SATA Raid Bios confusion

tgbyhn10111 · 21 Jun 2007 at 00:55

OK I'm setting up a raid 0 array using

A Gigabyte GA_P35DS3P motherboard.
Using 2 Seagate 7200.10 160GB drives

In the bios I have the option of selecting

SATA RAID/ACHI Mode (intel ICH9R Southbridge)

Should i select ACHI or RAID?

Seems to me I want ACHI raid as I want all the features of ACHI and Sata RAid? Is ACHI still raid but with the extra benefits NCQ / hot plug etc?

The manual is not clear

thanks

Teaf · 21 Jun 2007 at 08:18

RAID setting enables all the features of AHCI, but in a RAID setup. So use the RAID option and you'll get both.

tgbyhn10111 · 21 Jun 2007 at 08:28

Oh, OK thanks

the bios / manual suggest to me that the achi setting is the more advanced options but if raid does it all that's great.

What's achi for then?

I also changed the BIOS so that SATA operates in native IDE mode? Is this correct?

P.S. Any other tips on settings I should change in a fresh setup with a e4300 at stock speed?

Thanks

Teaf · 21 Jun 2007 at 09:02

tgbyhn10111 said:
What's achi for then?

Singular drives really. You can enable AHCI and get stuff like Native Command Queueing on drives that aren't set up as an array by using the AHCI option.

I also changed the BIOS so that SATA operates in native IDE mode? Is this correct?

Yep

Any other tips on settings I should change in a fresh setup with a e4300 at stock speed?

Well I guess if you're not overclocking, you'll wanna have some of the features on, such as EIST and C1E. Also if the BIOSes are similar (since I'm not using the same board) you should enable SMARTFan which will make your CPU fan run at a predetermined rate based on heat, so generally it makes the PC quieter

tgbyhn10111 · 21 Jun 2007 at 09:13

thanks

I'd better read the manual

squiffy · 21 Jun 2007 at 09:21

So AHCI should be selected when using non raid mode? My mobo has Emulated PATA mode and AHCI mode (using Emulated)

Teaf · 21 Jun 2007 at 09:32

squiffy said:
So AHCI should be selected when using non raid mode? My mobo has Emulated PATA mode and AHCI mode (using Emulated)

Not "should", more like "could"

I use PATA emulation as I don't like NCQ, but if you wanted too you can use AHCI mode. Bare in mind though that some sata controllers require you install drivers first or it'll not boot into Windows until you switched it back, so install some drivers first just to be sure. Like on my Gigabyte board, I have to use drivers for the JMicron ports or I can't boot from them, but the ICH8 intel ports work without drivers.