Windows 7 - AHCI Link Power Management - Enable HIPM and DIPM

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How to Enable HIPM and DIPM for your SSD and HDD in Windows 7

Information

AHCI Link Power Management is a technique where the SATA AHCI controller puts the SATA link to the internal HDD and/or SSD disk into a very low power mode when there's no IO (input/output) activity for awhile. The controller automatically puts the link back into active power state when there's real work to be done. This is done to save power consumption by the HDD and/or SSD disk.

This will show you how to add the AHCI Link Power Management option under Hard disk in the advanced power plan settings to be able to enable or disable HIPM or HIPM+DIPM to manage the power usage of your internal SATA HDD and SSD drives in Windows 7.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

Note

HIPM = Host Initiated Link Power Management

DIPM = Device Initiated Link Power Management

For more detailed information, see: Designing Energy Efficient SATA Devices: 2011-2013 Platforms

Warning

Your SSD and HDD drives must support HIPM and DIPM, and must have a SATA connection with AHCI mode enabled in the BIOS for them to be able to have their power usage managed.

AHCI is is usually enabled in the BIOS by you before installing Windows 7. If you didn't, then you will need to enable AHCI after the installation Windows 7 before doing this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: "AHCI Link Power Management" Option Added
NOTE: You will be able to set to use HIPM, HIPM+DIPM, or Active while "on battery" or "plugged in". The Active setting means do not have HIPM or DIPM enabled.

Here's How:

1. Check the red warning box above to make sure you meet the requirements to use HIPM and DIPM.

2. To Add "AHCI Link Power Management" to Advanced Power Settings
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_AHCI_Link_Power_Management_Option.reg

B) Go to step 4.

3. To Remove "AHCI Link Power Management" from Advanced Power Settings
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_AHCI_Link_Power_Management_Option.reg

4. Click on Save and save the .reg file to the desktop.

5. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

6. When prompted, click on Run, Yes, Yes and OK.

7. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

8. If added, you will now be able to set the HIPM and DIPM setting for your internal HDD and SSD drives in the AHCI Link Power Management option under Hard disk in the advanced power plan settings.

That's it,
Shawn

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NoN · 01-21-2012

Shawn, this is very interesting tip of yours.

After install the Add_AHCI_Link_Power_Management_Option.reg file, it appears my default state is HIPM in the Advanced Power Settings management both battery & wired powered because looks i'm on a Intel RST limited system configuration that will not allow me to directly link HIPM + DIPM together.

Therefore in the default registry key "iaStor", DIPM & LPM are already set to 1= Enabled for my computer. LPMSTATE is also set in iaStor Key to 0= Partial.

That's mean i'm on "Partial" state and not "Slumber".
"Partial" transistion looks the most common state for best performances when Idle for HDD/SSD & Optical drives.

It is not clear for me if my system will turn automatic from "Slumber" transition (HIPM + DIPM) to "Partial" transition (HIPM).

[correcting]:It is not fully supported till after the S-ATA AHCI ICH9M Intel's chipset. (actually mine).

I do not know if i do force both state HIPM+DIPM for a long idle period, if it will be very efficient and will return it to Partial enough fast.

Otherwise most more recent Intel's chipset should do it.

So, set on "Active" should not slow down activities on the Hard Drive & Optical Drive consumption....during idle

Might read at closer look the link from Intel...

Thanks i'm studying it!!!

Windows 7 - AHCI Link Power Management - Enable HIPM and DIPM

AHCI Link Power Management - Enable HIPM and DIPM

AHCI Link Power Management - Enable HIPM and DIPM problems?