Many particularly attentive users who themselves reinstall Windows were noticed that in the driver's list on the official websites of motherboards and laptops on the Intel platform is present.

intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver in the list of drivers on the site Manufacturer Laptop

In this regard, there is a completely logical question: I nTEL RAPID STORAGE TECHNOLOGY DRIVER what is it? And is it necessary at all? In this article, we will try to make answers to these questions as clearly as possible.

What is Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver?

From the DRIVER word present in the title, you can guess that this is a driver. And more precisely, the package from the driver set to the controller is responsible for the operation of data storage devices -, SSD, etc.

Main Window Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver

Thanks to this package, it is possible to use the newest PCIE data storage device in the system with the transfer rate of 1GB per second.

When installing this driver, it is possible to activate the following functions:

• Dynamic Storage Accelerator;
• Intel Smart Response TECHNOLOGY;
• Intel Rapid Recover.

Dynamic Storage Accelerator

This feature allows you to increase the performance of the SSD disk operation by 15 percent thanks to optimizing its power in multitasking mode.

Intel Smart Response TECHNOLOGY

Allows you to automatically save frequently used programs and files to SSD disk For their faster opening. Moves SSD into a peculiar cache of frequently used data, thanks to which the performance of the system on conventional HDDs in a pair with SSD increases much.

Intel Rapid Recover.

Recovery function. Allows you to create a recovery point of the system, thanks to which you can quickly restore the operation in the case of the system disk.

Do I need to install Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver?

The answer is yes, you need. After all, even if you are not going to use any of the features that, in most cases, in the absence of this driver, an unknown device will be in the device manager.

Intel Corporation. - This is a corporation that has been many years old (since 1968) produces a large number of electronic devices and computer equipment: processors, motherboards, chip sets, server products, products for Ethernet networks, wireless solutions and much more. Intel has a huge number of technologies that are bright feature of the quality of the electronic masterpieces produced!

Since Intel technologies are very much, I suggest to consider only a small part that may be interested in the usual user. Each technology is unique, therefore it allows you to enjoy the advantage of performance, mobility, energy efficiency, computing power and data protection. More detailed information You can get on the official website of the manufacturer: the official site of Intel. So, it's time to consider advanced technologies, built-in imaging technologies, Intel protection and data technology.

Advanced Intel Technologies

Built-in Intel Management Engine (Intel Me) Uses the built-in features of the platform and management and security applications for remote out-of-band management of network computing resources.

Sound subsystem Intel High Definition. Audio. Supports playback of more channels in more high qualitythan previous integrated audio systems. In addition, the Intel High Definition Audio audio subsystem integrated the technologies needed to support the newest sound formats.

Intel Matrix Storage Technology Provides protection, performance and expandability of desktop and mobile platforms. Users using one or more hard drives receive advantage of additional performance and lower power consumption. When using multiple disks, the user receives additional protection against data loss in case of a hard disk failure. Predecessor of storage technology.

Intel Rapid Start Technology Supported by certain models of Ultrabook devices equipped with Intel Core processors. It allows you to withdraw UltraBook from sleeping mode in seconds, returning it to the state in which you left it.

Intel Smart Connect Technology provides automatic updating of email content and social networksWhen the computer is in sleep mode. Thanks to Intel Smart Connect technology, you will not have to wait for download updated after the computer awakening.

Intel Smart Response Technology Combines high performance of small solid-state drives with large volume of hard disk.

Intel Stable Image Platform (Intel SIPP) It can help your company find and implement standardized, stable PC platforms for at least 15 months.

Technology "Advantages for Small Business Intel" It offers small business companies a comprehensive solution for improving security and performance thanks to such functions as software monitoring, backup and data recovery, USB port lock, PC technical center and Wireless Display Technology.

Expansion of the command set - These are additional instructions with which you can improve performance when performing operations with multiple data objects. These include SSE (support for SIMD extensions) and AVX (vector extensions).

Intel Demand Based Switching - This is a power management technology, in which the application voltage and the clock frequency of the microprocessor are held at the minimum required level until the computing power is required. This technology was presented on the server market called Intel Speedstep.

Intel Virtualization technology For directional I / O for Itanium (VT-I) allows one Intel ITANIUM processor platform to function as a few "virtual" platforms. The technology improves management capabilities, reducing downtime and maintaining productivity through the allocation of individual sections for computing operations.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology TECHNOLOGY Provides two processing streams for each physical core. Multi-threaded applications can perform more tasks in parallel, which significantly speeds up performance.

