Intel Turbo Memory: User Pinning

Last night I found myself unable to sleep without anything to do. So I wandered over to Sager's site and downloaded the newest drivers for Turbo Memory. Ran the installer with the -up command-- it took a while but it got through.
I only started to pull my hair out after going through the required reboot. It took my pc 30 minutes to shut down and load the OS again. When it was finally up and running again many applications would refuse to launch (Firefox, Avast.. etc). I decided to reboot again. Same thing happens.
Only on the third reboot did the **** thing speed up. Everything seems to be okay except for the fact that the User Pinning program (launched from the start menu) is not detecting my 2GB module. ("It appears the Intel Turbo Memory device is not functioning properly or it not present.") The Turbo Memory Console, however, shows my module as operational. (Readyboost is unable to be enabled. I believe this is because I decided to install UP...)
I really want to try this User Pinning feature out. Should I have uninstalled the old drivers before I went ahead and installed the new ones?

 

If you have the 4GB module the pinning dashboard is installed and enabled by default. If you have the 2GB module the readyboost is installed by default, to install the pinning dashboard

You can try the directions below which may solve the issue.


Note: This section requires that the Intel(R) Turbo Memory
Console Application is loaded onto the system.

1. Execute the Intel(R) Turbo Memory Console Application by selecting
it in the Start Menu. To open, select Start -> Intel(R) Turbo
Memory -> Intel(R) Turbo Memory Console.

2. The application displays the status for both Windows ReadyBoost and
Windows ReadyDrive as supported by Intel(R) Turbo Memory Technology.

3. If either Windows ReadyBoost or Windows ReadyDrive is disabled,
the user has the option to set either feature to enabled if the
checkbox for the feature is not grayed out. for any checkbox that
is selectable:

3a. Click on the "Enable ReadyDrive" or "Enable ReadyBoost" check
box.
3b. Close the console.
3c. Reboot the system.
3d. The features checked in the console will be enabled upon
next boot.

OR

1. Make sure turbo memory driver and intel matrix driver is uninstalled from add / remove programs

2. Reboot the computer.

3. Use the search / run bar and go to the location of intel turbo memory setup file 1.7.0.1029 and install with the "-UP" command "x:\path to file\invm_enu.exe -UP" without the quotes, this will correctly install the pinning dashboard.

If you run into where the dash board would not correctly load, or if the program already pinned will still work but you can't add / remove apps.

Go to c:\program files (x86) for 64bit version of vista c:\progra files\intel\intel matrix\pinningui\ and delete all the .xml files. Then reboot the computer and load the dashboard, it'll be fresh again and you can now repin everything.

They have filed this issue with intel, it is now in intel's hands to fix the issue with the software driver.

 

I emailed Intel about the ITM & User Pinning.

Below this quote was my reply. Keep in mind the first quote is from an Intel document:

Hello David,

Thank you for contacting Intel(R) Technical Support.

The Intel(R) Turbo Memory is supported through this channel of support when installed with a Verified by Intel(R) Notebook only.

Note that Intel(R) is a manufacturer of hardware components and not complete computer systems. The manufacturer (OEM) directly provides the support for make and model of computer you have.

Be aware that Intel(R) supports the User Pinning Graphical User Interface with Intel(R) Turbo Memory module of size 4 GB only. Intel(R) Turbo Memory module of 1 GB, and 2B is not supported with User Pinning GUI.

The Intel(R) Turbo Memory Driver Package will automatically detect the presence of a 4 GB module and install the User Pinning GUI.

The Readme file can be find at the URL:

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/16706/ENG/Readme.txt

If you are encountering issues with your hardware, please contact the computer manufacturer for support, as they are familiar with the total configuration of your system.

To see all the Verified by Intel(R) models, please visit the following URL:

http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/271262.htm

To download drivers for the Intel(R) Turbo Memory, please visit the following URL:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/

For general information, please visit this URL below:

http://www.intel.com/design/flash/nand/turbomemory/316979.pdf


We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Sincerely,
Javier
Intel(R) Customer Support

Intel is a registered trademark of the Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

 

Interesting. I thought I read about a few people with the 2GB ITM getting UP to work..
EDIT: I also have to wonder then if anything besides using the -UP command is required...

 

I had to use the -UP switch command to install User Pinning but it was
the most unreliable buggy POS BETA crÅp I ever installed.

I went back to the install w/o the -UP switch command.

 

Does anyone know if the turbo memory's program to load up your favorite programs faster works on the Santa Rosa version of turbo memory? The older 512mb and 1gb versions. Or is this only for Montevina?

 

Only for Montevina.

Could someone explain to me how to install with the "-UP" switch? I don't quite follow.

 

You'll want to download the installation file to somewhere such as your desktop. Open the command prompt and browse to your desktop.

