[DRIVERS] Intel Chipset/MEI/SATA (1xx/2xx/3xx/4xx/5xx)

[piratino]

Hi,

Because the compatibility depends on the Hardware Id of your SATA controller.

The simplest method to adopt, is to install the drivers branch without asterisk for your chipset series (17.7), and to try to go up to the drivers branch above (17.9), if you can install it, try to go up to the drivers branch above (18.3x) and so on ...

Concrete example : the Hardware ID of my Z370 SATA AHCI controller is compatible with the 18.3x drivers branch while the Hardware ID of my friend Z390 SATA AHCI controller is not compatible.

Hello there and thank you very much for this new update.

Does this case of mine means that my controller is compatible? (see attached image)

Eventually, can I delete the old drivers? Drive Store Explorer didn't recognized any old drivers so in case I should select them manually.


Thank you very much!

[piratino]

Hi,

Yes, your SATA controller is compatible with 18.3x drivers branch.



Yes, you can.

However, I would like to draw everyone's attention to the fact that in a standard and most common configuration, only the SATA AHCI drivers need to be installed. SATA RAID drivers should only be installed if you have configured a RAID (RST Premium) in your BIOS (using Intel Optane or not) or for Intel NVMe SSD.

To avoid any risk of conflict, install only what you need. Here are the drivers you must use depending on the case :

- SATA HDD/SSHD/SSD in AHCI mode : You need Intel SATA AHCI drivers.
- SATA HDD/SSHD/SSD (with/without Intel Optane) in RAID/RST Premium mode : You need Intel SATA RAID/Optane drivers.
- Intel Optane or others Intel NVMe SSD : You need Intel SATA RAID/Optane drivers (used in NVMe mode).
- Samsung NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD : You need Samsung NVMe drivers : [DRIVERS] Samsung NVMe.
- Samsung NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD & all others brands NVMe PCIe 3.0/4.0 SSD : You don't need any drivers, Microsoft NVMe built-in drivers will be used.

Thank you very much for your reply and thank you for the exhaustive explanation.

I have a following question regarding your instructions:

As I do not have any internal raid with NVMe or any kind of other raid inside my computer, can I simply remove both the SATA drivers up here that are shown as installed in my system?
In case, will Windows then substitute them with its internal standard SATA driver?
Will this be ok?

I have an Intel NVMe SSD as my C: drive with Windows on it, and I'm just getting now an extra NVMe from Seagate, model FireCuda 520 NVMe PCIe 4.0, or the FireCuda 510 NVMe PCIe 3.0, still deciding, to place it next to the Intel NVMe just for increasing my overall storage.
Should I install also the SATA driver as I have an Intel NVMe?
Buy what if I will go then for a PCIe 4.0 NVMe? As you mention, not one driver should be installed. What to do?


Thank you.

[piratino]

Hi,

Since you are not using your SATA controller at all, in order to save energy and relieve your system, you can disable your SATA Controller in your BIOS (Avanced > PCH Strorage Configuration > SATA Controller : Disabled then F10 to save & exit). I will tell you what drivers to install and what drivers to remove just below.



Once your SATA controller is disabled in your BIOS :

- Remove all versions of the SATA AHCI drivers (iaahcic.inf).
- Remove the old version from 17.9 drivers branch of the SATA RAID/Optane drivers (iastorac.inf).
- You still need the current version from 18.3x drivers branch of the SATA RAID/Optane drivers (iastorac.inf) used in NVMe mode for your Intel NVMe SSD.
- You don't need any others drivers for your Seagate FireCuda 510/520 NVMe SSD, Microsoft Standard NVMe built-in drivers will be used.

Hello again and thank you.

This is very interesting. I have never though (and I bet a lot of other users as well) that if not using any RAID options with ssd/hdd drives inside the computer, the SATA controller should be/could be disabled in bios.
I have always though that it is still used by the hardware for correctly comunicate with all the drives, and (plus to that) it also has a RAID function, that can or cannot be used, as for user needs/personal preferences.

