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How do I know if my SATA drive is working properly?

T

Trizik

Senior member
This is my first time using SATA so I'm not sure if it's running properly, but I'm a little skeptical because it was so easy. I pieced my computer together, booted it off the XP CD and installed the OS in about 7 minutes. I didn't install any SATA drivers (a floppy came with my motherboard but I didn't use it), so I'm assuming XP did, right?
 
You installed XP in 7 minutes and you want to know if the drive is working right? DAMN sounds good to me but if you are worried always download WD SATA datalife diag tool to do some testing
 
Originally posted by: Trizik
No, just the SATA drive.

I will eventually connect an external firewire drive.
Click to expand...

Well if you have only the one drive and Windows is running properly then I think you have your answer right there.

M@rc
 
Originally posted by: Trizik
I just used a hardware diagnostic tool that said the interface type is IDE...
Click to expand...

The thing people keep getting confused about is the fact that a SATA drive is still IDE. IDE= Integrated drive electronics. Both PATA and SATA drives are IDE..

In any case if you have installed your OS on it with no problems it's working fine. Drivers are usualy only needed for RAID, or if your motherboard doesn't have a native SATA controller in the south bridge. If windows saw your hard drive without using the drivers, then you don't need them.
 
Ah, I get it now. I thought maybe the drive was running at IDE speeds, even though it is hooked up to the SATA connectors. A SATA drive will either work at SATA speeds or not work at all, correct?
 
I should also mention that I see nothing about "SATA" or "SCSI" in the Device Manager. I do see a bunch of "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers," though. That's all I see.
 
Originally posted by: Trizik
Ah, I get it now. I thought maybe the drive was running at IDE speeds, even though it is hooked up to the SATA connectors. A SATA drive will either work at SATA speeds or not work at all, correct?
Click to expand...

What do you mean SATA speeds. The equivalent PATA drive (size and buffer) from the same maufacturer will perform EXACTLY the same. The bandwidth for SATA is a bit higher, but no current drives can get anywhwere near reaching it. It is like having an 8 lane highway when there are only 20 cars per mile... SATA I is rated at 150 MB/s, most drives can probably only push ~60 sustained, maybe 100 bursting.

If you are in windows and it isn't crashing or crawling along, you are fine.
 
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