Switch from IDE Emulation Mode to SATA Mode?

[Damon Line]

I recently did a fresh install of Windows XP SP2 on a Seagate SATA hard drive. Prior to installing XP I went into my BIOS and selected the "IDE Mode" setting for my SATA controller (the only other option was "RAID Mode" ). There were no other SATA-related settings in my BIOS. I then proceeded to install XP without using the F6 option to install additional drivers.

The installation proceeded with no problems, and my computer is working fine. However, when I look in Device Manager, I see that there is no listing for a SATA controller under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers," and there is no entry category called "SCSI and RAID controllers" either. Under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" there is a Primary IDE Channel that has a current transfer mode of Ultra DMA Mode 6 for Device 0. I'm assuming this is my SATA drive, and that it appears here because it is operating in IDE emulation mode. Am I correct about this? If so, how much of a performance gain, if any, would I get if I switched from IDE emulation mode to true SATA mode by installing the SATA controller and drivers (keep in mind that although my drive is SATA II, my ECS RS482-M mobo only supports SATA I; also, Roadkil's Disk Speed indicates that the drive as currently configured is giving me Linear Reads of 72MB/sec.)? Can I even switch to SATA mode since my only BIOS options were IDE mode and RAID mode? Finally, if I do decide to install the SATA controller and drivers, can I do so without reinstalling XP and/or reactivating my version of XP with a phone call to Microsoft? If so, how?

Thanks in advance for your help. This is my first build and I truly need it.

Damon

 

[Old Hippie]

Short, sweet, and to the point....Don't Bother With It. It will make no difference in your performance.

 

[imported_Baloo]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
Short, sweet, and to the point....Don't Bother With It. It will make no difference in your performance.

Yes, but those drive can be installed from within windows without the need to re-install and re-activate.

 

[RebateMonger]

If it was me, I'd leave it alone. Screwing with things that are working fine will usually get you into trouble. There's nothing wrong with your current SATA transfer rate.

 

[Damon Line]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. It sounds like I should leave my system the way it is currently configured. However, if I were doing a FRESH install of XP on this machine, would you still recommend that I use IDE emulation mode, or would you recommend that I install the SATA controller driver instead (again keeping in mind that my ECS RS482-M mobo only supports SATA I and IDE emulation mode would give me Linear Read speeds of 72MB/sec.)?

Damon

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
Short, sweet, and to the point....Don't Bother With It. It will make no difference in your performance.

X2

 

[Damon Line]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
X2

Thanks, Rick, but I'm asking about my current mobo because of the possibility that I may need or want to do a fresh install with it someday and we're already on the subject. So, what say you: If you were going to do a fresh install of XP on a SATA hard drive and your mobo only supported SATA 150, would you go with IDE emulation mode, or would you go with SATA mode? My (admittedly inexperienced) gut tells me it would be worth the little bit of extra effort to go the SATA mode route and pick up a little bit of extra performance versus IDE mode, but I'd appreciate the perspective of the much wiser members in this forum. Thanks.

 

[Old Hippie]

Thanks, Rick, but I'm asking about my current mobo because of the possibility that I may need or want to do a fresh install with it someday and we're already on the subject.

That was the answer. :laugh:

If you wanna add SATA drivers, go right ahead. You will not get an increase in performance with your board. Your drive is going as fast as it can, and no driver is gonna speed things along.

You inexperienced gut was wrong......or maybe you just have gas. 😀