But let me understand this thing: if I disable the SATA controller, how does the ssd/hdd communicate with the other parts of the hardware? I supposte that the SATA controller, as I will disable it, it is only used for RAID functions and not any other vital functions for hardware communication between the drives and the motherboard/etc., right?
If so, motherboard producers do not explain this, as again I bet a lot of people just thinks that the SATA controlled should be kept on in the bios and install all its drivers.

Said so, I think it might be nice to add this in your first post, as for me for example, I'd like to install (and have things active in the bios) only if strictly necessary/if I use them.



Regarding the NVMe FireCuda 520 and 510, as they are respectfully PCI3 4.0 and 3.0, you say to use Microsoft's Windows built it drivers.
Just for personal knowledge, can you explain why for such evolute drives we shall use a standard driver?
Theoretically I would think that newer technologies might be better using the appropriate driver (like for example for the PCIe 3.0 Samsung drives that has dedicated drivers, as you also mention to use).


Ending this post, thank you for everything. I think that your answers might help a bunch of people, as drive's drivers are always that something I have personally experienced that people do not put too much effort in having them correctly installed.

[piratino]

If you are using one or more SATA HDD/SSHD/SSD in AHCI mode : You need to have your SATA controller active (AHCI mode).
If you are using one or more SATA HDD/SSHD/SSD in RAID/RST Premium mode (with/without Optane) : You need to have your SATA controller active (RAID mode).
If you use neither : You can disable your SATA controller.

So you can disable your SATA controller only if you only have NVMe SSDs (what is your case), and in this case, communication is done via PCIe lines (it is precisely the principle and the strength of NVMe compared to SATA).



Only Intel NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDs (via SATA RAID drivers in NVMe mode) & Samsung NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDs (via Samsung NVMe drivers) have drivers dedicated to its controller, most of all others NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDs don't have drivers dedicated to its controller. To date, no NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD has drivers dedicated to its controller (even Samsung 980 PRO NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD don't have drivers dedicated to its controller), the drivers Microsoft Standard NVMe built-in drivers must be used.

Thank you so much.

I have some doubts on which I'm using now. I have also some issues now in understanding what AHCI is and if I'm using it (or need it?!?).
I am not using any RAID, so if I have understood clearly, the SATA driver iaStorAC.inf is not needed in any case (mine and every other users) that does not use any RAID..correct?

I have an Intel NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD, but you say to disable the SATA controller and uninstall the SATA driver...but at the end you say that "Only Intel NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDs (via SATA RAID drivers in NVMe mode) .... have drivers dedicated to its controller".
So what does this exactly means? Do I have to uninstall the drivers for SATA controller and install some dedicated Intel NVMe PCIe 3.0 drivers, or that in this case I have to use the SATA iaStorAC.inf driver?

Sorry for the confirmations I'm asking, but this thing it is absolutely not explained by the manufacturers.

Thanks!

[piratino]

The answers to your questions are in my previous answers, I also told you in detail what to do in my previous answers ... Please read more carefully.

I'm sorry...I am asking further questions as I was not getting your answers as for me this is totally new and mind-blowing.

Let me be more specific:

If you are using one or more SATA HDD/SSHD/SSD in AHCI mode : You need to have your SATA controller active (AHCI mode).
If you are using one or more SATA HDD/SSHD/SSD in RAID/RST Premium mode (with/without Optane) : You need to have your SATA controller active (RAID mode).
If you use neither : You can disable your SATA controller.

So you can disable your SATA controller only if you only have NVMe SSDs (what is your case), and in this case, communication is done via PCIe lines (it is precisely the principle and the strength of NVMe compared to SATA).

In bios I have never disabled anything.

I do not use RAID or have any Optane drive installed, so the "iaStorAC.inf" driver is useless, right? Is this the exact reason why it should be uninstalled?

Regarding AHCI, why do I not use it? Is it because AHCI is useless when having NVMe drives as communication is done via PCIe lines? Is this the reason why "iaAHCIC.inf" should be uninstalled?

