What Intel UEFI RAID configuration in BIOS setup?

[parsec]

So new version UEFI for Z77 Extreme 4 board, 2.80, contains a patch for a model of G.SKILL memory, and this:

Support Intel UEFI RAID configuration in BIOS setup.

That is a copy and paste from the description on the BIOS download page.

I installed the 2.80 UEFI, and I'm sure I have it since that version is displayed in the UEFI setup, in AXTU, and other utilities.

So I check the UEFI from top to bottom, and find nothing new. The Storage Configuration option is an obvious place to check, right? Nothing new there. No new tools listed in the Advanced Options menu. Nothing about this that I can see anywhere.

Well maybe a confusion, and a new RAID Option ROM was installed. That was done once before in UEFI version 2.00, to 11.2.0.1527. Ok, check the Option ROM version... nope, still 11.2.0.1527.

So I don't get it, what's going on? Anyone with this board and 2.80 see anything in the UEFI about this? The Z77 Extreme 6 board had a similar UEFI update with this new feature about a week before my board.

The term "in BIOS setup" is pretty clear, we know what that is, right? "Support Intel UEFI RAID configuration" implies at least a setting of some kind, I assume.

Anyone have a clue about this?

[WilliamM2]

I don't have that board, but my understanding is that it will remove the Intel RAID screen on boot up, and speed up boot time by a whole 6-7 seconds. It's requires GPT partitions, UEFI raid drivers, and is only supported using Windows 8.

Here is a description and instructions for their X79 based board:

ASRock New UEFI Technology - Faster Boot Speed for Your RAID system - YouTube

[parsec]

Thanks for that William. Without watching the video, I think I'm seeing the behavior you described now. Yes, I am booting Windows 8 from an Intel IRST RAID volume, formatted in GPT. Normally, even when the Option ROM Display setting is disabled, the Intel IRST UI available during POST is still momentarily displayed, and it no longer does that with the new UEFI installed.

While this feature is Ok, the description of it, Support Intel UEFI RAID configuration in BIOS setup, is completely incorrect relative to what actually happens.

[parsec]

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

I learned how it works, by accident really, and I was wrong wrong wrong!

The description from ASRock, Support Intel UEFI RAID configuration in BIOS setup is really correct, my Apologies to ASRock for my previous comments.

I will say that you must do a fair amount of reading between the lines before it makes sense. Or once you actually see it, you get it.

So I'll fill in the details: Support Intel UEFI RAID configuration in BIOS setup

If you are running Windows 8, in a true UEFI boot mode (not CSM/BIOS emulation mode), and have the Ultra Fast boot mode enabled (which only works with Win 8 in a true UEFI boot), then in the Advanced options menu of my boards UEFI, an option appears, Intel RAID Configuration. This option provides most if not all the Intel RAID configuration options found in the Intel RAID Option ROM, that normally appears during POST, when the SATA mode is set to RAID, etc.

Ok, so what is the point of this option, you may rightly ask. It's a convenience if you are using Ultra Fast boot mode.

When Ultra Fast boot mode is active (with all the requirements listed above), there seems to be no POST in the conventional sense. From a cold start, a few lines of POST-type text are displayed for ~one second, and then you see the Win 8 boot screen and dots moving in a circle for a second or two, screen goes black for a second, and the standard Win 8 Metro screen is displayed. That takes less than ten seconds from the time you press the power button. Literally. With Win 8 on a SSD, of course.

Given this, you cannot get into the UEFI/BIOS at all, impossible. ASRock explains that much in the Ultra Fast boot option Help text. Also no access to Option ROMs... like the Intel RAID Configuration Option ROM. To even get into the UEFI when in Ultra Fast boot mode, you must run the ASRock Restart to UEFI utility in Windows, which immediately either restarts the PC right into the UEFI, or shuts down and will go directly into the UEFI when you cold start. This utility worked fine for me, the few times I've used it.

