17 R1, SSD caching help

Question

I remember when I got the laptop(windows 7)I had an application called intel rapid storage technology and in that app is could see my 1Tb hdd being accelerated by the 70-something GB ssd. Fast-forward to windows 10 and my setup is as follows 500 Gb ssd as boot drive and the 1 TB and 70Gb ssd as storage and other stuff. Problem is the Intel app is gone and judging by the hdd performance and the fact I can use the smaller ssd as storage the caching function is also gone. Long story short I want to know how to use the smaller ssd as a cache for the hdd like it did when I got the laptop. Hope I made it clear, also tanks in advance for your help.

mattyb3 · Accepted Answer

Hey mate, you need the BIOS set to RAID and then you need the Intel RST driver and software. Once you've got everything set up you just open the RST program and enable acceleration.

You may have to try a few of the options in the link below till you find one that actually gives you the option to enable acceleration.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/55005/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-

crimsom · Answer

Hi @o00TheMan00o the cache was used to accelerate the HDD when it was the OS(C:) drive. You now have Windows 10 and SATA 6 Gbps solid-state drives whose OS(C:) drive is faster and caching is not used or required. If you want a slightly faster 2.5" drive, replace the SATA HDD with a SATA solid-state drive. If you want to use the small M.2 SATA 6 Gbps solid-state drive, get Windows 10 to acknowledge it as virtual RAM.

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o00TheMan00o · Answer

Also don't I need to format the mSATA ssd or the hdd?

o00TheMan00o · Answer

Mate, I guess I didn't make myself clear, I want to know how to make the hdd use the 70 gb mSATA ssd as caching like it did back when I got the laptop.

o00TheMan00o · Answer

Kinda late for me now, will try it tomorrow. But the bios is set to raid as for the app won't the one on the driver page of Dell suffice? (the one where they ask you to download support assistant) I remember seeing it there. Do correct me if I'm mistaken. Cheers mate.

mattyb3 · Answer

You may find that the Dell driver is just the driver and it won't give you the RST software. That's what I've found in some recent rebuilds I've done.

If you've saved anything directly onto the mSata then you're best to wipe it clean first. The OS needs to be installed on the HDD. If you already have the OS and programs saved onto the HDD then you shouldn't need to format it.

crimsom · Answer

Hi @o00TheMan00o  if the only change undertaken is to reassign the boot drive and the operating system continues to be on the HDD, just reassign the OS(C:) boot drive back to the HDD and its cache should start working again.

mattyb3 · Answer

Ahh ok. Sorry, I must have overlooked that part of your original post.

Honestly, I've never set up a laptop that way but I don't see why the cache won't work with the HDD as it should. Still, shouldn't be any need to format the HDD.

o00TheMan00o · Answer

I have the os installed on a 500 gb ssd so I don't need to install it on the hdd

o00TheMan00o · Answer

Also thank you, been a real life saver

mattyb3 · Answer

Happy to help. Hopefully you can still cache the HDD as a secondary drive. I'd be interested to see how it goes, for my other rebuilds

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17 R1, SSD caching help

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