Intel RAID 8.5.0.1032 with MS Vista

[PJ]

Has anyone updated the Intel RAID driver to 8.5.0.1032 on a 975XBX2 running Microsoft Vista? If so, how did you do the update and did you have any problems?

[cyclo]

I have installed it on my 975XBX2 running Vista Ultimate... note that I have AHCI enabled. Initially I thought it made the system slower but after I while I checked the hard drive properties under Device Manager and it turns out the option to enable write caching for both of the hard drives in my system were off. I turned these on as well as the option that says "Enable Advanced Performance" and this appeared to make a big improvement in my systems response times.

Note that the PC has a UPS so I disregarded the warning about "increased risk of data loss if the disk loses power".

One problem I have now which I did not have before is that an eSATA drive connected via the black SATA ports (Intel) in the motherboard for some reason is no longer hot-pluggable. Another eSATA connected to the Marvell controller works fine though and is hot pluggable.

[PJ]

cyclo,

How did you install it? Did you use the driver update from the device manager?

[cyclo]

I just downloaded the file and double clicked on the exe... that installed the drivers. You then have to go to device manager to verify if the Policies are set for write caching. In my case, I had to turn these on manually.