Frankly, this feature won't be a big deal to most people, or even to those that use RAID volumes, as I do. It is a nice demonstration of what can be done in the UEFI booting environment. I don't know if other mother board manufactures have this feature, or if ASRock itself wrote the code for the RAID configuration, or if it is some type of integration of existing Intel OROM code, that can be run by the UEFI. I'll need to try it and see if it works, but from what I did see, it seemed fine.

Nice work ASRock, although I don't know if this feature will attract more customers, at least in the short term. I'm impressed... and how many more puzzles are hiding in the UEFI?

[odiebugs]

Hey Par,

Sorry to get off track on this persons post, but a quick one, do you have to have GPT and onboard video enabled, plus ultra fast to run the UEFI on this board ? When you say all requirements, I don't see much.

[parsec]

Odie, "this person's" post is my post, so I can decide if it's off track... and you definitely are not off track!

Since I wrote so much in my last post, I left a few details out that I hoped would create some interest, and you took the bait!

BTW, thanks for actually reading it.

But then, you... !@#$%^&, you put all the missing details in a few words (I could learn something from that...)

You are correct sir! Yes you must have a GPT partitioned disk/volume, booted in UEFI mode, using Win 8 with Ultra Fast boot enabled.

But then as you mentioned, there is the ultimate sacrifice, the one I dared not mention, for others to know my shame... you must use the onboard video!

I basically know why that is, but I'm fuzzy on a detail or two. There is a UEFI video requirement that the discrete video card must support GOP (Graphics Output Protocol) in its VBIOS. Apparently, very few discrete video cards currently support GOP, but I'm not a video card expert. But, for example, many new Win 8 laptop PCs likely have a discrete mobile graphics chip, and likely boot in UEFI mode, so they must have GOP support. I also could not find any mention of GOP for the Intel on-CPU graphics, so the GOP thing may be only required by separate video cards.

I imagine that GOP support in a video card's VBIOS will be a new feature some people will look for, or is already out there. Are you aware of any?

[odiebugs]

ROLOL, just call me eagle eye.

See I'm getting worse. LOL

Let's take two laptops, as for using a desktop with onboard is nut's when a card blows any onboard out of the water.

If we have one UEFI, one efi in sleep mode, do you know what are the actual benefits between the two, and is it really worth it ?

If you have any of this info on your underwear and aren't ready to put you pajamas on I understand.



Can I ask one other Q.

Someone posted on OCZ how they have SSD's loaded wit all different OS, and it takes 5 seconds to swap, how can they do this when the table is in the BIOS like win 7.
I assumed you always had to triple boot.

[parsec]

Your first question is confusing, but I think you mean why use Ultra Fast boot with on board graphics and shut the PC down, rather than just use Sleep with a video card (most of the time, you write to little to express your points, your earlier point I liked was just lucky it made sense... )

Well, you shutdown with Ultra Fast boot and on board graphics so you can show off how fast your PC boots.

It's also fun to see that work (not sick of it yet.)

An excuse to use Window 8.

Also, you save the ~one Watt of power used in Sleep mode by your Gold or Platinum power supply.

Finally, it gives you an excuse to use the on board graphics (hey, maybe this will work with Lucid Virtu and a video card... OMG there is no chance... )

Regarding your second question, Windows 8 apparently has a "boot loader", via the Metro interface, that could allow what that post in the OCZ forum was about. Don't know anything about it right now.

Thanks for (not) answering my questions.

[odiebugs]

You help me out, answer questions, and now you expect a little work out of me, shhhsh.

I do remember reading about GOP on cards, can't remember if it was on mydigital or when I was looking at the next GPU after GF GTX, I'll get back to you.

[odiebugs]

I don't see any cards that allow the BIOS to be set in ultra boot mode, but Evga say's they are working on it and want to put out a update so this will work.

This is like Intel putting out lga 2011 but leaving out a cpu with pci-e 3.0, YAAAA .

From what I read, it will never happen on any GTX 500 series cards, but with 600.

So this could be good, formatting to GPT which is useless under 2tb drives, and having ultra boot instead of sleep.