SB750 - IDE, AHCI or RAID mode?

[SunnyD]

I'm trying to figure out which SATA mode will give me the optimal performance. I'm not using RAID at the moment, but I've heard AHCI doesn't work properly on AMD chipsets. I can't use many of the drive diagnostic tools if the controller isn't in IDE mode.

So what should it be? (Vista 64 is the target OS)

 

[tcsenter]

AHCI can improve boot times but little else, and NCQ is largely irrelevant for general consumer computing. SATA transfer rates are negotiated entirely at the hardware (and BIOS) level below the driver and OS, and not dependent on the register/software programming model.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
AHCI can improve boot times but little else, and NCQ is largely irrelevant for general consumer computing. SATA transfer rates are negotiated entirely at the hardware (and BIOS) level below the driver and OS, and not dependent on the register/software programming model.

So the answer is...?

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
So the answer is...?

If there is a likelihood you may want to switch to RAID in the future and will want to preserve your current install rather than clean install, use AHCI. If not, use IDE.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Originally posted by: SunnyD
So the answer is...?

If there is a likelihood you may want to switch to RAID in the future and will want to preserve your current install rather than clean install, use AHCI. If not, use IDE.

Everything is up and running right now in AHCI mode. I do intend on probably RAID 5 at some point, but that will be with new hard drives anyway.

This question also came because since putting in the new motherboard, I've had some intermittent problems with one of the drives, and am trying to isolate whether it's the drive or the motherboard.

 

[hans007]

i use IDE on my sb700 because if you use ide you dont need a driver for the southbridge when installing say windows.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: hans007
i use IDE on my sb700 because if you use ide you dont need a driver for the southbridge when installing say windows.

You shouldn't have that issue with Vista, FYI.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: hans007
i use IDE on my sb700 because if you use ide you dont need a driver for the southbridge when installing say windows.

You shouldn't have that issue with Vista, FYI.

Indeed - I installed Vista 64 without requiring any preinstall drivers using AHCI.

 

[jdkick]

I opted for RAID as there were chances I would end up creating a RAID1 array in the not distant future. The installation of one extra driver during the Vista setup really didn't take much effort...

 

[GundamF91]

If you do fresh install, get the AHCI, there's no reason to use IDE, and you'll never know what future upgrade path that would require AHCI, and it could save you from reinstalling again.

 

[tabris]

For some reason when I tried to install Vista Ultimate x64 with a RAID0 on the M3A79-T it asked me for drivers but I couldn't get it to work, I tried every possible driver I could find that was relevant. So I opted for AHCI. I don't know if it's SB related (I'm guessing it is) but my read/write times are significantly low. I'm at a loss as to how to fix it now :|.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: tabris
For some reason when I tried to install Vista Ultimate x64 with a RAID0 on the M3A79-T it asked me for drivers but I couldn't get it to work, I tried every possible driver I could find that was relevant. So I opted for AHCI. I don't know if it's SB related (I'm guessing it is) but my read/write times are significantly low. I'm at a loss as to how to fix it now :|.

Define significantly low?