Intel TURBO Boost Technology Dynamically increases the frequency of the processor to the required level using the difference between the nominal and maximum values \u200b\u200bof the temperature and energy parameters, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency of energy consumption or, if necessary, "dispersed" the processor.

Technology Intel VPRO. It is built into the processor complex controls and security, designed to meet the challenges in four key areas of information security: 1) Management of threats, including protection against rootkits, viruses, and other malicious software 2) Protection of personal data and the protection point of access to the web Site 3) Protection of Confidential Personal and Business Information 4) Remote and Local Monitoring, Correction, Repair of PCs and Workstations.

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directional I / O (VT-X) Allows one hardware platform to function as a few "virtual" platforms. The technology improves management capabilities, reducing downtime and maintaining productivity through the allocation of individual sections for computing operations.

INTEL VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY For directional I / O complements support for virtualization in processors based on the IA-32 architecture (VT-X) and in ITANIUM processors (VT-i), the input / output device virtualization functions. Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I / O helps users to increase the safety and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I / O devices to virtual environments.

Intel VT-X with Extended Page TablesAlso known as the Second Level Translation technology (SLAT) technology provides acceleration of virtualized applications with intensive memory. The Extended Page Tables technology on platforms with the Intel virtualization technology reduces the unproductive costs of memory and energy consumption and increases the battery life thanks to the hardware optimization of the page forwarding table.

Intel Transactional Synchronization Extensions New Instructions (Intel TSX-NI) There are a set of teams focused on scaling performance in multi-threaded environments. This technology helps more effectively carry out parallel operations using improved control lock control.

Architecture Intel 64. Combined with the relevant software supports the operation of 64-bit applications on servers, workstations, desktops and laptops. Intel 64 architecture provides increased performance, due to what computing systems More than 4 GB of virtual and physical memory can be used.

Intel My WiFi Technology Provides a wireless connection of the UltraBook or laptop to devices with WiFi support, such as printers, stereo systems, etc.

Intel Speedstep Advanced Technology Allows you to provide high performance, as well as compliance with the requirements of mobile systems to energy saving. The standard Intel SpeedStep technology allows you to switch the voltage and frequency level depending on the processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology is built on the same architecture and the use of such a strategy, as the separation of voltage and frequency changes, as well as distribution and clock recovery.

Technology thermocontrol Protect the processor housing and system from a failure of overheating using several temperature control functions. An intracrystalline digital temperature sensor (Digital Thermal Sensor - DTS) determines the temperature of the kernel, and the temperature regime control services, if necessary, reduce the power consumption of the processor with the processor, thereby reducing the temperature to ensure work within normal performance.

Built-in visualization technologies

INTEL CLEAR VIDEO HD technology supports video playback in HD, enhancing image quality in games and movies, play Blue-ray discs and streaming over the Internet.

Technology Intel Insider. Allows you to transmit premium content in HD format on UltraBook and PC.

Intel Intru 3D Technology It allows you to play three-dimensional stereoscopic videos in the Blu-ray format with a resolution of 1080p using HDMI 1.4 interface and high-quality sound, as well as provides three-dimensional images in games and other multimedia content.

Intel IRIS Graphic Solution - This is the latest and most powerful Intel graphics technology, built directly into the 4th generation Intel Core processors. Providing performance doubling compared to previous Intel graphic technologies. No less effectively Intel Iris works when playing high (HD) and ultra-high (4K) permissions.

Intel HD Graphics Solution - Graphic technology built into the Intel Core processors of the 2nd and 3rd generations. This solution provides high-performance graphics and multimedia processing functions at the processor level, significantly increasing the speed and allow you to install an additional graphic adapter, while not requiring additional space for it.

Intel Quick Sync Video Technology Provides quick encoding and video decoding. Allows you to promptly create dVD discs or Blu-ray, edit video, convert video files for a multimedia portable player and video to accommodate online.

Intel Wireless Display Technology (Intel Widi) Simplifies the broadcast of films, videos, photos, music, applications and other content on big screen TV. By wireless connection You can display content from hard disk, home network, Internet. Before viewing, you only need to connect the adapter to the TV and perform a few simple actions. To take advantage of Intel Wireless Display technology, a laptop and a television adapter that supports this technology is required.