C:\Users\User\invm_enu.exe -UP

BTW the dashboard is the buggiest, slowest, and most cumbersome program I've used in a long time. I've found that adding only one application at a time helps keep it running properly.

 

I agree.

It is the worst piece of BETA crÅp I've seen since 1998

 

Given that the program is buggy, unsupported and probably not worth my time using it, will it work with just 2 gigs, or did I waste my money getting just that?

That is part of the reason I got the Turbo Memory in the first place.

 

If you can get it to work, its great! I've finally managed to fill my 4GB to 89%, which are all my apps.

 

Good deal. Thanks.

If only I can get it to work now.

 

Is the turbo memory in separate modules like ram, or does it come in 2 or 4 gigs? And would my computer have another slot for more that I can add?

 

This may sound crazy, but what is the purpose of Intel Turbo Memory? Is it necessary? I would like to have some of my programs boot up faster. I don't know if I should get it or not though.

 

Its is not "necessary" so to speak, but essentially what my 4GB model does is use a function called User Pinning, which allows me to put applications of any kind into the turbo memory, Photoshop, for example. When my HDD is busy doing something and I "call" on anything that is in the TM, it will decide which will be faster to load from. Usually its the Turbo Memory. What it equates to, when done properly, is extremely fast booting apps while the HDD is under load.

 

How do you exactly pin these applications into the Turbo Memory?

 

Using the Intel Dashboard. You drag them from a list and drop them into the card. Easiest thing ever.

 

Yeah, I just set up mine and Photoshop went from taking about thirty seconds down to between five and ten seconds.

I agree it is absolutely necessary, but its nice to not have to wait.

 

Thanks. I'll be sure to try that.
Also, is there a limit on the number of applications you can pin to the Turbo memory?

 

Intel Robson Turbo Memory seems very useful. By the way, did you get the 2GB or 4GB version?

 

I think Intel Turbo Memory is a sham. From the tests I've seen, it either doesn't work at all, or it starts working after haggling with it a few times, and when it works, the gains are not really noticeable unless you have a weak system (i.e. 1gb, slow HD). Turbo memory is especially pointless for gaming notebooks with 2gb of memory and/or hard drives in RAID 0.

 

That seems to be true of turbo memory 1, but tm2 seems to have a good effect, especially with the user pinning

 

Why do you think Intel Robson Turbo memory is a sham? It seems pretty useful. You can pin applications to the turbo memory and have them open and run a lot faster than they usually would. This is very useful with frequently used applications. I'm not saying its absolutely necessary, but it is a nice touch to your notebook.

 

I got the 2gig version. Pinning just Photoshop CS3 and Word took about 60% of it. Seems to go fast.

As far as I know you can put as many programs as there is enough memory for. I wish I had gotten the 4gig, that way I could put more programs and still have some extra.

 

I'm running the 4GB model and see a huge difference. Got about everything I use regularly running on it (Games not included) I see the best difference when the HDD is bogging the system down, which is quite regularly. RAM has much less to do with how it handles than it did in v1.

ichime, as far as I'm aware, there are no clevo systems available that support Turbo Memory and also have RAID capabilities.

User Pinning and Turbo Memory are great, but the Dashboard is really buggy. According to XoticPC Support, intel is aware of it and is supposedly working on a new dashboard release.

 

Do you know to get 4GB is it a separate module or just 2 2GB units?

 

I believe it comes as a single 4GB module.

 

Intel Turbo Memory is a huge sham.
Just wait a few months to get a good SSD, and you'll have 100+GB turbo memory.

 

Completely different. SSDs are no replacement for turbo memory by any means. In fact, in many cases they are slower than a standard HDD.

Turbo memory UP is designed to be utilized when the HDD is busy doing other things, or where reading from the turbo memory would be quicker, such as with small files.

Take it from someone who is using it and testing it. Turbo Memory 2.0 is extremely valuable.

 

Can you put Windows Vista completely in turbo memory? I've heard claims of nearly instant on from some manufacturers or would it just be a waste to load the OS on there if at all possible?

 

I'm going to say no to that. TM functions as a service running within Windows, and is called during the boot process. And Vista's install is larger than 4GB anyways.

 

Has anyone tried this on a santa rosa? I'm dying to try this out...
I think I'm gonna pull the trigger and sell it if it doesn't work.
This seems too good to miss!

 

Montevina Only. Technically, only the 4GB model is supported for UP, although the 2GB will run it.

 

@emike - you say montevina only, but have you actually tested it on SR, or have you got proof it doesn't work?

 

Well, the user pinning might be helpful, but again, it's useless for powerful systems, and especially useless if you have one of the newer SSDs.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrino#Montevina_platform_.282008.29

And the post above that inside the link.

