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AHCI, can someone explain?
After some Google searching, I think I need a dumbed-down explanation: what the heck is AHCI? Is it a desirable setting?
After some Google searching, I think I need a dumbed-down explanation: what the heck is AHCI? Is it a desirable setting?
AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) allows you to hot swap drives. It also allows for native command queuing, which allows a drive to accept multiple commands at once, and also rearrange those commands to optimize performance. If you plan on hot swapping drives, it's something you should consider. Since it can also allow a drive to accept more than one command at a time, it can increase storage speed. If your system supports AHCI, and your drives support native command queuing, I suggest enabling it.
Doesn't get any dumber than Wiki
Now I see people here saying that in order to switch, you need to do a clean install. What does anyone think about this?
Personally, I'd opt for a reinstall. I scanned that thread, and with the differences between chipsets, the lack of a proper reg file for certain chipsets, etc, it would probably be faster to just back everything up, switch to AHCI, and then do a clean install. Plus, that's a thread for XP - I wouldn't use it for a Windows 7 installation.
Kegger can you enlighten us on what would make a RAID config worthwhile for Windows 7 since we are getting many problems with 7 install to RAID. Supposedly Intel suggests RAID config for AHCI (in the Wiki). How would that work?
Dude yesterday with SATA had IDE enabled but found AHCI choice in BIOS, then turned out AHCI driver was on mobo CD which he loaded into installer and fixed stall.
Should we even bother trying for AHCI if it is not in BIOS menu? Another way to enable it on mobo?