Warning: Intel SSDs look like RAIDs to Intel TRIM utility

[tbessie]

Hey all...

Just wanted to mention - in installing an SSD in my x120e, I noticed (and this is mentioned in some other forums) that the Intel SSD TRIM utility (Intel SSD Toolbox) thinks that it's own SSD is in a RAID configuration and won't run TRIM against it; but ONLY if you install the AMD AHCI driver (which should be the correct driver for this Thinkpad model). When I first installed Windows 7, it installed a default Microsoft AHCI driver, and the SSD Toolbox had no problem running TRIM on it.

However, once I'd installed the "correct" driver for the ACHI controller, SSD Toolbox identified the drive as a RAID, and wouldn't touch it.

I had to uninstall and delete the AMD AHCI driver entirely and revert back to the Microsoft default driver. I hope that doesn't cause worse performance; but I felt TRIM support was more important than any I/O thoughput issues I might have. This AHCI driver's from back in 2010, so let's hope it gets updated someday to not appear as a RAID.

Then again, it could be Intel refusing to recognize stuff made by AMD.

- Tim

[Colonel O'Neill]

Go here:
http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/ ... loads.aspx

Click Windows 7 (choose the right architecture) under Motherboard/Integrated.
Go to the Optional drivers tab, and grab the AHCI driver. Install.

[tbessie]

Go here:
http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/ ... loads.aspx

Click Windows 7 (choose the right architecture) under Motherboard/Integrated.
Go to the Optional drivers tab, and grab the AHCI driver. Install.

Thanks much!

- Tim

[tbessie]

Sadly, I just tried the latest AHCI driver as you suggested, and it still has the bug where it looks to the Intel SSD tool like it is a RAID and you cannot run TRIM on it.

- Tim

[Colonel O'Neill]

Maybe try installing the RAID driver off the same page instead? I don't know what makes it different from the AHCI one; they both seem to work the same on my X100e.

[tbessie]

Maybe try installing the RAID driver off the same page instead? I don't know what makes it different from the AHCI one; they both seem to work the same on my X100e.

The RAID driver would be for using the driver as a RAID controller instead of a regular SATA controller, I'm guessing.

Wouldn't installing a RAID driver *assure* that the attached SSD would be seen as a RAID?

Have you run the Intel SSD toolbox TRIM command against an attached Intel SSD on the x120e? Perhaps the x120e and x100 have different SATA controllers?

What's your particular setup (hardware and software) with regards to your storage controller and disk/SSD?

- TIm

[Colonel O'Neill]

I'm thinking the plain AHCI driver might not be RAID-aware and may be misrepresenting the hardware. I could be totally off though.

I just have a plain ole 250GB Seagate drive in my X100e. It runs in AHCI mode on Windows 2000, 7, 2008R2.

[tbessie]

I'm thinking the plain AHCI driver might not be RAID-aware and may be misrepresenting the hardware. I could be totally off though.

I just have a plain ole 250GB Seagate drive in my X100e. It runs in AHCI mode on Windows 2000, 7, 2008R2.

I meant do you know 1) which SATA controller is in the x100e (I suppose I could look that up), and 2) Which driver you have installed for it? Is it using the basic Microsoft AHCI driver, or the AMD one (if it's an AMD controller)?

If you're using the AMD AHCI controller, do you also have the RAID utility installed?

- Tim

[Colonel O'Neill]

It just shows up as AMD SATA controller in Device Manager. The X100e uses an SB780 chipset, if that helps. I installed the AHCI one off the AMD site, but don't have the RAID utility installed.

[tbessie]

It just shows up as AMD SATA controller in Device Manager. The X100e uses an SB780 chipset, if that helps. I installed the AHCI one off the AMD site, but don't have the RAID utility installed.

This is a particular problem with the way the Intel TRIM utility sees the AMD SATA controller. Since you're just running a regular hard drive, there's no way you would test what I'm tawkin' 'bout.

But thanks for your suggestions anyway - I was glad to find out we can use the standard Catalyst drivers, at least.

But I had to revert the AHCI driver to the Microsoft one. Perhaps someday, Intel or AMD will fix the compatability issue with Intel's SSDs (yeah, I'd like to see THAT happen, heh).

- Tim

[Colonel O'Neill]

Heh. The 11.4/11.5 Catalyst graphics driver provides massive, massive, massive performance improvements over the current Lenovo-available one.

Keep trying!