Configuring HP Elite, EliteBook, and Z220 systems for Intel Smart Response Technology - Technical white paper

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Overview
Hard disk drives (HDDs) can be a bottleneck for storage-intensive operations due to the long access times inherent in
their design. The lower latency and higher bandwidth of solid-state drives (SSDs) make them the preferred storage
medium when high performance is a priority, although they incur a higher cost per bit than HDDs. With both storage
technologies exhibiting advantages and drawbacks, using hybrid storage can be the optimum solution.
Select HP Elite, EliteBook, and Z220 series systems support a new feature called Intel Smart Response Technology. Intel
Smart Response Technology is a faster access and caching feature of the Intel Rapid Storage Technology storage driver.
Intel Smart Response Technology accelerates system response by placing frequently used blocks of disk data on a solid
state drive (SSD) or mSATA drive.
In comparison to an HDD-only system, Intel Smart Response Technology provides the following benefits:
• Improved performance—Accelerates regular HDD performance through SSD or mSATA drive input.
• Increased system response times—Accelerates system boot, application startup, and multitasking functions.
The percentage of performance increase depends on one of the following acceleration modes.
• Enhanced mode (default)—acceleration optimized for data protection. This mode uses the write-through method,
which writes data to both the HDD and the cache device simultaneously. There is no risk of data loss if either device
becomes inaccessible.
• Maximized mode— acceleration optimized for I/O performance. This mode uses the write-back method, which writes
data to the HDD only at intervals. There is a chance for data loss if the HDD or cache device becomes inaccessible.
The graphical user interface (GUI) of the Intel Rapid Storage Technology utility allows user control of the above modes
and provides additional information on choosing the appropriate mode through the Help button. The Intel Rapid Storage
Technology utility is accessed through one of the following paths:
• Start →Intel→Intel Rapid Storage Technology.
• Control Panel→Hardware and Sound→Intel Rapid Storage Technology
The following image displays the Status tab in the Intel Rapid Storage Technology GUI.