
Readme Information for Intel(R) Desktop Utilities, version 3.2.4

Date: August 29, 2012

Table of Contents
1. Overview
2. Supported Intel(R) Desktop Boards and Intel(R) Chipsets
3. System Requirements
4. Compatibility Information
5. Known Issues
6. Notes and Tips
7. Legal Disclaimer


1. Overview
===========
Intel(R) Desktop Utilities provides a hardware monitoring capability that
interrogates the sensors on your Intel(R) Desktop Board and, if alerting is
enabled, can also alert you if any sensors go outside of their specified
ranges. If an alert occurs, Intel Desktop Utilities can notify you a number of
different ways: a flashing red icon in the system tray, a pop-up alert
message or an audible notification. The hardware monitor retains a history
of the previous alerts that have occurred.  Intel Desktop Utilities also
provides you with easy access to system hardware and software information.

  Note: Only one user at a time (with Administrator rights) can run
        Intel(R) Desktop Utilities.  If other users try to open additional
        instances of Intel(R) Desktop Utilities, no prompt or activity will
        appear to those users.

This readme file contains information specific to this release and provides
information about the application that was discovered too late in the
development process to be included in the help file.

This version (3.2.4) of Intel(R) Desktop Utilities includes:
  - Support for newer Intel(R) Desktop Boards.

Intel(R) Desktop Utilities is only qualified to run on Intel Desktop Boards
with specific Intel(R) chipsets.  In addition, the specific heatsink/fan
combination must have been qualified for the Intel Desktop Board (check your
board's installation instructions).

  Note: Displayed temperature readings should be considered approximate and
        should not be used for design or validation of thermal solutions.


2. Supported Intel(R) Desktop Boards and Intel(R) Chipsets
==========================================================
For updates to Intel Desktop Utilities and the most current information on
boards support, consult the following website:

   http://www.intel.com/go/idu.

   NOTE: On older Extreme Series Intel(R) Desktop Boards, the monitoring
         and adjustment of system parameters can only be performed using
         Intel(R) Desktop Control Center.  Please use the guidance provided by
         the following web site to determine BIOS and applications supported
         for your board:

            http://downloadcenter.intel.com

         Users could create system issues if they run applications
         inappropriate for their specific board.


3. System Requirements
======================
1. Supported operating systems:

     - Microsoft Windows* 8 and Microsoft Windows 8 Professional
       Editions (32-bit and 64-bit)

     - Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate, Professional and Home Premium
       Editions (32-bit and 64-bit)
       Also requires Service Pack 1

     - Microsoft Windows Vista* Ultimate, Enterprise and Home Premium
       Editions (32-bit and 64-bit)
       Also requires Service Pack-1 or Service Pack-2

     - Microsoft Windows XP* Professional and Home Edition (32-bit)
       Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition (64-bit)
       Also requires Service Pack-2 or Service Pack-3

2. A minimum of 800x600 resolution with 16-bit color display configuration.

3. Intel Desktop Utilities has been qualified only with the heatsink, fan,
   and processor combinations listed for Intel(R) boxed processors.  The
   heatsink must be properly installed with adequate but not excessive
   thermal interface material.  For more information, check your Product
   Guide, Technical Product Specification (TPS) or the installation
   instructions for your specific Intel Desktop Board.

4. Intel Desktop Utilities requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or newer.


4. Compatibility Information
============================
Intel Desktop Utilities may fail when run simultaneous with other monitoring
software (LANDesk* Client Manager, the CPU-Z* program from CPUID*, or other
third-party monitoring programs) that access the same hardware resources
(Super I/O chips, Monitoring ASICs, SMBus driver, etc.).

NOTE:   On older Extreme Series Intel(R) Desktop Boards, the monitoring
        and adjustment of system parameters can only be performed using
        Intel(R) Desktop Control Center.

        Please use the guidance provided by the following web site to
        determine what BIOS and Intel-provided applications are supported for
        your board:

            http://downloadcenter.intel.com/

        Users could create system issues if they attempt to run applications
        inappropriate for their specific board.


5. Known Issues
===============

ISSUE-1 -- An issue has been reported that indicates the Intel Desktop
           Utilities (IDU) program can occasionally negatively impact
           audio/video streaming.  In this case, users may see dropped
           video frames and/or glitches in audio playback.  These issues
           only occur when Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology (RST) is
           also being used to manage RAID arrays and/or array/drive caching.

  STATUS - Under investigation. Work is in progress on a fix and will be
           included in a subsequent release of Intel(R) RST.