Data protection technologies

ADVANCED ENCRYPTION STANDARD NEW INSTRUCTIONS (AES-NI) Present a set of commands that allows you to quickly and safely provide encryption and decoding data. AES-NI commands can be used to solve a wide range of cryptographic tasks, for example, in applications providing group encryption, decoding, authentication, generation random numbers and authenticated encryption.

Intel Secure Key Technology It is a random number generator that creates unique combinations to enhance the encryption algorithms.

Protection technology

Intel Trusted Execution Technology Expands the ability to safely execute commands by hardware expansion of processor capabilities and Intel chip sets. This technology provides for digital office platforms such protection functions as measured application launch and protected execution of commands. This is achieved by creating an environment where applications are executed isolated from other system applications.

Bit cancellation - This is a hardware security feature that allows you to reduce vulnerability to viruses and malicious code, as well as prevent malware and distribution on the server or on the network.

Intel technology to protect against theft (Anti-Theft) It helps to ensure data security on a figurative computer in case it is lost or stolen. To use Intel technology to protect against theft, you must receive a subscription from the service provider Intel technology to protect against theft.

Intel Privacy Policy (Intel Identity Protection) - Built-in security technology based on the use of token. This technology provides simple and reliable means of controlling access to commercial and business data online, providing protection against safety and fraud threats. Intel Privacy Policy Uses PC Authentication Hardware Mechanisms on websites, in banking systems and network services, confirming the uniqueness of this PC, protects against unauthorized access and prevents attacks using malicious software.

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Last time we got acquainted in detail, and today it will be discussed Intel Smart Connect. and Intel Rapid Start. . which relate to sleep modes of computers and laptops.

Intel Smart Connect. Allows you to periodically include web applications that are open on your computer. Thanks to this network applications, such as email, Twitter, Facebook, Vkontakte and programs that require an Internet connection can automatically update the data without turning on the laptop by the user by the user. Updates will expect when the user returns to the computer. Thus, turning on the computer, the user will be able to immediately start working with new informationwithout waiting for download all updates.

Technology Intel Rapid Start. Allows the computer to exit the hibernation mode after the fully discharge of the battery is only 5-6 seconds. This means that even after the full discharge of the laptop, the latest programs, files, folders and documents will be available after switching on the user. It is achieved quite simple: the status of the RAM is not recorded not to the magnetic, but on the semiconductor NAND-drive, so that the data reading occurs much faster.

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According to the rule, which received from Intel, the joking name "Tik-so", the introduction of new processor microarchitectures and translating processor production to more "thin" technological standards occurs in antiphase, but in a cycle with a total period of just over two years. This rule was something like a fundamental principle, which is strictly complied with Intel, together with the Moore law over the past few years. It's not a secret for anyone that in full compliance with this rule in the very near future we are waiting for a meeting with the new family of processors Ivy Bridge, which are "tick", that is, inherit the microarchitecture from their predecessors, but at the same time they go to the most modern 22-nm technical process.

Together with the processors according to the rule "Tik-so" develop the platform as a whole. With the arrival of new microarchitectures Intel introduces new processor sockets and significantly reprove the structure of systems - both desktop and mobile. On "Tika", as a rule, cosmetic changes that do not bring any fundamental innovations are occurring. Nevertheless, the release of the next family processor is a good reason for refreshing the platform. Therefore, to the appearance Ivy Bridge. The manufacturer was going to coincide the appearance and new line of system logic sets, which would adjust the platform characteristics to the modern level, but it would not have broken compatibility between chipsets and processors. That is how the chipsets of the seventh series with the code name Panther Point, which include desktop Z77 and its various simplified or mobile variations.

However, for a number of reasons for the technological property, Intel was forced to make some adjustments to the initial schedule. The date of Announcement Ivy Bridge moved to a later date, so its chipset-companion Z77 was in strange loneliness. His announcement occurred today, but the processors for which it is mainly and designed, will appear only in two weeks. Such a phased schedule of introducing new products, though it looks strange, in fact, quite admissible, because new chipsets are compatible with the Sandy Bridge processors. And this in a certain kind plays our hand: We get the opportunity to consider the novelties in stages, paying more attention to their peculiarities.

Actually, in this material we focus on the consideration of the Intel Z77 system logic set. Of course, while we have to consider it in a pair with the Sandy Bridge processor, but we will keep in mind that on the site of this processor there should be another Bridge - Ivy.

