SSD controller?

[Barso]

I bought an OCZ vertex 3 and I have my OS installed to it.
My motherboard is an ASUS maximus IV P67.
I have my SSD connected to the intel sata port that uses the JMICRON controller as I read it was the better one.
But I know my SSD uses a sandforce controller also.
How do I know I am using the right controller for the SSD?
Thanks.

 

[pooch]

I bought an OCZ vertex 3 and I have my OS installed to it.
My motherboard is an ASUS maximus IV P67.
I have my SSD connected to the intel sata port that uses the JMICRON controller as I read it was the better one.
But I know my SSD uses a sandforce controller also.
How do I know I am using the right controller for the SSD?
Thanks.

Hello Barso
The controller built into the SSD is not the same as the SATA controller that you plug it into.
I have no manual available for your MB but the SATA controller that you plug into should be 6.0Gb/s capable.
You can find this info in your MB manual if you have one, otherwise you can download a manual for your MB from ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support-
I hope this helps you

 

[GeneO]

The Jmicron controller is only 3Gb/s. It also may not support TRIM - which is important for your SSD to keep operating at top performance. Use one of the red SATA 6Gb/s ports and make sure you have them setup to use AHCI instead of IDE mode. If you don't already have them set to AHCI from when you installed Windows 7 , look for the tutorial here that tells you how to enable AHCi post-install.

 

[Fumz]

You need to use the 6GB port with the Marvell controller... no ifs ands or butts. JMicron is a 3GB port.

 

[GeneO]

You need to use the 6GB port with the Marvell controller... no ifs ands or butts. JMicron is a 3GB port.

The Marvell may not support trim - last I hear was they don't. The board has both Intel and Marvell 6 Gb/s ports. Use one of the Intel 6 Gb/s ports. You will have to look in the manual to see which are Intel, which Marvell. Regardless, the Intel 6 Gb/s will be a better choice.

That is a nice board btw.

Here is the link for enabling AHCI mode if it isn't already enabled:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html

 

[Fumz]

You need to use the 6GB port with the Marvell controller... no ifs ands or butts. JMicron is a 3GB port.

The Marvell may not support trim - last I hear was they don't. The board has both Intel and Marvell 6 Gb/s ports. Use one of the Intel 6 Gb/s ports. You will have to look in the manual to see which are Intel, which Marvell. Regardless, the Intel 6 Gb/s will be a better choice.

That is a nice board btw.

Here is the link for enabling AHCI mode if it isn't already enabled:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html

True enough... Marvell doesn't support Trim. I just switched to the Intel controller (gray ports) and now it seems I'm stuck with the Microsoft driver as there doesn't seem to be a way to get the Intel driver to install without reinstalling the OS... but at least now I have Trim. The question is whether or not to reinstall to get the ~5% performance increase the Intel driver would provide?

 

[pbcopter]

I would also visit this site.
SandForce - Vertex2/LE/Pro, Agility2, Vertex2/Agility2 EX Drives, REVO and HSDL drives

 

[GeneO]

You need to use the 6GB port with the Marvell controller... no ifs ands or butts. JMicron is a 3GB port.

The Marvell may not support trim - last I hear was they don't. The board has both Intel and Marvell 6 Gb/s ports. Use one of the Intel 6 Gb/s ports. You will have to look in the manual to see which are Intel, which Marvell. Regardless, the Intel 6 Gb/s will be a better choice.

That is a nice board btw.

Here is the link for enabling AHCI mode if it isn't already enabled:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html

True enough... Marvell doesn't support Trim. I just switched to the Intel controller (gray ports) and now it seems I'm stuck with the Microsoft driver as there doesn't seem to be a way to get the Intel driver to install without reinstalling the OS... but at least now I have Trim. The question is whether or not to reinstall to get the ~5% performance increase the Intel driver would provide?

You should be able to do that. I know I did when experimenting around between the Microsoft and Intel drivers. Don't remember the details though - maybe it was installing from the device manager -> properties menu. I think the Microsoft are fine as long as you don't need RAID.

 

[Fumz]

Yes, you "should" be able to do that, but, I've been trying for several hours to find someone or somewhere that has accomplished this mythic feat. Going through the device manager doesn't work.

 

[essenbe]

I think you have to install the intel rapid storage technology, which should be a download from Asus.

 

[Fumz]

Intel RST has been installed and is working just fine. Missing drivers isn't the issue... the issue is that the device manager sees the MS driver as the latest, which it is, and even when I point it to the Intel drivers, it refuses to install them, only saying that I already have the latest drivers. At this point, the only option I have is "close"... there is no way I can find to force the install.

I've been googling this since I discovered Trim doesn't work with the Marvell driver and I switched to the Intel 6GB port. I'm not sure why this is the case, but so far it is.

 

[essenbe]

Just as a suggestion uninstall the RST. reinstall it. I agree that you should be able to choose. That's the way my system works.

 

[Fumz]

I would... if there were any hope that uninstalling the RST driver would also uninstall the MS achi driver, but it would not. I would still be left with the MS ahci driver.

 

[essenbe]

When you tried to switch ahci drivers was iastor listed?

 

[Fumz]

No, iastore isn't listed under the Vertex 3 because previously I was using the Marvell driver; however, it was installed prior to switching and it was showing up in the taskbar.

The iastoreUI always displayed my storage drive and my optical drive.. but not my ssd until I started using the Intel sata port... now it shows up.

What steps did you go through to switch drivers?

edit

I've tried a few times a few different ways of getting this driver in. Manually through the device manager and online with Intel update utility. I ran the update utility from Intel's site and from the local machine... I also heard that it wouldn't stick if you tried using an internal hdd or an optical drive (since they were connected to sata ports and this would apparently cause a problem) so I tried it the way they recommend... off a flash drive. No joy.

So far, what I've read is that the "only" way to get the Intel ahci driver installed is to do it while Windows is installing. If you know of some vodoo ... I'm all ears.

 

[Fumz]

This is how it looks now.

 

[essenbe]

Fumz, did you ever get the iastor driver installed?

 

[Fumz]

Yeah, I ended up doing a clean install and loaded the Intel drivers during the install.

However, while all this was going on I got an Asus rep to say, in writing, that the Marvell controller supports Trim. I am currently pressing her on whether or not the Marvell driver passes along the signal. She's been a good sport, I can't wait for her reply. It's been a 5 mail back and forth getting what I thought was a really simple question answered.

 

[Kipper]

Your drivers are setup correctly according to the screen you provided. Any SSD with Sandforce controllers should always be setup on the Intel P67 chipset that supports the M4E board.

Really nice board, just finishing up my review for this board for ASUS and it is worth the money for the features it brings.

 

[essenbe]

Your drivers are setup correctly according to the screen you provided. Any SSD with Sandforce controllers should always be setup on the Intel P67 chipset that supports the M4E board.

Really nice board, just finishing up my review for this board for ASUS and it is worth the money for the features it brings.

I think it is too. I looked real hard at it before I bought the Asrock extreme4. It has just about all the features you need. Asus did good on that board.