  WORKAROUND   No workaround is currently available.  Until such time as a
           release of Intel(R) RST becomes available that addresses this
           issue, users may choose to uninstall IDU.  This will not
           necessarily prevent audio/video stuttering from occurring,
           however, it may only lower the occurrence rate.


ISSUE-2 -- If a fan's cable is moved from one board connector to another,
=====      connector that is unused, Intel(R) Desktop Utilities may continue 
           to identify the fan by its original connector position.

  STATUS – Under investigation.  Please use the workaround below.

  WORKAROUND - Click on the "Fans Redetect" button in the "Set Sensor
           Threshold" dialog.  The identification of fans will be corrected
           after a system restart.


ISSUE-3 –- Unable to install an older version of Intel Desktop Utilities over
=====      the current version.

  STATUS – Overinstall to an older version is not supported.  Please use
           workaround below.

  WORKAROUND - To install an older version of Intel Desktop Utilities, you
           must manually uninstall the newer version, reboot the computer,
           and then install the desired (older) version.


ISSUE-4 -- The speed of all memory devices plugged into the system may be
=====      reported as the "current speed that the devices are running"
           instead of the "rated speed of each device".  This is shown under
           the System Information page of Intel Desktop Utilities.

  STATUS – Under investigation.

  WORKAROUND – There is no workaround for this issue at this time.


ISSUE-5 -- Hard Drive Active Transfer Mode is only displayed as MWDMA2
           (instead of UDMA) when Chipset-SATA mode is set as AHCI.

  STATUS – Under investigation.  The issue appears to be a problem within
           the Microsoft AHCI driver; while it is reporting that UDMA modes
           are supported, it is not reporting that any of these modes have
           been selected/enabled.

  WORKAROUND – This issue can be alleviated by reinstalling the Intel AHCI 
           driver, if using either AHCI or RAID mode on the computer (note 
           that if using IDE mode, the driver cannot be uninstalled).  

           Go to the Intel Download Center at:
              http://downloadcenter.intel.com

           Then search for either AHCI or RAID, depending upon your computer
           configuration.


ISSUE-6 -- No temperature or health information displayed for storage devices
           connected to certain SATA/eSATA ports.

  STATUS - Under investigation. The Marvell Storage driver does not support
           S.M.A.R.T. data extraction. We are working with Marvell to remedy
           this issue.

  WORKAROUND - If utilizing RAID support on these ports, no workaround is
            available.  If connecting simple volumes, however, you can
            uninstall the Marvell driver (and then reboot); the default 
            Microsoft driver supports S.M.A.R.T. data extraction.  Then health 
            and temperature extraction will work.


ISSUE-7 -- When starting the Intel Desktop Utility program, only the system-busy 
           spinner appears on the screen.

  STATUS - Under investigation and appears to be associated with UEFI operation.

  WORKAROUND - Some BIOS releases have errata that results in problems if UEFI 
           mode is used in the BIOS.  Make sure that you have the latest BIOS 
           for recently released Intel Desktop Boards.  If needed, disable the 
           "UEFI Boot" setting in BIOS.


6. Notes and Tips
=================
The following notes and tips provide additional information about Intel
Desktop Utilities (IDU):

1.  Temperatures differ between BIOS and Intel(R) Desktop Utilities.  In the
    Microsoft* Windows* environment, power management is enabled and running.
    When the processor has nothing to do (which typically happens hundreds
    or thousands of times per second), the processor will enter one of its
    lower-power states (called C-states).  The longer the processor remains
    in the idle state, lower C-states can be used and more power saved.
    Since power usage roughly translates into heat generated, the lower-power
    states allow the processor to run cooler.

    In BIOS, on the other hand, none of the lower-power states are enabled.
    When the BIOS has nothing to do, it sits in a loop waiting for something
    to happen.  As a result, the temperature of the processor will be higher
    while in BIOS, even if it is just as idle as it is in Windows.  This is
    not an extreme hot state however and is an expected system behavior.


2.  If the IDU Hardware Monitor screen does not show temperature information
    for data storage devices (HDDs/SSDs), you should first ensure that the
    Intel INF Update package is installed. If the problem persists, note the
    following secondary possibilities:

      - Many solid state drives (SSDs) and some rotating hard disk drives
        (HDDs) do not include temperature sensors. Temperatures will only be
        shown for HDDs/SSDs that both include sensors and support a
        temperature attribute within their S.M.A.R.T. support.

      - Certain versions of Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology (RST) include
        defects that prevent S.M.A.R.T. data from being extracted.  As a
        workaround, try a later version of Intel(R) RST.

