How to enable Write back Cache Mode for a RAID Volume on Alienware/Dell laptops

I've noticed that when you install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver from Dell, it only installs the driver and the Intel Optane Memory components but not the actual app (sure you can install the full IRST app from Intel's site but what I've found is that version which Dell selects gives high performance). Which means that you need to install the Windows Store Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management separately in order to configure your RAID Volume or change any settings.

The problem is, you can only choose Write Through (improves data security) or Read only cache mode but the Write back Cache Mode is greyed out. That is also true in the full IRST App but at least there you can simply disable the Windows write-cache buffer and the Write back cache mode would immediately be available.

So here's how to enable Write back Cache mode which greatly improves performance:

1) Right click on the start menu icon then select Device Manager from the popup context menu.

2) Double click on Disk drives to expand it

3) Right click on your RAID Volume then choose Properties

4) Click on the second tab: Policies

5) Check the 2nd box which says: "Turn off Windows write-cache buffer flushing on the device........."



6) Now go back to the start menu and right click on the Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management app and choose Run as Administrator

7) Now follow the below illustrations to enable Write back Cache Mode.





8) Reboot your system.

Note: Cached data that hasn't been written to the disk completely may be lost if you restart suddenly after copying large amounts of data or if any other app is busy writing data while you reboot.

 

@Charles P. Jefferies @custom90gt @tilleroftheearth

 

Data loss sounds like a big bad draw back. Do you have a good, bad experience to share? Also, will this work with Samsung SSDs RAID 0 setup? Or Intel's stuff only?

 

1) Did you look at my signature? I have 2x Samsung 960 PROs in RAID 0

2) I never had any issues with data loss but if you are experimenting with overclocking, then don't enable write-back cache until you have ensured a stable overclock

3) Finally, always back up just in case. The best and fastest way to backup your data!