⇡ Intel Z77: Technical Details

Since the memory controller and graphics controller tires PCI Express moved to processors, the design of system logic sets has simplified significantly. The chipsets, previously from the pair of chip - the Northern and South Bridge, were reborn into a single chip-hub, responsible for implementing I / O interfaces. And now their update does not have a significant impact on the performance and capabilities of the platform, and it affects, in fact, only on the design of motherboards, completed with one or another set of additional controllers. Therefore, we expect that the release of the next generation of logic sets can somehow significantly affect the consumer characteristics of the systems, not clearly. In general, the system fees based on the Z77 will be very similar to the predecessors with the old chipset Z68. And when issuing a new Intel chipset, first of all responded to the requests of manufacturers of boards wishing to receive support for a richer interface set in a single base microcircuit.

The flagship set of the system logic of the last generation, Intel Z68, had two main disadvantages. It was not implemented by a USB 3.0 bus, and the number of SATA 6 Gb / s ports was limited only to two. Adding ports with these interfaces is the most sought-after direction of improving chipset for the LGA1155 platform. But Intel, having lied when the sixth series chipset is released, where supporting new interfaces caused unexpected problems with reliability, now acts very conservatively. On the one hand, a new generation of logic sets finally received support for the modern USB 3.0 interface. However, on the other, the maximum number of ports capable of working in USB 3.0 mode is limited to four, and SATA ports remain without the desired upgrade: the SATA 6 Gbit / s interface is supported only by two of them. Obviously, until the next processor "Taka", the evolution of desktop platforms for Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge will not be too noticeable.

In such conditions, to expect from Intel any more bold steps like the introduction of the Thunderbolt high-speed interface in the chipset would be quite stupid. Although Intel also performs one of the main developers and advocates of this technology, the real steps to popularize this interface makes only Apple. There are no built-in ThunderBolt controllers in Z77, but Intel still did not completely rejugate his brainchild. Support Thunderbolt. in new motherboards is possible, but through external controllerTo connect which the structure of the system provides four PCIE lines.

Nevertheless, Intel still made a couple of more decisive steps. First, the seventh-generation consumer chipsets turned out to be completely devoid of support for the PCI tire. Of course, the implementation of this tire is possible on motherboards by installing additional converter chips, but we recommend starting to bother with the idea that PCI is no longer. The number of motherboard models with such slots will rapidly decrease, since the implementation of this tire is not provided in the reference design.

The second step is to simplify the nomenclature. Experience in the implementation of consumer chipsets in the sixth series, which included as many three types of products (we do not take business solutions): h - for simple integrated systems, P - for systems with discrete graphics and z - combining both approaches, showed that users Do not need such a variety. The seventh series includes two main varieties of logic sets: H - for simple systems and z - for systems allowing overclocking. At the same time, the chipsets, cutting a graphic embedded in the processor, will no longer be any motherboard on the database of the seventh series logic database allows the use of graphics core available in LGA1155-processors.

Intel integrated graphics generally gradually begins to leave the dismissive shadow, which for years was created around her users. To date, the performance and possibilities of graphic nuclei, settled in Intel processors, have significantly improved, and many cases when they can be used to solve any tasks, has become extremely large. Intel-funded Intel company Lucid Logix, which suggested a set of technologies to use the graphics built-in graphics processor when used in the external video card in the system.

By the way, the IVY Bridge processors will get significantly more advanced compared to Sandy Bridge graphics. On the one hand, the speed will increase, and on the other hand, the support of three independent video conclusions will appear. The latter will be available only on boards with the chipsets of the seventh series, to ensure the connection of three monitors immediately such configurations will be possible.

And this is perhaps the most important thing that makes fees with the chipsets of the sixth and seventh series not completely equivalent. All other differences are successfully compensated by the controllers additionally installed on motherboards. As for the support of processors, then, indeed, there are no pricks. Old boards on the chipsets of the sixth series are fully compatible with Ivy Bridge (after bIOS updates), And new boards are equally efficient both from Ivy Bridge and with Sandy Bridge. There are no significant differences in the subtleties of overclocking.