      - Extraction of HDD/SSD temperatures is only supported on newer
        (6-series or newer) Intel Desktop Boards (for example: DH61xx, DH67xx,
        DP67xx, DQ67xx, etc.).  We do not provide HDD/SSD temperature
        extraction for other 3rd-party RAID controllers (add-in boards or
        those utilized on older Intel Desktop Boards).

      - Due to a compatibility issue between Intel Desktop Utilities versions
        3.2.1 thru 3.2.3 and Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology Enterprise
        (RSTe) v3.0.0, support for the extraction of HDD/SSD temperatures is
        not supported on the Intel Desktop Boards DX79SI and DX79TO.  We are
        working to address this compatibility with a future update to Intel
        Desktop Utilities.

3.  Temperature readings from some SSDs do not change.  A number of SSDs that
    are on the market from multiple vendors will expose a S.M.A.R.T.
    temperature attribute, but do not actually have a physical sensor to
    provide temperature reading updates.  The firmware for these drives has
    been modified to return a static temperature reading in these cases
    (typically 30 degrees C).

4.  The sensor name for Processor Thermal Margin cannot be changed. This only
    happens on Intel(R) Desktop Boards that show the sensor name for Processor
    Thermal Margin and does not apply to boards that only show the sensor name
    Processor Temperature.

    Thus, the display of the processor temperature falls into two categories:

      - Processor Thermal Margin, where a delta value or difference between
        current processor temperature and maximum processor temperature is
        displayed). In this category, the sensor name for Processor Thermal
        Margin cannot be changed.

      - Processor Temperature, where the actual processor temperature is
        displayed. It is left to the user to determine to what extent this is
        below the processor's maximum temperature. For this second category,
        the user can change the sensor name for Processor Temperature as
        desired.


5.  In the System Information's Detail scene, the External Clock value is
    the speed of the physical clock cycle (such as 133 MHz), not the actual
    programmed bus speed (such as 533 MHz).


6.  For audible alerts, a Windows audio device must be correctly installed.


7.  Note that Intel Desktop Utilities does not support system monitoring
    from a Guest account.


8.  The tray icon will continue to blink after all messages in Alert History
    are deleted. This is normal activity for Intel Desktop Utilities.


9.  Keyboard navigation is not supported (such as using Arrow keys or the
    Tab key) for Intel Desktop Utilities.


10. Intel's recently released user survey and automatic notification exists
    only if a new Intel(R) Desktop Utility program release supports your
    computer's specific Intel(R) Desktop Board.  Also note that at this time
    surveys and automatic notification features are only available on
    computers with an English language operating system.


11. Some of the gauge text has been shortened so that titles will fit within
    the description fields.  These include:

    CPU = Central Processing Unit
    GPU = Graphics Processing Unit
    ICH = Input/Output Controller Hub
    IOH = Input/Output Hub
    MCH = Memory Controller Hub
    PCH = Platform Controller Hub
    PSU = Power Supply Unit
    VR  = Voltage Regulator


7. Legal Disclaimer
===================
Intel is not responsible for any errors which may appear in the
documentation or the Software.  Intel reserves the right to make changes to
this document or Software at any time, without notice.  Intel may make
changes to the Software, or to items referenced therein, at any time without
notice, but is not obligated to support, update or provide training for the
Software.

UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED IN WRITING BY INTEL, THE INTEL PRODUCTS
ARE NOT DESIGNED NOR INTENDED FOR ANY APPLICATION IN WHICH THE
FAILURE OF THE INTEL PRODUCT COULD CREATE A SITUATION WHERE
PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH MAY OCCUR.

Intel products are not intended for use in medical, life saving, life
sustaining, critical control or safety systems, or in nuclear facility
applications.

Intel may make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any
time, without notice. Designers must not rely on the absence or
characteristics of any features or instructions marked "reserved" or
"undefined."  Intel reserves these for future definition and shall have
no responsibility whatsoever for conflicts or incompatibilities arising
from future changes to them.  The information here is subject to change
without notice.  Do not finalize a design with this information.

The products described in this document may contain design defects or
errors known as errata which may cause the product to deviate from
published specifications.  Current characterized errata are available on
request.

Intel, Intel Core, Pentium, Celeron and the Intel logo are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United
States and other countries.

Additional Note:  A component used in this software was based, in part,
                  on a previous work by Anders Melander.

Copyright (C) 2012 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.

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

Readme ver-3.2.4 082912-z14h5
