Add recommended Intel Rapid Storage Technology?

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

Check what HP has posted for your PC before making any conclusions.  Pay attention to the update comments.

If you go against HP's recommendations then you are on your own.  Good luck!

[dwalker1]

HI this reply is accepting Big Dave's caution in his last post but is addressed to Paul.

I'm now reluctant to update anything as I downloaded Intel's driver and Support Assistan and ran it.  After scanning  my system for my Intel products (just my I3 chip), it found no updates to make to any software. 

So now I wonder what is so bad about the Standard Controller, given that Intel itself doesn't want to update it to one of hte theirs?

So what's the story on this - why do you consider it important to install the Intel Controller?

Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen]

There is nothing 'bad' about it, but it is basically a generic driver that Windows installs.

If you look at the driver date for that standard sata ahci controller that W10 installs, isn't it from the 2000's, like 2006?

I keep my drive controller updated to the latest driver version it can take.

I have zipped up and attached the SATA AHCI driver package below.

This package contains the RST driver without the startup software.

This driver was taken right from your PC's support page...specifically from sp71616, under the Storage drivers section.

You can do what you want, but here is how you can easily update the driver...

Download, and unzip the file I attached to its folder.

Don't do anything with the files in the folder.

Go to the device manager and click on the Standard SATA AHCI Controller listed under the IDE ATA ATAPI Controllers device manager category.

Click on the driver tab.  Click on Update Driver.

Select the Browse my computer for driver software option and browse to the driver folder you unzipped.

Make sure the Include Subfolders box is checked, and the driver should install.

Then restart the PC.

Then recheck that device, and you will see it has a new (and correct) controller name, and an updated driver from 6/3/15.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

You should be able to update the ACHI controller driver to 15.7.3.1019 dated 7/18/2017.

@Paul_Tikkanen  You should be able to locate the above driver.

[dwalker1]

Bill and Paul,  Ok thanks for explaining.  I don't see updating a working driver because it's generic or from 2006.

Bill you asked me to consider HP's recommendations for my machine - well as I recall from their web site drive update page for my specific 500-479 machine, it was not to install updates just because they were listed on the pager, but betterot let the Support Assistant software make the decision.  That is what I have followed so far.   After the Intel Driver assistant also did not suggest updating this driver, that reinforces the idea it won't make any difference, while possibly being a risk.

Any last comments?

[Big_Dave]

@dwalker1

Some things to consider:

1. The HP Support Assistant (HPSA) doesn't always detect the latest drivers.
2. The HP Support Server (HPSS) doesn't always have the latest drivers posted.
3. HPSA and the HPSS have historically not been well synchronized. This issue goes back many years.
4. Drivers updates from the Intel site are well ahead of drivers posted by HP. The latest drivers will correct existing problems, prevent problems that haven't been discovered by the typical user, add hardware support and optimized code. 
5. HP may not certify the latest driver updates due to a limited problem occurrence for specific issues. A hand full of people reporting a problem may not be enough to get HP to certify the latest drivers.

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There are two different philosophies in dealing with updates:

1. "if it ain't broke don't fix it"
2. Install the updates as provided by the manufacturer as they correct and prevent the reoccurrence of problems.

The manufacturers (Microsoft, HP, CISCO, IBM, Intel, Gigabyte, MSI, AMD, NVIDIA, ASUS, EVGA, Dell, Panasonic, Toshbia, Cyberlink, Oracle, etc.) spend billions each year producing BIOS, firmware and software updates to this end. If it didn't make business sense then they wouldn't do it. I have found through many years of experience that the cost of rediscovery was much more than the cost and the risk to apply the updates. An experienced HPer once said that the exposure to a bad update was less than 1%.

Only you can decide which "camp" you want to be in. Personally, I am proactive rather than reactive.

[dwalker1]

Hi again,

Well that's quite the post - I'll consider it of course.

Cheers,

dwalker