Summing up, having all NVMe drives and no RAID should imply that the SATA controller and AHCI can never be used and so disabled in bios and never install their drivers?


Regarding the other aspect fo your explanation here:

Only Intel NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDs (via SATA RAID drivers in NVMe mode) & Samsung NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDs (via Samsung NVMe drivers) have drivers dedicated to its controller, most of all others NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDs don't have drivers dedicated to its controller. To date, no NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD has drivers dedicated to its controller (even Samsung 980 PRO NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD don't have drivers dedicated to its controller), the drivers Microsoft Standard NVMe built-in drivers must be used.

When you say "Only Intel NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDs (via SATA RAID drivers in NVMe mode) & Samsung NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDs (via Samsung NVMe drivers) have drivers dedicated to its controller" you specifically stand that extra dedicated drivers are needed only if using SATA RAID functionality with an Intel (or Samsung) PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive, as if using SATA RAID with PCIe 4.0 drives it can be used the standard Microsoft built-in driver, right?


I'm sorry but I shall need extra confirmation as I have several machines where I have NVMe drives with no RAID and keeping on installing SATA and AHCI drivers.
Thank you.

[piratino]

Wrong, again, you haven't read carefully :




Correct.




Only if you disable your SATA controller :

You don't have to disable your SATA controller, it's just optimization, you can if you want leave your SATA controller active, even if you are not using it, and in this case you only need to remove the old version from 17.9 drivers branch of the SATA AHCI drivers (iaahcic.inf).




Correct.




Correct but not in your case. I repeat that you still need "the SATA RAID/Optane drivers (iastorac.inf) used in NVMe mode for your Intel NVMe SSD".




Do not mix everything up, SATA RAID and NVMe have nothing to do (except in the specific case of an Intel Optane).

The thing that seems to mislead you and that you don't seem to understand is that Intel has decided not to create dedicated Intel NVMe drivers for its NVMe SSDs, and therefore SATA RAID Drivers = Intel NVMe Drivers (hence, "SATA RAID drivers in NVMe mode").

Now it is perfectly clear. At the end you center the issue in my case, as I was indeed mislead about this SATA/Intel driver's thing.

For optimization I like my self to have active/installed only what is used. I'll try to disable the SATA controller and remove the SATA AHCI drivers (iaAHCIC.inf), and of course keep the SATA RAID/Optane drivers (iastorac.inf) as used by my Intel NVMe drive.

The curious thing is that I will keep a driver installed even if the intended hardware for which it should be installed is disabled (SATA controller), as it is used by another hardware (Intel NVMe drive).

Again, you are very nice and thank you so so much.

[rgen44]

Hi everyone,

- Intel MEI Drivers (Drivers Only) :

Drivers : 2108.100.0.1053 WHQL [16/02/2021]

Download : Link

Thread updated.

Also SATA drivers: Thank you @MoKiChU. STAY WELL!

[Cliff S]

Hi everyone,

- Intel MEI Drivers (Drivers Only) :

Drivers : 2108.100.0.1053 WHQL [16/02/2021]

Download : Link

Thread updated.

Thanks as usual MoKiChU
It is important to get the latest from MEI and ME firmware updates, as Intels CSME is an evil thing for the normal consumer(it's actually designed for company admins in mind) as it is a possible hacker attack vector. CSME attacks can even be done on PC's that are turned off.

[piratino]

....

Quick question regarding SATA controller: in case of having a classic sata hdd attached to one of the sata connectors to the motherboard, placed as an extra storage next to the NVMe dedicated to Windows, would this hdd need to have the SATA controller active in bios so for it to regularly be seen by Windows at boot?

I haven't tried to disable the SATA controller in this machine to see if the hdd doesn't show up at boot, as I have some tasks on that disk ruining at startup that is a bit complicated to pause, so sorry for maybe asking a silly and rather easy question to check my self.

Thank you.

[walishah3211]

is chipset are important to install driver if we are using gpu on that mobo