One of the main disappointments associated with the LGA1155 platform has become the impossibility of overclocking processors by increasing the frequency of the base clock generator. The architecture of systems based on the chipsets of the sixth generation assumed the implementation of the clock generator inside the system logic set and the use of a single reference frequency for the processor and all components of the logic set. As a result, an increase in the frequency of the base generator by more than 5-7% led to the inoperability of the system, but not the fault of the processor, but due to the controllers built into the chipset.

Unfortunately, in this regard, the chipsets of the seventh series do not bring any innovations. LGA2011 is positioned as the best platform for Intel enthusiasts, and the company is not going to implement the same as there, the company is not going to implement the same processor factories in the LGA1155 platform. The new chipsets of the seventh series allow you to overclock the Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge as well as old - exclusively through an increase in their multiplication ratio and in no way.

It turns out that if we consider the Z77 step forward compared to the Z68, the step is small and not too convincing. Indeed, the system flow diagram based on the Intel Z77 logic database looks almost the same as the same scheme that we led in an article about Intel Z68.

The most important differences between the seventh series chipsets from their predecessors can demonstrate the following table:

	Chipsets sixth series	Chipsets seventh series
Code name	COUGAR POINT)	Panther Point)
Processor support support	Sandy Bridge / Ivy Bridge	Sandy Bridge / Ivy Bridge
Package size	27x27 mm	27x27 mm
USB	14 USB 2.0 ports	14 USB ports, of which 4 with USB 3.0 support
PCI EXPRESS.	8 lines PCIE 2.0	8 lines PCIE 2.0
SATA.	2 SATA 3 ports, 4 SATA 2 ports, RAID support, IRST 10	2 SATA 3 ports, 4 ports SATA 2, RAID support, IRST 11
PCI	Up to 4 slots (provided in reference design)	Not supported
Display outputs	Two independent outputs	Three independent outputs
Audio	Intel HD Audio.	Intel HD Audio.
Lan.	Gbe Mac	Gbe Mac
Clock generator	Built-in	Built-in

In addition to Intel Z77, the seventh-generation desktop sets are slightly cut-off Z75 and H77 chips, as well as several chipsets of series B and Q, designed for a business segment and therefore beyond the sphere of our interests. As for the Z75, this is an analogue of Z77 with abbreviated capabilities in terms of crushing the PCI Express processor graphics tire, and H77 is an even more simplified version without support for SLI / CrossFirex configurations and deprived of means for overclocking the processor.

For details on the differences of these modifications of system logic sets, you can learn from the table:

	Intel Z77	Intel Z75	Intel H77.
Processor support support	LGA1155	LGA1155	LGA1155
Support for integrated graphics	there is	there is	there is
PCI EXPRESS 2.0 lines	8	8	8
PCI support	Not	Not	Not
USB 3.0 ports	4	4	4
USB 2.0 ports	10	10	10
SATA ports 6 Gb / s	2	2	2
SATA ports 3 Gb / s	4	4	4
RAID support	0, 1, 5, 10	0, 1, 5, 10	0, 1, 5, 10
Smart Response technology	there is	Not	there is
Acceleration	CPU, GPU.	CPU, GPU.	GPU.
Graphic PCIe Configuration	1x16. 2x8 1x8 + 2x4.	1x16. 2x8.	1x16.
Cost	$48	$40	$43

Positioning Z77, Z75 and H77 is quite understandable. Most motherboards designed for "self-assembling" systems will be applied by the eldest and most expensive chipset in the ruler. The Z75 version, among other things that does not have support for SSD-caching, will only fall, possibly in the cheapest products, especially since it allows you to save manufacturers of motherboards quite weighty $ 8. The devoid of acceleration of the H77 processor, obviously, will find its place in the boards of miniature factors focused on compact systems, where the operation of processors in emergency modes and support for SLI and CrossFirex is completely irrelevant.

⇡ Description of test systems

The new set of Intel Z77 logic is a very interesting object for research, both in comparison with the preceding chipsets and by itself. To test the motherboard available in our laboratory on the new set of ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe logic, we equipped the Core i5-2500K processor, 8 gigabytes of memory and video card NVIDIA GeForce. GTX 580. For comparison, where it was necessary, the INTEL Z68, ASUS P8Z68-V Pro base was used.

