Windows 7: Is my SSD drive driven by Sata3 or Sata2: How to know

arjfca · 08 Sep 2012

Hello

I suspect that my SSD drive , Intel SSD 320 120GB, does not operate at is full potential. It is plugged in the Sata3 device on my mainboard.

Looking at my Bios, I see that it is set to IDE. I did try to set it to the AHCI mode, but PC would not boot up

I did try the AS SSD Benchmark tool and I gorr a result of 163
It mention PCiIde BAD

Now, How do I know if my SSD drive is driven with Sata3. If not, how do I set it without re-installing Win 7

Any help appreciated

Martin

whs · 08 Sep 2012

The 320 is a Sata2. If you want to go AHCI, you have to set the OS also to AHCI. AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

arjfca · 08 Sep 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by whs

The 320 is a Sata2. If you want to go AHCI, you have to set the OS also to AHCI. AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

Hello

I don't have my original box, but looking in Intel site, I found:

Intel® SSD 320 Series
(120GB, 2.5in SATA 3Gb/s, 25nm, MLC)

How do I set the OS to be AHCI?.

I should say that I had a better result before installing an old hard drive that had an OS intalled. The system took this new (old) drive as the main and it changed the loading drive. Since I did not regain thew same setup.

Have a good day

Martin

kbrady1979 · 08 Sep 2012

If you do a clean install, go into your BIOS before hand and set the SATA ports to AHCI. That way, when you get everything up and running, everything will be set right. And, like WHS said, the Intel 320 series is a SATA II drive, not SATA III. I think WHS linked you to a guide that will allow you to change it to AHCI within the OS, if that is something you want to try then give it a whirl. A clean install will also work.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck with it and we will try to help as best we can!

kbrady1979 · 08 Sep 2012

The SATA speeds can be a bit confusing...........SATA II = 3Gb/s speed, while SATA III = 6Gb/s speeds. You also have to know if you have SATA II or SATA III ports on your motherboard. A SATA III drive is backwards compatible to SATA II and SATA I, but a SATA II drive will never be any faster than the physical limits of SATA II standards.

As far as how to change to AHCI from IDE, either use the guide that WHS posted to change it while in Windows, or get ready to do a clean install.

arjfca · 08 Sep 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by kbrady1979

The SATA speeds can be a bit confusing...........SATA II = 3Gb/s speed, while SATA III = 6Gb/s speeds. You also have to know if you have SATA II or SATA III ports on your motherboard. A SATA III drive is backwards compatible to SATA II and SATA I, but a SATA II drive will never be any faster than the physical limits of SATA II standards.

As far as how to change to AHCI from IDE, either use the guide that WHS posted to change it while in Windows, or get ready to do a clean install.

OK, Thank you both for your help. I won't do another install and leave as it it. I got a Sata3 on my new main board, but If my SSD is not using it.

I'm quite lost in both AHCI or IDE so...... If it is not broken... don't touch it....

It work, but maybe not as fast as it should be Ok for me

Martin

GeneO · 08 Sep 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by arjfca

Quote: Originally Posted by kbrady1979

The SATA speeds can be a bit confusing...........SATA II = 3Gb/s speed, while SATA III = 6Gb/s speeds. You also have to know if you have SATA II or SATA III ports on your motherboard. A SATA III drive is backwards compatible to SATA II and SATA I, but a SATA II drive will never be any faster than the physical limits of SATA II standards.

As far as how to change to AHCI from IDE, either use the guide that WHS posted to change it while in Windows, or get ready to do a clean install.

OK, Thank you both for your help. I won't do another install and leave as it it. I got a Sata3 on my new main board, but If my SSD is not using it.

I'm quite lost in both AHCI or IDE so...... If it is not broken... don't touch it....

It work, but maybe not as fast as it should be Ok for me

Martin

Your motherboard does not support SATA 3 (6 Gb/s), it supports SATA 2 (3 Gb/s). You have confused the link speed with the SATA revision. So your Motherboard and SSD are both SATA 2.

It will run better with AHCI.

arjfca · 08 Sep 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by GeneO

Quote: Originally Posted by arjfca

Quote: Originally Posted by kbrady1979

The SATA speeds can be a bit confusing...........SATA II = 3Gb/s speed, while SATA III = 6Gb/s speeds. You also have to know if you have SATA II or SATA III ports on your motherboard. A SATA III drive is backwards compatible to SATA II and SATA I, but a SATA II drive will never be any faster than the physical limits of SATA II standards.

As far as how to change to AHCI from IDE, either use the guide that WHS posted to change it while in Windows, or get ready to do a clean install.

OK, Thank you both for your help. I won't do another install and leave as it it. I got a Sata3 on my new main board, but If my SSD is not using it.

I'm quite lost in both AHCI or IDE so...... If it is not broken... don't touch it....

It work, but maybe not as fast as it should be Ok for me

Martin

Your motherboard does not support SATA 3 (6 Gb/s), it supports SATA 2 (3 Gb/s). You have confused the link speed with the SATA revision. So your Motherboard and SSD are both SATA 2.

It will run better with AHCI.

I did change my motherboard three days ago. I will change my system info later

New motherboard: Gygabyte B75M-D3H. This one do have a SATA3 port

Martin

whs · 09 Sep 2012

It is no big deal to set the OS to AHCI if you follow the link I posted earlier. If you can set it in the BIOS, you can do that too - piece of cake.

arjfca · 09 Sep 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by whs

It is no big deal to set the OS to AHCI if you follow the link I posted earlier. If you can set it in the BIOS, you can do that too - piece of cake.

Thank you WHS

I done it and it work just fine. Without your mention : It is no big deal to set the OS to AHCI I would not had replay with it

Have a good day

Martin

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