Basic AHCI SATA question

opethdisciple · 25 Mar 2011 at 16:21

Just formated my plain vanilla Sata 2 Hdd.

I have been operating the hdd using ide mode for the past two years so decided, it wasa good oppurtunity to enable AHCI in the bios.

Enabled it, loaded the driver during Win7 install, and all is dandy.

Question is, is my job done now?

Is NCQ enable by default?

Anything else I need to know or do?

jbloggs · 25 Mar 2011 at 17:36

I supose you could update the drivers with those from the manufacturer's website, if Intel ICHx(R) cont then just download and install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software, which will also update the drivers...

As regards if NCQ is operating, download and run CrystalDiskInfo and this will show you if its running, I would think it should run by default...

DragonQ · 25 Mar 2011 at 17:58

NCQ should be enabled by default. As above, make sure you have optimised drivers for your chipset and you're good to go.

You shouldn't have needed any special drivers during Windows install though...

opethdisciple · 25 Mar 2011 at 18:04

I enable AHCI in the bios, before installation of the os.

I put the sata drivers on to a usb from here:

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

and during the install I choose to load drivers and it auto picked up the sata driver and everything installed lovely jubly.

Ch3m1c4L · 29 Mar 2011 at 16:10

DragonQ said:
NCQ should be enabled by default. As above, make sure you have optimised drivers for your chipset and you're good to go.

You shouldn't have needed any special drivers during Windows install though...

Shouldnt, but sometimes you do, did on my Dell Lappy, which Ifound out afterwards, although once windows was isntalled and I enabled ahci in the bios and windows, it was fine. Just during install after a reboot it would always lose access to the disk unless I put it on normal mode :/