Value to ISRT when you have a SSD hard drive?

[Michilius]

All,
Is there any advantage to getting a motherboard with ISRT, like the Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3-iSSD when you have an SSD hard drive, or is this simply redundant?

 

[Pyree]

IMO, redundant.

 

[ko888]

It's redundant for the SSD but not for mechanical HDDs.

 

[Michilius]

Best answer selected by michilius.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

The Intel® SRT is only one of the 3 features that are different from the P67 to the Z68 chipsets. The Z68 has these 3 additional features.

-Intel SRT (Smart Responce Technology) allows you to use a small SSD (<64GB) to cache some data to get better performance over that of just using a HDD.

-Support for the IGP (Intergraded Graphics on Processor) most of the Z68 boards will have support for the IGP on them. This allows you to use the IGP for backup graphics and troubleshooting issues. Also on boards that have the Lucidlogix Virtu software you will be able to switch from the dedicated video card to the Intel Quick Sync to get the best performance for the application in question.

-Intel SATA III controller The Z68 will come with an Intel SATA III controller that is said to be better performing then the Marvell controller that is used on the P67 chipset.

Now since most of the motherboard manufacturers are not charging anything more for a Z68 board then they are for the P67 with the same feature or if they do it is only a small increase in price a better question to ask is there any reason not to get a Z68 board?

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team