As a result, the following components were used as part of the test systems:

• Processor: Intel Core I5-2500K (Sandy Bridge, 4 kernels, 3.3 GHz, 6 MB L3);
• Processor cooler: NZXT HAVIK 140;
• Motherboards:
  • ASUS P8Z68-V PRO (LGA1155, Intel Z68 Express);
  • ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe (LGA1155, Intel Z77 Express).
• Memory: 2x4 GB, DDR3-1866 SDRAM, 9-11-9-27 (Kingston KHX1866C9D3K2 / 8GX);
• Graphic map: EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified 3 GB (03g-P3-1588-AR);
• Hard disk: Intel SSD 520 240 GB (SSDSC2CW240A3K5);
• Power supply: Tagan TG880-U33II (880 W);
• Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate X64;
• Drivers:
  • Intel Chipset Driver 9.3.0.1019;
  • Intel HD Graphics Driver 15.26.8.2696;
  • Intel Management Engine Driver 8.0.0.1399;
  • Intel Rapid Storage Technology 11.1.0.1006;
  • Intel Rapid Start 1.0.0.1022;
  • Intel Smart Connect 2.1.1121.0;
  • LucidLogix Virtu MVP Software 2.1.111.20856;
  • NVIDIA GeForce 301.10 Driver.

⇡ New technologies: Rapid Start and Smart Connect

Hardware capabilities of new LGA1155 logic sets are not particularly impressive. There is nothing fundamentally new in the seventh series, but those additives that are still present, no longer woundings and are perfectly implemented on motherboards through additional controllers. N. ikto and did not promisethat the output of Intel Z77 marks the revolution of desktop platforms, but it turns out the incident: the new generation fees may not be better than their predecessors at all. This situation is unlikely to arrange Intel and manufacturers of motherboards, which at the exit of seventh generation chipsets clearly intend to earn money.

And in this situation, programmers come to the rescue developers of the hardware set of logic. On the example of Z68, we have already observed how the list of characteristics of the chipset is easily replenished using software solutions. It was then that Intel introduced the Smart Response SSD-caching technology implemented in the RAPID Storage Technology driver, which became an integral part of the Z68 and added to him attractiveness. New sets of logic seventh series, as well as their predecessor, also support this technology. However, now new software additives were sent to her, which can even come to the upgrade of the motherboard. These additives are combined under the collective name of Platform Responsiveness Technologies (content improvement technology) and include two new technologies: Rapid Start and Smart Connect.

Rapid Start technology is aimed at minimizing the computer's awakening time from sleep and improve the energy saving of this state. Intel engineers creatively reworked standard hibernation. Its appearance in the Windows family operating systems at one time was appreciated by users, because theoretically, the advantage of hibernation before simply shutting is that when the computer starts, it turns out to be ready for productive work much faster. It starts immediately with all launched required programs and open files, since the full state of RAM during the previous power outage was saved on the hard disk and now, when turned on, restored. However, in practice, in modern versions of Windows, the hibernation mode had to be replaced with a hybrid sleeping mode, which does not lead to complete de-energous computer. The fact is that the restoration of the state of the system with hard disk leads to significant delays that reduce the benefits of hibernation as a means rapid recovery There is no working environment. Therefore, in a hybrid sleep mode, although the contents of the memory and is reset to hDD in case of unforeseen electricity outages, system Memory And a number of functional nodes remain under voltage. This allows you to quickly reanimate the working environment, but leads to additional consumption of electricity during the "hibernation".

However, the distribution of high-performance solid-state drives still allows you to carry out this hibernation: recovery of memory contents with SSD occurs without special losses in the return time of the system to life. Rapid Start technology is responsible for this. If there is a solid-state drive (or a specialized flash module), it allows you to completely disable the system when sending a computer to sleepBy keeping the contents of RAM in a separate, previously created SSD section. The size of this section is naturally equal to the volume of RAM.

Thus, Rapid Start Technology is an add-in over the operating system, which is turned on when the sleep mode is turned on, the contents of the RAM into the special section of the solid-state drive and fully disconnecting power.

Most Rapid Start Technology settings are focused on mobile systems, but technology works perfectly and on desktops

The restoration of the working environment occurs automatically upon subsequent enabling computer. Due to the high speed SSD, this process takes no more than 5-7 seconds, regardless of the number of downloaded applications and open files. As a result, the RAPID START in the speed of waking up the computer wins even a standard hybrid sleep mode of Windows 7, so this technology may be quite useful not only in mobile applications, but also in desktop systems.

