AHCI, how to enable?

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ArisVer

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2011
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OS: Windows 7
Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-TG965MP-RH
One SATA disk. The chipset is Intel ICH8.

The system is working okay when set to disabled option in BIOS.
When i set the AHCI option in the BIOS, Windows keeps restarting without loading. Do i need to load a driver for this option? No network connection available at this time, but i can load a file with a usb flash disk.
 
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ArisVer

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2011
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I have tried to boot the installation unsuccessfully with the options set to on before (this is the correct procedure as mentioned in the link you gave me).

The fix as mentioned in the page worked and now the system is loading fine.
Thank you very much for the helpful link.
 
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FAUguy

Senior member
Jun 19, 2011
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When I did this a few months ago, the trick was to have the Intel AHCI drivers already extracted before doing the registry edit. That way when the PC restarted, it was able to locate and install the drivers. But you still have to fully install the Intel Rapid Storage program after that, which adds the Intel RST icon to the systray.
 
Shawn

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
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What is the benefit of enabling AHCI? Do I need this for an SSD?
 
fffblackmage

fffblackmage

Platinum Member
Dec 28, 2007
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ExarKun333 said:
You need AHCI enabled to use TRIM in Win7.
Click to expand...
False. TRIM is not an AHCI-specific feature. However, the IDE/AHCI driver must support TRIM.

The default IDE/AHCI drivers in Windows 7 will work. I'm pretty sure the Intel drivers also work, but I'm not too sure about AMD.
 
Shawn

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
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How can you tell TRIM is enabled? I just cloned my HD to an SSD. (sorry for thread hijack)
 
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ArisVer

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2011
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At Shawn. No problem, feel free to post anything you like.

At FAUguy or anyone who knows. What does this program do?
The disk is not an SSD and there is only one disk in the computer.
 
exar333

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
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fffblackmage said:
False. TRIM is not an AHCI-specific feature. However, the IDE/AHCI driver must support TRIM.

The default IDE/AHCI drivers in Windows 7 will work. I'm pretty sure the Intel drivers also work, but I'm not too sure about AMD.
Click to expand...

I should have been more clear. The preferred implementation of TRIM is with AHCI. Don't you have to run the TRIM process manually in IDE or schedule it? That is a pain...
 
jimpatrick

jimpatrick

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Nov 29, 2011
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is raid better than ahci?i got my ssd yesterday,changed sata settings to AHCI then installed 7.no my drives are all removable devices is that normal?do i need to format it again ang change this to raid?
 
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FAUguy

Senior member
Jun 19, 2011
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jimpatrick said:
is raid better than ahci?i got my ssd yesterday,changed sata settings to AHCI then installed 7.no my drives are all removable devices is that normal?do i need to format it again ang change this to raid?
Click to expand...

You need two identical drives for RAID 1 or RAID 0 to be setup.
 
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FAUguy

Senior member
Jun 19, 2011
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ArisVer said:
At Shawn. No problem, feel free to post anything you like.

At FAUguy or anyone who knows. What does this program do?
The disk is not an SSD and there is only one disk in the computer.
Click to expand...

The Intel RST program helps to monitor drives and if there are any SMART errors it will notify you.
 
fffblackmage

fffblackmage

Platinum Member
Dec 28, 2007
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ExarKun333 said:
I should have been more clear. The preferred implementation of TRIM is with AHCI. Don't you have to run the TRIM process manually in IDE or schedule it? That is a pain...
Click to expand...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIM
In computing, a TRIM command allows an operating system to inform a solid-state drive (SSD) which blocks of data are no longer considered in use and can be wiped internally.

http://forum-en.msi.com/faq/article/ide-sata-and-ahci-all-you-need-to-know
The TRIM command is dependent on the SSD itself, and the operating system supporting it. It is not dependent on the host controller, and AHCI is not a requirement. TRIM is natively supported in Windows 7, as well as Linux since kernel 2.6.33.

