Intel Rapid Start trouble

Segleo · September 14, 2014

I recently got a Maximus VII Formula and I formatted my SSD when I installed the motherboard. I installed LEGIT Windows 8.1, along with drivers and other stuff. Yet, I couldn't install the Intel Rapid Start Technology Driver. I didn't pay too much attention to it.

However, not only does the PC take longer to boot and load the startup applications, but also takes sometimes even half a minute to wake up and allow me to type my password/pin in order to log in. I assume that the problem is the lack of IRST Driver and not the motherboard's fault. I cannot seem to find a way to install it though. I have enabled it in the UEFI/BIOS, I have downloaded the Driver from both the motherboard's site and Intel's site but I cannot get it to work.

I saw in a forum that in order to make it work I have to create a separate partition just for it and that is should at least be equal with my RAM's size. The thing is that I've got 16GB of RAM and a 128GB Samsung 840 SSD. In addition, I can only shrink my primary partition my almost 6GB because that's the maximum spaced not used by files. Yet, I've got around 35GB of free space. I know that the inability to shrink the partition is due to how the SSDs work.

So my questions are:

A ) Does IRST really do anything or is it just some useless program?

B ) If it is, then what could be causing the slowdown during the boot and wake up?

C ) If it is useful, is there another way to get it to work, without sacrificing so much space?

LogicalDrm · September 15, 2014

I'm pretty sure RST is meant to be used with OS on HDD. Its pretty much useless on SSD where your boot times are already fast. If your slowness is between load to desktop and actually being able to launch anything, it could be some startup software slowing things or SSD having issues.

As for waking up from sleep I can't say. I don't use it as SSD boots already fast enough for my needs.