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Vista 64-bit w/ AMD SB750 and AHCI?

M

metroplex

Golden Member
I did numerous searches and couldn't find a direct answer to my question.

I am planning to install Vista SP-1 64-bit onto my new rig, which uses an ECS A790GXM-AD3 motherboard (AM3 socket, AMD 790GX North bridge, SB750 South bridge). I would like to install the OS w/ my HDD in AHCI mode but I couldn't find the AHCI drivers for the motherboard or the chipset.

What should I do to get it right the first time?

The CPU I want to use is the AMD Phenom II X3 720, and the HDD is a Western Digital Black Caviar 500GB if that matters.

Also, what is it with the "Black Edition" marketing? The motherboard, HD, and CPU are all "Black Edition"
 
Originally posted by: metroplex
I did numerous searches and couldn't find a direct answer to my question.

I am planning to install Vista SP-1 64-bit onto my new rig, which uses an ECS A790GXM-AD3 motherboard (AM3 socket, AMD 790GX North bridge, SB750 South bridge). I would like to install the OS w/ my HDD in AHCI mode but I couldn't find the AHCI drivers for the motherboard or the chipset.

What should I do to get it right the first time?

The CPU I want to use is the AMD Phenom II X3 720, and the HDD is a Western Digital Black Caviar 500GB if that matters.

Also, what is it with the "Black Edition" marketing? The motherboard, HD, and CPU are all "Black Edition"
Click to expand...

Grab the latest catalyst (9.5 as of now). In the drivers section for "integrated / motherboard" at ATI'S website, go to individual components. Grab the RAID driver. Unpack it and copy the "SB700" folder or so to a flash drive or floppy. Start the Vista installation, press F6 and feed them to the OS.

 
Using Windows native drivers gave me no problems and hot swap worked with "Safely Remove Hardware" as well in Windows 7

So maybe try installing Vista w/SP1 without any 3rd party drivers? Better chance with slipstreamed disc, I'd assume.
 
Originally posted by: lopri
Using Windows native drivers gave me no problems and hot swap worked with "Safely Remove Hardware" as well in Windows 7

So maybe try installing Vista w/SP1 without any 3rd party drivers? Better chance with slipstreamed disc, I'd assume.
Click to expand...

I have to say . . . . VISTA64 with SP1 has been a very smooth experience, and I strongly suspect that I had no problem with any drivers. I took the caution to install chipset and nVidia's graphics driver -- never relying on MS's own provision of brand-specific hardware drivers.

so now, it's a choice. VISTA has a new SP2 available, unless I was mistaken. It's "bloated" compared to Windows 7. But Windows 7 will go through growing pains that VISTA has left behind.

HMMM. What to do . . . . what to do. Those Best-Buy "pre-sell" prices look SOOOO good, compared to OEM VISTA install-discs. . . . .
 
I don't have the final public release of SP-2, but I did get Vista 64-bit SP-1 through my school's MSDNAA participation.

I'd probably wait until at least SP-1 or SP-2 of Windows 7 before openly embracing it. Microsoft has a nasty tendency of saying they will fix the problems reported in a beta release, then waiting a whole year to actually fix the problems.
 
Think twice before enabling AHCI.
Apparently it disables SMART info.

Also - others have reported taking a CPU hit with AHCI enabled.
The AMD drivers were better than the Windows drivers but not by much (at best 8% approx)
 
I've already installed Vista 64-bit SP-1 with AHCI enabled. Can I disable AHCI via the BIOS and continue using the OS w/o problems? What happens if I go back to IDE, then back to AHCI?
 
Originally posted by: metroplex
I've already installed Vista 64-bit SP-1 with AHCI enabled. Can I disable AHCI via the BIOS and continue using the OS w/o problems? What happens if I go back to IDE, then back to AHCI?
Click to expand...

Would actually be interested to know myself.
And how bad is the performance drop?
 
I am not really sure, but I lost about 800 3dmark06 points sometime after I loaded RAID expert and enabled something on the HD. I was trying to figure out why SMART info wasn't available. I can't figure out how I lost so many points. It wasn't from going to Vista 64-bit SP2 or loading the latest Catalyst drivers.
 
Originally posted by: metroplex
I am not really sure, but I lost about 800 3dmark06 points sometime after I loaded RAID expert and enabled something on the HD. I was trying to figure out why SMART info wasn't available. I can't figure out how I lost so many points. It wasn't from going to Vista 64-bit SP2 or loading the latest Catalyst drivers.
Click to expand...

Probably NCQ?
Should be disabled for non-servers.
 
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