WD 6400AAKS NCQ

[imported_Husky55]

Quote:

"NCQ (Native Command Queuing) and TCQ (Tagged Command Queuing) are features created to improve the hard disk performance by re-ordering the commands sent by the computer to the hard disk drive. In this tutorial we will explain how both NCQ and TCQ work, the difference between them and some performance data.

NCQ was introduced with Serial ATA II, the same standard that introduced the new maximum transfer rate of 300 MB/s for Serial ATA, being targeted to mainstream hard disk drives. TCQ was introduced with SCSI2 and also adopted by ATA-4 standard (a.k.a. ATA/100), however only a very few ATA/100 hard drives adopted it (while it is very common to be found on SCSI hard drives). TCQ is targeted to server- and enterprise-level hard disk drives.

To use NCQ or TCQ, both the hard disk port and the hard disk drive must support the standard. So, if you have a NCQ hard disk drive port (the Serial ATA II ports on motherboards based on newer chipsets, for instance) but install a hard disk drive without this feature, you won?t see any performance improvement."

My question, how do I enable/disable NCQ with a WD640AAKS and Abit IP35-E Mobo ? Both have the required SATA2 standard?

Nothing in bios. Nothing in Device Manager. Where is it hidden?

Thanks,

 

[pugh]

Only speaking for my setup, I use a RAID controller and the NCQ option was available in the bios setup when I was setting up my WD640AAKS's. Have you tried downloading WD tools to see if can be enabled ? im just taking a guess at this sorry.

 

[imported_Husky55]

AHCI was enabled in Bios i.e. Sata configured as AHCI instead of IDE.

I did download the WD Data Life guard Diagnostics Tool. Nothing there about AHCI or SATA2

I do not have Raid. Intel controller i ICH9.

 

[deepinya]

I have the same drive and mobo.

If anyone can shed some light that would be great!

 

[tw1164]

You could check if its enable via HD tune.

 

[EarthwormJim]

If you enable raid mode or AHCI mode for your SATA controller, then more than likely the drive has NCQ enabled.

Native IDE mode doesn't use the added features and benefits of SATA II (like the 3gb/s bus width and NCQ).

Like tw1164 said, use HDtune to check to see if it is in fact on.

 

[pugh]

You guys are correct too. HD tune does indicate NCQ.

 

[imported_Husky55]

HD Tune under Info, showed both my WD 6400AAKS and Seagate HD as NCQ enabled. There is nothing in Windows to confirm that the appropriate drivers were loaded or enabled.

I did install the Intel Storage Matrix. When WinXP was installed, and AHCI was enabled, the Intel driver was installed with F6 BEFORE the OS was installed.

I did find the IASTOR.sys in Windows\system32\drivers

It was enabled in the registry at

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\IASTOR

Value 0

Many Thanks to tw1164 for EathwormJim for reminding me of HD Tune. Completely forgot about it.

 

[Twsmit]

Looks like you have it on. Intel's chipset is confusing compared to the old NF4 that allowed you to check a box enabling or disabling NCQ. The only way I know of that will allow you to disable, you be changing from AHCI to IDE mode.

 

[imported_Husky55]

Just some additional info.

I have now tested the WD 6400AAKS. Transfer rate


Minimum 20.7 MB/s Max 111.1 MB/s Average 86.0 MB/s access Time 13.0 ms Burst Rate 143.6 MB/s

For comparison WD 4000KD transfer rate

Minimum 10.3 MB/s Max 62.0 MB/s

If you are considering the the WD6400AAKS as a boot drive it is only slightly bested by the new 10K WD VelocityRaptor.

I highly recommend this drive as a boot drive. Best performance/price ratio.

 

[imported_Husky55]

Originally posted by: Twsmit
Looks like you have it on. Intel's chipset is confusing compared to the old NF4 that allowed you to check a box enabling or disabling NCQ. The only way I know of that will allow you to disable, you be changing from AHCI to IDE mode.

It was a real pain to install AHCI driver for XP.