Updated INTEL RAID/AHCI Drivers & Control Center v8.2.0.1001

[®®®]

Intel has now officially released a new version of their RAID & AHCI (SATA) controller drivers for all 32bit and 64bit versions and all flavours of Windows XP, Server 2003 and VISTA. There's a lot of confusion about this product (even amongst technicians), so here's a quick summary of it's features.

This is also known as the Intel Matrix Storage Manager:

This product name has evolved over time. Intel Application Accelerator RAID Edition, Intel® Application Accelerator 4.x, Intel Matrix Storage Technology software, and Intel Matrix Storage Manager all refer to different versions of the same product. Intel® Matrix Storage Manager is the name of the current version.

On specific desktop and mobile platforms (listed below) the Intel Matrix Storage Manager provides software support for high-performance Serial ATA RAID 0 arrays, fault-tolerant Serial ATA RAID 1 arrays, Intel Rapid Recover Technology (spare disk), AHCI Native Command Queuing for increased performance, matrix RAID for two RAID volumes on a single array, and an improved user interface for enhanced usability.

Intel Matrix Storage Manager is the software that enables Intel Matrix Storage Technology.

High capacity and fault-tolerant Serial ATA RAID 5 arrays and high performance and fault-tolerant Serial ATA RAID 10 arrays are supported on specific desktop platforms only.

The Intel Matrix Storage Manager supports the following Intel chipsets:

Intel® X38 Express Chipset
Intel® Q33 Express Chipset 
Intel® Q35 Express Chipset 
Intel® G31 Express Chipset 
Intel® G33 Express Chipset 
Intel® G35 Express Chipset 
Intel® P31 Express Chipset 
Intel® P35 Express Chipset 
Mobile Intel® GM965 Express Chipset 
Mobile Intel® PM965 Express Chipset 
Intel® G965 Express Chipset 
Intel® P965 Express Chipset 
Intel® Q963 Express Chipset 
Intel® Q965 Express Chipset 
Intel® 5000P Chipset 
Intel® 5000V Chipset 
Intel® 5000X Chipset 
Intel® 975X Express Chipset 
Intel® 955X Express Chipset 
Intel® 945 Express Chipset family 
Mobile Intel® 945 Express Chipset family 
Intel® E7230 Chipset 
Mobile Intel® 915 Express Chipset family 
Mobile Intel® 910GML Express Chipset

These chipsets must provide the following I/O controller hubs in order for the driver and software to work:

Intel® 82801IR/IO controller hub (ICH9R/DO) - RAID and AHCI

Intel® 82801HEM I/O controller hub (ICH8M-E) - RAID and AHCI

Intel® 82801HBM I/O controller hub (ICH8M) - AHCI only

Intel® 82801HR/HH/HO I/O controller hub (ICH8R/DH/DO) - RAID and AHCI

Intel® 631xESB/632xESB I/O controller hub - RAID and AHCI

Intel® 82801GHM I/O controller hub (ICH7MDH) - RAID only

Intel® 82801GBM I/O controller hub (ICH7M) - AHCI only

Intel® 82801GR/GH I/O controller hub (ICH7R/DH) - RAID and AHCI

Intel® 82801FBM I/O controller hub (ICH6M) - AHCI only

The new version fixes the following:

[Windows XP, Vista]: Fix for corner case with ATAPI normal error condition (check condition) where the driver may block a power command from the OS waiting for a request sense or its associated command to complete resulting in a BSOD (0x9f cdrom.sys)

[Windows XP, Vista]: Microsoft Windows* slow boot, or potential 0x7B blue screen, if AHCI mode is enabled but the AHCI OROM is disabled

[Windows XP, Vista]: Resume time from S3 is too long

[Windows XP, Vista]: Intel Matrix Storage Manager Console autonomously refreshes

There is a heap of known issues listed in the release notes over HERE.

Direct download for the english-only version (~6MB) is HERE.

For those in need of the MultiLanguage release, the F6 Floppy/USB driver installation package (for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Home Server) and older releases for outdated chipsets like ICH5R or specifically for Windows 2000 don't hesitate and head over HERE.

[Guest warrick]

Hi!

How can i install this over the old one? If i'm just updating, it removes turbo memory.

[Guest YG007]

After installing this, Windows ReadyDrive becomes disabled. No matter what I try, I can't get it to turn back on. I'm running Vista 64 with Intel ICH8M-E/M SATA AHCI controller and Intel 965 Chipset. LG R500 with the built in 1GB Intel turbo memory. Readyboost is enabled, but ReadyDrive turns off after installing this driver. Any suggestions?

[Pawel]

This is a disappointing release from Intel... they created more issue for me rather than actually fix any. The annoying hard-disk spin-up system freeze is back, so if you decide to update to this driver, make sure you set your 'Turn off disk after' to 9 million hours.

[Guest feplazas]

This is a disappointing release from Intel... they created more issue for me rather than actually fix any. The annoying hard-disk spin-up system freeze is back, so if you decide to update to this driver, make sure you set your 'Turn off disk after' to 9 million hours.

Ok, i have a question and need a straight answer. My new XPS M1530 is arriving next week. I'm planning on installing vista ultimate 64 on it and have assembled all drivers needed. But this AHCI thing, do i need it? Is it mandatory? How do i install it? I mean, is it worth it????

PS: Basic specs:

T9500

4gb ram

320gb hdd 7200rpm

8600m gt

wuxga screen.

[®®®]

Yes you need it in order to use all SATA features like NCQ, native Hotplugging etc. etc.

[Guest feplazas]

Yes you need it in order to use all SATA features like NCQ, native Hotplugging etc. etc.

How do i install it?

[Guest Guest]

Hi,

I have some issue with my Vista Ultimate installation and RAID configuration.

Configuration:

ASUSTEK MAXIMUS FORMULA with latest Bios,

2 x 80Gb in RAID 0

1 x 250 GB Western Digital,

1 x 320 Gb Maxtor.

when I stress my HDD (not RAID drive - WD or Maxtor) I have a Blue screen, and computer reboot. If I leave my OS on without touch anything, no problem appears. In Event Viewer, it seems that iastor.sys Device don't answer in time.

Any one have an idea?

thanks.

[®®®]

Maybe your circumstances are mentioned in the changelog? Have you checked?