SSD Cache with Fastpath I/O, an Intel RAID premium feature, allows users to take advantage of significant performance enhancements while generating a higher ROI for SSDs. This feature offers two distinct usage models for server systems with one or more Solid State Drives (SSD). The first usage model is to use SSDs as extended cache for an array of conventional hard drives. The second usage module is to utilize Fastpath I/O which accelerates I/O performance of a complete SSD array through the enablement of algorithms optimized for fl ash-based storage.