Confused with SATA

Previously KlausK <dinga DeleteThis @noone.com> wrote:
> If I don't install SATA (AHCI) or RAID drivers during the O/S installation
> (by pressing F6), does it mean that my SATA controllers perform at a lower
> speed?!?

Not typically. SATA does not have lower speeds than 150MB/s.
It can mean, however, that your controllers do not work at all.

> Situation: 2 PCs running XP SP2 (one built with a Bad Axe 2
> motherboard and the other with a Bad Axe).

Bad Axe?

> I knew not much about
> AHCI (didn't plan to RAID anyway),

AHCI is not RAID. It is the generic SATA controller driver,
supported by many newer SATA controllers.

> so I didn't think too much about
> HD controllers. Currently, SATA is configured as IDE in the bios
> when installing XP on both systems. Device Manager shows the Intel
> SATA controller.

If the BIOS supports IDE emulation, then you should be fine,
unless you need SATA only features such as hotplugging.

> Benchmark: I have 4 Seagate SATA 3.0 HDs on both systems and got
> approximately 70 MB/s max and 170 MB/s burst rates.

Entirely fine.

> The numbers seem low compared with the SATA 3.0 specification. So, I
> guess my SATA controllers are underperforming....Any comments?

Interface transfer rates are not disk speeds. The interface allways
needs to be faster than the disk in order not to be a bottleneck.
To find out whether disk observed speed is fine, look into
the disk datasheet for its performance numbers. 70MB/s sustained
is a typical rate for a modern HDD.

Arno
 >> Stay informed about: Confused with SATA 

"Arno Wagner" <me.TakeThisOut@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:5v8ubuF1jfpu5U1@mid.individual.net...
> Previously KlausK <dinga.TakeThisOut@noone.com> wrote:
>> If I don't install SATA (AHCI) or RAID drivers during the O/S
>> installation
>> (by pressing F6), does it mean that my SATA controllers perform at a
>> lower
>> speed?!?
>
> Not typically. SATA does not have lower speeds than 150MB/s.
> It can mean, however, that your controllers do not work at all.
>
>> Situation: 2 PCs running XP SP2 (one built with a Bad Axe 2
>> motherboard and the other with a Bad Axe).
>
> Bad Axe?
>
Bad Axe is a nickname for the Intel 975XBX motherboard. My HDD speed seems
fine, compared with benchmark speeds posted on the Net.
 >> Stay informed about: Confused with SATA 

KlausK wrote:
> "Arno Wagner" <me.RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:5v8ubuF1jfpu5U1@mid.individual.net...
>> Previously KlausK <dinga.RemoveThis@noone.com> wrote:
>>> If I don't install SATA (AHCI) or RAID drivers during the O/S
>>> installation
>>> (by pressing F6), does it mean that my SATA controllers perform at a
>>> lower
>>> speed?!?
>> Not typically. SATA does not have lower speeds than 150MB/s.
>> It can mean, however, that your controllers do not work at all.
>>
>>> Situation: 2 PCs running XP SP2 (one built with a Bad Axe 2
>>> motherboard and the other with a Bad Axe).
>> Bad Axe?
>>
> Bad Axe is a nickname for the Intel 975XBX motherboard. My HDD speed seems
> fine, compared with benchmark speeds posted on the Net.
>
>


I wish my BLKDP35DPM has a kickass name.
I wonder if we can make one up?
 >> Stay informed about: Confused with SATA 

On 2008-01-17 15:41, KlausK wrote:
> "Arno Wagner" <me DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:5v8ubuF1jfpu5U1@mid.individual.net...
>> Previously KlausK <dinga DeleteThis @noone.com> wrote:
>>> If I don't install SATA (AHCI) or RAID drivers during the O/S
>>> installation
>>> (by pressing F6), does it mean that my SATA controllers perform at a
>>> lower
>>> speed?!?
>>
>> Not typically. SATA does not have lower speeds than 150MB/s.
>> It can mean, however, that your controllers do not work at all.
>>
>>> Situation: 2 PCs running XP SP2 (one built with a Bad Axe 2
>>> motherboard and the other with a Bad Axe).
>>
>> Bad Axe?
>>
> Bad Axe is a nickname for the Intel 975XBX motherboard. My HDD speed seems
> fine, compared with benchmark speeds posted on the Net.
>
>

Also later Justin asked about his motherboard:

:"I wish my BLKDP35DPM has a kickass name.
:I wonder if we can make one up? "

It also has a nickname: 'Dragontail Peak'.

(I recall Intel reuses various geographic names as nicks).

/Rolf
 >> Stay informed about: Confused with SATA 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: Confused with SATA 

DonLogan wrote in news:fgetp355l47svlqnsgsl0br262ifrgfd9c@4ax.com
> Arno Wagner <me.DeleteThis@privacy.net> wrote:
>
> > Previously KlausK <dinga.DeleteThis@noone.com> wrote:
> > > If I don't install SATA (AHCI) or RAID drivers during the O/S installation
> > > (by pressing F6), does it mean that my SATA controllers perform at a lower
> > > speed?!?
> >
> > Not typically. SATA does not have lower speeds than 150MB/s.
> > It can mean, however, that your controllers do not work at all.
> >
> > > Situation: 2 PCs running XP SP2 (one built with a Bad Axe 2
> > > motherboard and the other with a Bad Axe).
> >
> > Bad Axe?
> >
> > > I knew not much about
> > > AHCI (didn't plan to RAID anyway),
> >
> > AHCI is not RAID. It is the generic SATA controller driver,
> > supported by many newer SATA controllers.
> >
> > > so I didn't think too much about
> > > HD controllers. Currently, SATA is configured as IDE in the bios
> > > when installing XP on both systems. Device Manager shows the Intel
> > > SATA controller.
> >
> > If the BIOS supports IDE emulation, then you should be fine,
> > unless you need SATA only features such as hotplugging.
> >
> > > Benchmark: I have 4 Seagate SATA 3.0 HDs on both systems and got
> > > approximately 70 MB/s max and 170 MB/s burst rates.
> >
> > Entirely fine.
> >
> > > The numbers seem low compared with the SATA 3.0 specification. So, I
> > > guess my SATA controllers are underperforming....Any comments?
> >
> > Interface transfer rates are not disk speeds. The interface allways
> > needs to be faster than the disk in order not to be a bottleneck.
> > To find out whether disk observed speed is fine, look into
> > the disk datasheet for its performance numbers. 70MB/s sustained
>
> but he said 70MB/s max -

> I wondered what his sustained might be.

What he said: 70MB/s max

>
> > is a typical rate for a modern HDD.
> >
> > Arno
 >> Stay informed about: Confused with SATA