If TRIM is a command sent by the OS, then it should make sense that it does not depend on the mode you select.

jimpatrick said:
is raid better than ahci?i got my ssd yesterday,changed sata settings to AHCI then installed 7.no my drives are all removable devices is that normal?do i need to format it again ang change this to raid?
Click to expand...
With an Intel chipset, RAID mode is essentially AHCI mode with the addition of RAID support. It is recommended to use RAID mode so you get the RAID option. Actually, I wonder if you could switch between the two without reformatting.... Anyways, if you don't plan on using RAID, then you don't have to switch.

Your drives are removable because AHCI mode features hot-swapping.
 
exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
MontyAC said:
Download CrystalDiskInfo or SSDLife
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I can plug a TRIM supporting drive into a USB cable into a 10 year old XP box and CrystalDiskInfo will show TRIM just because it's in the enumerated list of features supported by the drive.
 
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ArisVer

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2011
1,345
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Thanks FAUguy. Any links? From what i have been able to find at Intel, it looks like it's only needed for a RAID system and i don't have one.

Is there any way to disable the eject button for the disk in case of accidental clicks? And what will happen if it is clicked? Will there be any problems running the system or a restart will fix it? I understand that the OS needs the disk...
 
bryanW1995

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
11,144
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I accidentally installed my x25m g2 in ide mode a couple of years ago, and I didn't bother to figure out how to fix it. It is clearly faster in ahci (raid actually) mode, I'm glad I finally switched it a few months ago. From what I've seen/heard, the real speed benefit you get from ahci mode is actually NCQ. Here's a link with a decent explanation of that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Command_Queuing
 
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FAUguy

Senior member
Jun 19, 2011
226
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ArisVer said:
Thanks FAUguy. Any links? From what i have been able to find at Intel, it looks like it's only needed for a RAID system and i don't have one.

Is there any way to disable the eject button for the disk in case of accidental clicks? And what will happen if it is clicked? Will there be any problems running the system or a restart will fix it? I understand that the OS needs the disk...
Click to expand...
This is version 10.8.0.1003 (official)
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20624&lang=eng

And the (unofficial) version 11.0.0.1032
http://www.station-drivers.com/telechargement/intel/sata/intel_rst_11.0.0.1032whql%28www.station-drivers.com%29.zip

I've tried both, and on my Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 2TB dive, I saw better performance with the 11.0.0.1032 version. But other people with SSDs have reported better speeds with the 10.8.0.1003 version.
 
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ArisVer

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2011
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Thank you again for the link. My search in Intel did not provide me with the file. I have found this file (infinst_autol.exe) before which is the ICH8R AHCI Controller driver. Maybe it's the same file. I will install the new one and see if there will be any changes or not.
 
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ArisVer

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2011
1,345
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Trying to install iata_enu_10.8.0.1003.exe gave me the following error.
"This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing the software."

Some information from Intel about the file i installed in the beginning.
Intel® Chipset Device Software (INF Update Utility)
Primarily for Intel® 6, 5, 4, 3, 900 Series Chipset, installs the Windows* INF files.
9.​3.​0.​1019 Drivers
infinst_autol.exe

Everything is good as is. Thanks everyone.
 
jimpatrick

jimpatrick

Member
Nov 29, 2011
92
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FAUguy said:
You need two identical drives for RAID 1 or RAID 0 to be setup.
Click to expand...

so i need to purchase another ssd for raid?:hmm:


fffblackmage said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIM

With an Intel chipset, RAID mode is essentially AHCI mode with the addition of RAID support. It is recommended to use RAID mode so you get the RAID option. Actually, I wonder if you could switch between the two without reformatting.... Anyways, if you don't plan on using RAID, then you don't have to switch.

Your drives are removable because AHCI mode features hot-swapping.
Click to expand...

thank you,so i have to switch to raid after all :\ i wish it would work by just changing it in bios w/o reinstalling windows,going to try later when i get home.oh that explains every drive being removable :awe: like the other guy mentioned is there any way to disable that and what happens when you accidentally remove os?haha!
 
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