AHCI or IDE SATA configuration (Bios)

[Robscure]

In my BIOS I have my "Configure SATA as" set to IDE...

Is AHCI better?

Should/could I change it from IDE to AHCI?

Thanks

[DDY]

AHCI is generally a better option than IDE mode for several reasons such as NCQ and the ability to hot swap. Without getting in to too much detail, NCQ can improve disk performance depending on your setup.

Again, depending on your hardware and OS(usually older ones e.g. XP); with AHCI you may need to install drivers during OS installation where IDE does not, these are sometimes known as RAID F6 drivers. Windows 7 and Vista doesn't normally require additional drivers, but if AHCI drivers are needed you may install them by inserting the MB driver CD when prompted.

You can't go wrong by going for AHCI except under rare circumstances where you need to resort to IDE mode for compatibility. However, bear in mind once an OS is installed, you can't easily switch between AHCI and IDE, having said that – it’s much easier to switch on Vista and Win 7 compared to XP but it's still not a piece of cake.

In summary:
Stick with AHCI if it’s already AHCI
Don’t switch to AHCI if you’ve already got an OS installed on IDE or RAID mode
Choose AHCI if you haven’t installed or are planning to re-install a fresh OS.

[Robscure]

AHCI is generally a better option than IDE mode for several reasons such as NCQ and the ability to hot swap. Without getting in to too much detail, NCQ can improve disk performance depending on your setup.

Again, depending on your hardware and OS(usually older ones e.g. XP); with AHCI you may need to install drivers during OS installation where IDE does not, these are sometimes known as RAID F6 drivers. Windows 7 and Vista doesn't normally require additional drivers, but if AHCI drivers are needed you may install them by inserting the MB driver CD when prompted.

You can't go wrong by going for AHCI except under rare circumstances where you need to resort to IDE mode for compatibility. However, bear in mind once an OS is installed, you can't easily switch between AHCI and IDE, having said that – it’s much easier to switch on Vista and Win 7 compared to XP but it's still not a piece of cake.

In summary:
Stick with AHCI if it’s already AHCI
Don’t switch to AHCI if you’ve already got an OS installed on IDE or RAID mode
Choose AHCI if you haven’t installed or are planning to re-install a fresh OS.

Awesome response, that cleared up my questions, thank you very much

[Pob255]

Actually it can be fairly easy to swap between IDE and AHCI mode if your motherboard has two separate SATA controllers

Following the instructions here make it very simple to swap to AHCI mode on windows xp
http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...ml#post1763795

[Robscure]

Actually it can be fairly easy to swap between IDE and AHCI mode if your motherboard has two separate SATA controllers

Following the instructions here make it very simple to swap to AHCI mode on windows xp
http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...ml#post1763795

Hmm I'll look into that, I have to google "SATA Controllers" first, though to make sure I know precisely what they are

[edit] just as I thought, they are the actually SATA slots on the motherboard, right? So I would have to switch from 1&2 to 5&6 for instance?

[Pob255]

It depends on the motherboard

Normally SATA are handled by the south bridge however many motherboards have an additional controller to provide a couple of extra sata ports

Let me just check out the details on the Asus Maximus II Formula

[Robscure]

Actually I found this, the instructions seem simpler http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/fo...t-reinstalling

Now that I know more about it, thanks to you guys, I feel comfortable attempting this switch..

I don't care if I lose my data at this point, with all the little problems I've been having that annoy me

[Pob255]

OK

ICH10R Southbridge:
- 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
Marvell® 88SE6121 controller:
- 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33 for up to 2 PATA devices
- 1 x External SATA 3.0 Gb/s port (SATA On-the-Go)
Silicon Image Sil5723:
- 2 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports

Double check the manual, however I'm pretty sure it's as following
So the south bridge is the intel controller and controls the 6 blue Sata slots
The Silicon Image Sil5723 controls the 2 black sata ports
and the Marvell 88SE6121 controls the IDE port and the e-sata port on the back.

[Robscure]

OK

ICH10R Southbridge:
- 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
Marvell® 88SE6121 controller:
- 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33 for up to 2 PATA devices
- 1 x External SATA 3.0 Gb/s port (SATA On-the-Go)
Silicon Image Sil5723:
- 2 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports

Double check the manual, however I'm pretty sure it's as following
So the south bridge is the intel controller and controls the 6 blue Sata slots
The Silicon Image Sil5723 controls the 2 black sata ports
and the Marvell 88SE6121 controls the IDE port and the e-sata port on the back.

Yeah something like that, but I used that fix from the website I linked and it worked

Simple:

Solution (Vista or Windows 7 ONLY, don't try with XP or earlier, you will BSOD apparently)

1)Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\msahci

In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.

Change setting of Start to "0"

2) Reboot, enter BIOS immediately, switch from IDE to AHCI
3) Log into Windows, wait for device driver configuration to update/install hardware changes
4) Wait for restart confirmation to take effect, and click restart
5) ????
6) Profit

[Pob255]

Not on XP then because then it would be

1)Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\msahci

In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.

Change setting of Start to "0"

2) Reboot, enter BIOS immediately, switch from IDE to AHCI
3) BSOD
4) Swear
5) Reset BIOS to IDE and pray you don't have to reinstall windows.

[Robscure]

Not on XP then because then it would be

1)Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\msahci

In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.

Change setting of Start to "0"

2) Reboot, enter BIOS immediately, switch from IDE to AHCI
3) BSOD

Lol

So Vista has an advantage over XP finally