SATA AHCI Vs. IDE mode (Intel ICH7)

[ComputerWizKid]

I need a new drive for my HTPC as my "Spare" bit the dust (AKA is DEAD)

Here is the Drive I want to get

So my question is do I need AHCI for this drive to work as the Intel ICH7 does not support AHCI only IDE Enhanced mode (I am not worried about performance issues ATM as long as it will work good enough to record 1 HDTV & 1 SDTV Stream at once, and not be slower then the POS SeaGate drive that it is replacing)

I already have one of these drive so I know it is a good drive to get I just want to be sure before I buy another one if it's compatible with the ICH7 SATA* controller

Here is my HTPC Specs

Asus P5KPL/AM-EPU (Intel G31/ICH7, BIOS 0501)
Intel Pentium Dual Core (E5400)
2 x 1GB DDR 2 800MHZ
Lite-On SATA DVD Burner (Don't know the model # ATM)
Hauppauge HVR-2250
ATI HD 5450
Creative SoundBlaster Audigy (Only until I get the SPDIF bracket for my board or a new AV Receiver W/ HDMI)

* This is a SATA3 drive but is has a jumper to make it work with the SATA2 Controller

Thanks

 

[Gamingphreek]

I need a new drive for my HTPC as my "Spare" bit the dust (AKA is DEAD)

Here is the Drive I want to get

So my question is do I need AHCI for this drive to work as the Intel ICH7 does not support AHCI only IDE Enhanced mode (I am not worried about performance issues ATM as long as it will work good enough to record 1 HDTV & 1 SDTV Stream at once, and not be slower then the POS SeaGate drive that it is replacing)

I already have one of these drive so I know it is a good drive to get I just want to be sure before I buy another one if it's compatible with the ICH7 SATA* controller

Here is my HTPC Specs

Asus P5KPL/AM-EPU (Intel G31/ICH7, BIOS 0501)
Intel Pentium Dual Core (E5400)
2 x 1GB DDR 2 800MHZ
Lite-On SATA DVD Burner (Don't know the model # ATM)
Hauppauge HVR-2250
ATI HD 5450
Creative SoundBlaster Audigy (Only until I get the SPDIF bracket for my board or a new AV Receiver W/ HDMI)

* This is a SATA3 drive but is has a jumper to make it work with the SATA2 Controller

Thanks

No - the SATA Controller can handle drives in Legacy IDE mode with no problem. You won't realize the benefits of a new drive without AHCI support though (ie: Native Command Queuing)

-GP

 

[jrocks84]

The jumper isn't for SATA3->2, it's because these new WD drives have larger sectors which XP and older OS's don't understand unless you use that jumper. For more information: http://www.anandtech.com/show/2888
SATA 2 and 3 are compatible with each other without any jumpers.

And to answer your actual question, you don't need AHCI for those drives to work.

 

[ComputerWizKid]

Here is the jumper I am talking about

I have a jumper cap on pins 5-6 (PHY enabled)

So does it need to be there?

 

[Auric]

The jumper is only necessary where a non-compliant storage controller fails to negotiate. Intel is likely fine.