Advantages for enabling AHCI/NCQ/Flash module?

[DanTMWTMP]

I have this Dell vostro (Intel's ICH8 chipset) dual-booting windows xp and Fedora core.

Obviously I had to turn off AHCI to even install either OS's. The reason I ask is because I want to see if it's it even worth the trouble to have AHCI enabled (I'd have to reinstall FC8, and follow the tutorials online for it to work under winxp pro).

My search skills on google has failed me in search of performance/battery life benchmarks on HDD's w/ AHCI (and all of its associated features + Flash module) compared to their regular SATA setting.

If you guys know any differences when it's enabled compared to when it's disabled, please share. Pro's/Con's format would be nice.

TIA!

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General Hardware Moderator -- MarcVenice

 

[DanTMWTMP]

bump for not being on first 100 threads page

 

[flexy]

it might really depend on your drive, board, bios, OS, drivers. I just did extensive tests under Vista64 on a Hitachi SataII 7tk500 on ICH9 and AHCI was *significantly* slower. Not worth the trouble at all.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: flexy
it might really depend on your drive, board, bios, OS, drivers. I just did extensive tests under Vista64 on a Hitachi SataII 7tk500 on ICH9 and AHCI was *significantly* slower. Not worth the trouble at all.

Ya.. I heard that the algorithm to run NCQ actually generates quite a bit of latency, even though physically it provides better performance and less hdd thrasing.

Well, thanks for that answer . I can work in peace now hehe.