Y580 SSD Caching with Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) NOT WORKING

Hi all,

I purchased a MSATA SSD for my Y580. Installation was a breeze and Windows 7 detected the device with no issues!

For reference, this is what I bought:

Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced Atlas Series MKNSSDAT60GB-DX mSATA 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

My problem is that in the Intel Rapid Storage Technology tool, there is no "Accelerate" option! I have spent hours investigating this and found that the cause for this is because the laptop is not set in RAID mode. However, in BIOS the only choices are AHCI and Compatible. RAID is not available. I've heard that the Y580 models that have the SSD pre-installed have the RAID option but since mine did not come with the SSD, I don't have that option.

I called Lenovo Software support and they said that can get it to work for me but want $59.95! Not going to happen.

Does anyone here know how to get this to work? I DO NOT want to install Windows 7 on the SSD directly. I want to take advantage of the caching feature.

Please help me!

Thanks,
Paul

 

Although I have no expertise whatsoever in this area, if what you're saying is true, I think that the only way you'll be able to do that is by unlocking the BIOS. Until someone figures out how to unlock it, you won't be able to enable RAID capability. I also read in some place around the web that some times BIOS updates usually works.

Anyways, again I'm no expert on this.

 

Intel Rapid Storage need a RAID 1 capability.
The chip set inside the y580 is a Intel HM76 this chip set model does not have that raid capability.

In 2010, Intel renamed the Intel Matrix RAID to Intel Rapid Storage Technology
Mobile Intel HM76 Express Chipset

There is a rapid storage driver from intel for the hm76 chip set.
Intel software for the hm76 chip set

i'm not sure but i guess it will work if u have a additional raid controller on board.

 

yup, there is no real RAID on the y580, even the ones with msata doesn't have a RAID option in Bios. AHCI should be fine.

The Raid is a Software Raid, try this

ofc without running the tool first to separate the disks. But make sure to install Windows first to the SSD and that you have enough unallocated space on the BEGINNING of the HDD, before you run the RapidDrive installer.

If you don't have the RapidDrive Software get it here

Please respond if you have tried it.

 

Just to clarify, I have a couple questions regarding your response.

1. What does "ofc" mean? What do you mean by first "separating the disks"?
2. Would this process require that I format my drive and reinstall windows?

Sorry if these are stupid questions but I want to make sure I get it right. Thanks so much for your time and expertise!

 

1. ofc means of course
2. That depends on where you have installed windows, if you have installed it on the hdd you need to reinstall windows on the ssd.
But if you have installed Windows on the SSD, you might not need to reinstall it. Just make sure the match the other criteria and it could be fine. But i am not sure about that, didn't tried this acon my own because i got the "raid modell notebook" anyway.

 

Sorry, I was reading multiple threads and accidentally posted a question to the wrong one.

 

I think this thread is important. and since you bumped the thread, I'll post this link regarding how to install windows and get rapiddrive working-

Introduction to reinstalling Windows on the machines built with Rapid Drive


Those of you who got the ssd from factory, does the intel RST tool even show an "accelerate" option?


my msata ssd is coming next week, and i'd like to see if i can get rapid drive working

 

I did not see an 'accelerate' option before I reinstalled Windows.

 

hi, New guy here.

What do you mean by the beginning of the HDD drive?

Mine goes like this

Disk 1 is my 14.91 gb ssd.

Disk 2 is 698.51 gb HDD

1000MB Healthy ( recovery partition)
260MB Healthy ( EFI system partition)
1000MB Healthy (OEM partition)
651.30gb Unallocated
Lenovo (D 25.00GB NTFS healthy (page file, Primary partion)
20Gb health (recovery partion)

from left to right in that order.

Thank you