The second technology, Smart Connect, seems to us somewhat less useful. It is intended for people actively using social networks, mail and other cloud services. The meaning of technology is to receive from the update network even when the system is in sleep. Implementation is primitive: through the set time intervals, the computer wakes up, requests new data over the Internet and falls asleep again. As a result, when the user wants to refer to the system, it will be up to date, even if it was inactive. According to the developers, it should save the time required to synchronize the system with cloud services.

Configuring sleep periods is performed through a special utility.

On the Advanced page, you can set temporary intervals when Smart Connect technology should not work

However, the main problem of Smart Connect technology in its present form is that it is not omnivorous, but requires compatible programs from third-party developerscapable of delivering updates on demand. So far, only Sobees and Seesmic Desktop are supported, which provide interaction with a limited set of social networks, and Microsoft Outlook email clients or Windows Live. Mail.

⇡ Virtu MVP technology: Lucid Logix is \u200b\u200btaken for accelerating graphics

A certain work on attaching the appeal to new Intel platforms is also conducted by Lucid Logix. To the exit of the previous logic set for LGA1155, Z68, it timed the release of its Virtu technology, which allows the simultaneous use of the graphics core built into the processor and the external video card. Now this technology has been seriously developed, and Intel Z77 motherboards will be promoted as supporting the following version of this technology, called Virtu MVP. Of course, the Lucid Logix implemented principles of virtualization of graphic nuclei actually work on old systems (and even in systems with aMD processors) However, the marketing machine will try to imagine everything in such a way that Virtu MVP is a feature inherent in new motherboards with seventh generation chipsets. It is why the discussion of Virtu MVP turned out to be in this material.

So let's see what Lucid Logix offers this time. Virtu technology was aimed mainly on opening access to the Sync Quick engine, which is part of the Intel processor graphics core, in systems with an installed external video card. Recall that this specialized engine allows you to recode high-resolution video with unsurpassed speed. However, with the usual position of things, if the outer video card corresponds to the image output to the monitor, the processor graphical core is disabled and it turns out not available. Virtu technology solved this problem, enabling the software to contact both the external and intra-processor GPU, depending on the user's desire without the need to reboot and reconnect the monitor.

Virtu MVP goes even further. Now it is not just necessary to use either the built-in, or an external graphical core based on the type of problem being solved, but about the joint use. Moreover, if the graph built into the processor, the graph was considered only as a means for maintaining multimedia tasks of the decoding type and high-resolution video coding, now Lucid Logix proposes to combine diverse graphics kernels to achieve higher performance in games.

In principle, the hybrid multi-GPU modes that unite the built-in and external graphics in a single complex, no longer seem to be funny and unpromising idea. AMD in its systems based on Llano processors has successfully implemented technology. Dual Graphics.acting just on this principle. And it really works - performance improves. However, for a more or less positive effect of such symbiosis, the power of embedded and external graphics accelerators should be close, otherwise the overhead costs for synchronizing the work of cores over joint rendering of frames will lead to an inverse effect - FPS level drop.

Therefore, Lucid Logix went on a completely different way - the use of power of different nuclei at different stages of the image formation and output process. The Virtu MVP technology proposes to use a high-performance external graphics card on all initial and demanding speed of the accelerator of the image constructing stages: during transformations, lightening calculations, shader calculations, generation of primitives, construction of projections, rasterization, texturing, and the like. The integrated processor graphic, which does not have rich computing resources, within the framework of this technology, serves only in personnel buffer and is responsible for displaying the image on the screen.

Such partitioning roles along with additionally developed by LUCID Logix algorithms (about the essence of which it is not possible, as it is a company protected by Patents) allows you to implement two interesting functionsImproving, on the one hand, "responsiveness" of games, and on the other - the quality of the image displayed on the screen. At least in theory.

• First function - Virtual-Vsync.. It combines the positive parties to turn on and disable VSYNC in games. The idea is that the image generated in the Frame buffer of the integrated graphics core is transmitted to the monitor synchronized with its frame frequency. However, an external graphic card that performs the main work on rendering of frames, prepares them with the highest possible speed, as with VSYNC disabled. On the one hand, it allows you to get rid of the characteristic artifacts of the image without VSync, when parts of consecutive frames are simultaneously turned out on the monitor. On the other hand, the amount of FPS is artificially limited from above, so that the lag in the game response to the actions of the user, noticeable in some shooters with the VSYNC enabled, is minimized.

