Intel only support VMware with AHCI Capable SATA Controller in AHCI mode. It's clearly documented on the Tested Operation System List, for example http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-033209.htm.
I have heard that someone was able to install VMware on SATA/SAS capable controller in RSTe passthrough mode (no RAID configured), but it's not validated or supported by Intel. On which VMware website did you see that ESX 5.x supports RSTe?