A good overview of the card can be found at:
http://www.intel.com/design/flash/nand/turbomemory/316979.pdf

Ask any Retailer and they will tell you the same.

 

TM1 and TM2 will work with either Centrino or Centrino 2. You need to make sure you got a right footprint of the module. Santa Rosa laptop will likely use a full Mini PCI express footprint while Montevina will use a half Mini PCI express footprint.

 

I've seen you posting the same around NBR. Do you have any valid proof they are compatible? It is my understanding they are not.

 

No valid proof yet but as you pointed out, http://www.intel.com/design/flash/na...ory/316979.pdf
Intel did mention it works with Centrino and Centrino 2.

I did got a 4GB module and try it with the M1530. The module is a half mini PCI express (physical size) footprint so I cannot secure the memory module in place. The physical edge pins on the 4GB module (TM2) is the same 1GB module (TM1). I am still waiting to see if the 4GB module will be available in Full Mini PCI express footprint.

 

^^ Link doesn't work.

 

working link

imzomnia's link has been truncated between nand and turbomemory

 

Yeah, on page 3, it said, "Intel Tubo Memory Cards are compatible with Intel Centrino and Intel Centrino 2 processor technology for notebook PCs..."

The 4GB card supports ReadyDrive and User Pinning. The 2GB card supports ReadyDrive and ReadyBoost.

 

Crazy that you can't use the module for readyboost...

 

Sager has asked everybody who has a sager system to contact them and let them know the problem, and all those not under sager to contact Clevo.

They are asking for system model and specs and the issues with either the card or the software. The following is a list I have compiled, feel free to use it and add to is:

* After many restarts and launches of the TM Dashboard (15+) the application begins to fail and is unable to find programs on the computer, and throws an error message of "A generic exception was thrown while finding applications". You can no longer add data to the module without reinstalling the OS.

* After restart, the TM reports using 3% of the module, and does not update any higher until I open the dashboard, where it will propagate the card with data. No amount of waiting for it to do it on its own will help it propagate.

* Using the TM Dashboard to move items from right to left, or to scroll through the list of items, utilizes 100% of the CPU cores, causing the system to perform very poorly while using the interface.

* Adding more than one program to the module at a time can cause the dashboard to freeze and the HDD to read constantly until the OS is restarted.

* The TM Dashboard changes the % of usage to different percentages at random times. It isn't always consistent, and will drop from 85% to 65% usage after a single restart.

* Removing an application from cache while it is propagating causes the application to freeze and fail to perform the operation.

They can be reached at [email protected]

 

Did you ever get around this part of the problem? I am working with a customer now who is having the same issue. Before he installed User Pinning he also couldn't enable either ReadyBoost or ReadyDrive, they'd uncheck themselves after a restart. We installed UP, and now when he tries to open the dashboard it gives him the above error. He still can't keep ReadyDrive checked, either.

ReadyBoost greys out on purpose, because with User Pinning you're basically doing Vista ReadyBoost's job for it. It would prefetch and decide what to put on the Turbo Memory based on what you run frequently. Installing UP turns it off and lets you decide for yourself.

I read on the ASUSTek forums that the problem with things being unchecked could be caused by mismatched Intel drivers, so I sent the customer links to the latest Chipset, Matrix Storage, and Turbo Memory drivers. I asked him to install them in that order and see if it resolved the problem. I'll let you all know his response. I really hope it does because I keep running into people with these issues lately.

 

emike: Good information you posted.

Hopefully Intel released an optimized version of the driver by the time TM2 is widely available.

 

Installing the chipset/matrix storage/turbo memory drivers didn't work, but I believe I've figured out the real problem. If you're having the issue the original poster had with the software saying the Turbo Memory module isn't working or isn't installed, check your BIOS to be sure that AHCI is enabled. If it's off, it can cause those symptoms. You'll need to enable AHCI in Windows first, then enable it in the BIOS. If it's Vista it should be as simple as enabling it with the msahci registry key. If it's XP you'll have to download the Matrix Storage manager, extract it and manually install its INF file. After installing the driver in Windows you'll need to restart and enable AHCI in the BIOS. If that still bluescreens and doesn't work, you'll likely have to enable AHCI and reinstall Windows from scratch.

 

Joe Newberry:

This is a good suggestion but AHCI is already enabled on my system.
A lot of the issues I had with the pinning software (Dashboard) started
once the software loaded. It would run s l o w and cause the mouse
to act as if it were a 3dpi mouse.

 

Ya all our issues are after the TM is installed and running. Poorly designed software.

 

The original poster, cbps, had a problem with the Dashboard telling him that his Turbo Memory was not installed or not functioning properly. He also couldn't enable ReadyDrive, or ReadyBoost before User Pinning was installed. That is who the enable AHCI option is directed towards. If the software is buggy, but otherwise letting you run it, then AHCI is already on.