover where you needed specific controller drivers for windows to recognise it, usually when you were installing onto a special ********* raid setup.