On the picture on the left - an example of image breaks, due to work without VSYNC

In other words, the Virtual-VSync looks on the screen as a mode with VSync enabled, but the number of actually rendering FPS can be any - both more and less than the monitor update frequency.

• Second function - Hyperformance.. It offers a way to further increase the amount of FPS due to the reference from rendering of excess frames, which will eventually be displayed on the monitor. As far as can be understood from a turbid explanation proposed by Lucid Logix, the operation of the function goes in two directions. Firstly, all the activities of the external video card for training, which do not differ from the image already displayed on the monitor screen. And since the Frame buffer of the integrated graphics core stores the previously built image, it simply continues to be outline until some changes arise in the scene, requiring it to rebuild the discrete accelerator. Secondly, a complete rendering of a number of frames is simply skipped based on the fact that they will never be displayed on the monitor due to the limit of its update frequency.

Summarizing these two tricks, the HyperFormance function promises a significant increase in the amount of FPS. Of course, this is a kind of cheat, because there will be no more actually more frames per second on a monitor. Moreover, it seems that the number honestly and completely rendered video cards does not increase. But such a trick still allows you to improve the responsiveness of the game, since the time passing between clicking on the button or move the mouse and output to the subsequent frame screen that takes into account this user activity is reduced.

Thus, the Virtu MVP technology looks a really curious means to combine external and embedded graphics. Moreover, the applicability of this technology has become much wider than that of the past, a purely utilitarian version of the Virtu graphic virtualization.

However, not everything that looks good on paper, has the same properties in reality. The first suspicions are that everything is not so rosy, begin to grasp after acquaintance with the official results of testing the technology of Virtu MVP. They look like this:

The advantages of Virtu MVP are shown to us on the example of the games of the four-five-year-old limitations using DirectX 9. In this case, the Lucid Logix initiative looks quite efficient, but nevertheless the conclusions about its real utility is difficult to do, because the acceleration of graphics outside of 100 fps will not even notice the most sophisticated gamer.

Therefore, using more modern and current gaming applications, we also conducted our own research technology Virtu MVP. In practice, it is implemented by special and periodically updated software available for download on the sites of maternal manufacturers. When installing it does not arise any problems, it should only keep in mind that support for Virtu MVP should be among the characteristics of the motherboard. On incompatible models, the technology will not work, but not due to hardware restrictions, but due to the distribution scheme for the development of Lucid Logix, which suggests licensed deductions from the manufacturers of motherboards.

After installing the software, the Virtu MVP technology management is carried out through a special utility that allows you to include Virtual-VSync and Hyperformance functions together or separately.

The control utility has not only basic triggers, but also an editable list of applications with individual for each case by default settings. And since the Virtu MVP includes both the functionality of the usual Virtu technology, then the primary video adapter is proposed for each application. All this works clearly and intuitively understandable.

For acquaintance with the effect of the functions that make up the essence of Virtu MVP technology, we tested the game performance of our system in five cases: when using an external graphics card without Virtu MVP, but with vsync disabled and enabled; When you activate Virtual-VSync; When you turn on the HyperFormance and in the case when Virtual-VSync and Hyperformance work together. Results - on charts below.

Results when switching on hyperformance are more controversial. Despite the fact that Lucid Logix promised productivity growth due to its special magic, in fact it is observed only episodically. However, it is absolutely no important because the inclusion of Hyperformance leads to the emergence of numerous artifacts: double and tweaking the image, damage textures, errors in illumination, and the like that makes the use of this function in real conditions completely impossible. The decent image in games from our test set we were able to see only in Metro 2033 and, with some assumptions, in Battlefield 3.

Apparently, the developers assumed that the Hyperformance should be used with Virtual-VSync, because when both functions are activated, at the same time defects in the image disappear. True, performance decreases, almost always turning to be less than when working at all without Virtu MVP and VSYNC.

Thus, contrary to the desire of Lucid Logix, we first tend to think about Virtu MVP as a more advanced replacement of the VSync option. At least a combination of Virtual-VSync + HyperFormance works correctly and often can increase gaming FPS Compared to the usual VSYNC. So if you are used to activating VSync, then the Lucid Logix proposed technology Virtu MVP is completely able to raise responsiveness in games and improve their overall perception. Otherwise, the new Lucid Logix initiatives will be completely useless for you. The promised performance increase Virtu MVP technology can only be provided in older and mainly DirectX 9-game applications that work in modern graphics cards excellently and without any tricks.