# Intel® Turbo Memory – Introduction

## Overview

Intel Turbo Memory technology improves general system performance by storing frequently accessed data in the flash memory. This results in faster access to applications and data as well as decreased boot-up times. Intel Turbo Memory technology also helps to reduce the system power consumption by allowing the hard disk drive to enter lower-power modes more often.

Intel Turbo Memory consists of the following components:

- Intel Turbo Memory driver
- Intel Turbo Memory console
- Intel Turbo Memory disk-filtering option ROM

The Intel Turbo Memory driver may be installed on any supported system listed in the System Requirements section. The driver will install both the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager and the Intel Turbo Memory drivers. The total cache size of the NAND flash memory will determine which features will be available in the Intel Turbo Memory console. The software installation will automatically update the option ROM.

## Features

On supported systems, the Intel Turbo Memory console supports the following features:

Enable/Disable Windows ReadyDrive* | Provides the option to enable/disable Windows ReadyDrive.
Enable/Disable Windows ReadyBoost* | Provides the option to enable/disable Windows ReadyBoost.

NOTE: Disabling Windows ReadyBoost and Windows ReadyDrive will result in reduced system performance and should be performed only by advanced users.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

# System Requirements

Intel Turbo Memory technology requires the following system components:

- An Intel® microprocessor that supports one of the following I/O controllers:
  - Intel® 82801HBM Serial ATA AHCI Controller (ICH8M)
  - Intel® 82801HEM Serial ATA AHCI Controller (ICH8ME)
  - Intel(R) ICH9R SATA RAID Controller (ICH9R)

- The Serial ATA hard drive configured as the boot disk
- A NAND flash memory size of 1 GB
- Microsoft Windows Vista* operating system

Note: It will run in RAID Mode on ICH9R platforms only. ICH9R supports only Microsoft ReadyBoost*.

The following operating systems are not supported:

- Any version of the following Microsoft operating systems:

- MS-DOS*
- Windows 3.1*
- Windows NT 3.51*
- Windows 95*
- Windows 98*
- Windows Millennium Edition* (Me)
- Windows NT 4.0*
- Windows 2000 Datacenter Server*
- Windows 2000 Professional*
- Windows XP*

- Any version of the following operating systems:

- Linux*
- UNIX*
- Be OS*
- Mac OS*
- OS/2*

For more detailed information, please refer to the Intel Turbo Memory Readme file and Release Notes.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

# Intel Turbo Memory Driver

The Intel Turbo Memory driver is a Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certified software designed specifically to improve storage subsystem performance and reliability. The driver is installed as part of the Intel Turbo Memory software.

# Intel Turbo Memory Console

## General Features

When you open the Intel Turbo Memory console, the main dialog box appears, providing device information in two panes.

The left pane displays the name of the Intel Turbo Memory controller. The right pane shows the status of Windows ReadyBoost and Windows ReadyDrive as well as the total cache size of the NAND flash memory.

The values of the first two parameters are Enabled, Pending and Disabled. The Enabled status indicates that the feature has been activated. The Pending status appears while Microsoft Windows Vista is running several assessment checks to verify that the Windows ReadyDrive feature can be supported on the system. The Disabled status indicates that the feature is not available, either because the operating system has failed the assessment checks or because the feature has been turned off.

This dialog box also provides the options to enable or disable Windows ReadyBoost and Windows ReadyDrive. Please note that you need a 1 GB NAND flash memory in order to use both Windows ReadyBoost and Windows ReadyDrive.

NOTE: When you enable or disable Windows ReadyBoost or Windows ReadyDrive, you will need to restart the system in order for the change(s) to take effect.

To refresh the information displayed on the screen, click on the View menu and select the Refresh option.

## Reports and Help

#### System Information Report

The first part of the System Information report focuses on the system details such as the processor type, the operating system, the version of the operating system, etc. The second part of the System Information report displays the information related to the disk being cached to the NAND flash memory (location, name, and capacity), the Intel Turbo Memory driver (status, location, version, and provider), and the disk-filtering option ROM (version and status).

To view the System Information report, click on the View menu and select the System Information option. You can also save or print the report by selecting the File menu and clicking on the appropriate option. It is often useful to print the System Information report before requesting technical support.

#### Support

The Support option of the Help menu shows links to web sites that provide product updates, technical support, documentation, and other product information. By default, the links point to Intel support pages, but they may be customized by the system manufacturer. Intel recommends that you use the resources on the support page for any technical support and product update information, or that you contact your system manufacturer directly.

#### About

The About option of the Help menu shows the Intel Turbo Memory console product banner with its version number.

# Glossary

Intel Products and Services
Intel Turbo Memory driver | The Intel Turbo Memory driver is a software specifically designed to improve storage subsystem performance and reliability.
Intel Turbo Memory disk-filtering option ROM | The disk-filtering option ROM (DFOROM) is a code module that provides boot support for Intel Turbo Memory.
Intel Turbo Memory console | The Intel Turbo Memory console is the software that provides the management interface for the caching policies supported by the operating system.

# Trademark Information

- Intel® is a trademark or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
- Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.