How to Enable AHCI - No option in BIOS.

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  1. Posts : 9,582
    Windows 8.1 Pro RTM x64
       #11

    Unfortunately, Dell is one of those manufacturers who like (or used to like) to use heavily customised hardware. In that case, although the board itself may support AHCI and other features/functions, they are not available because Dell does not provide the option for enabling them through their customised (and restricted) version of the BIOS.
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  2. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Looks like my plans for buying an SSD have gone out the window! :-(
    I'll follow your advice and start a new thread.

    Thanks to you too Dwarf. I wonder if there's anyway of flashing the BIOS?

    Next time I think I'll just build my own pc!
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  3. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #13

    I would not worry too much for the SSD. It will perform beautifully in any mode. Maybe it will show a little less in some of the measurements, but in real life you will not really notice a difference - AHCI or IDE or Raid.

    Unfortunately some manufacturers really cripple the BIOS (Sony is notorious for that). But that should not keep you from using a SSD.
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  4. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Just had another reply from Dell:

    "SSD does not require AHCI controller to function. However your system will not be compatible with SSD"

    Not sure I buy that at all. Probably want to sell me a whole new System! :S
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  5. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
    Thread Starter
       #15

    Thanks for the info Whs. I keep reading posts about write degradation if AHCI is not enabled on an SSD. Is that true at all or exaggerated?
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  6. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #16

    Burdus77 said:
    Thanks for the info Whs. I keep reading posts about write degradation if AHCI is not enabled on an SSD. Is that true at all or exaggerated?
    I have never heard about a thing like that and the reasoning is beyond me. There is a lot of smoke regarding SSDs on the web. One of my 4 year old SSDs runs in IDE and is still doing well. In fact the lifetime prediction is until 2021 - probably longer than my own lifetime prediction.

    And what Dell tells you is a lot of bull also. As long as you a Sata interface, the SSD will work.
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  7. Posts : 2,606
    Windows 7 Pro X64 SP1
       #17

    whs said:
    Burdus77 said:
    Thanks for the info Whs. I keep reading posts about write degradation if AHCI is not enabled on an SSD. Is that true at all or exaggerated?
    I have never heard about a thing like that and the reasoning is beyond me. There is a lot of smoke regarding SSDs on the web. One of my 4 year old SSDs runs in IDE and is still doing well. In fact the lifetime prediction is until 2021 - probably longer than my own lifetime prediction.

    And what Dell tells you is a lot of bull also. As long as you a Sata interface, the SSD will work.
    I presume that Burdus is referring to the slow-down in writing to an SSD that occurs if "garbage collection" isn't performed. Nothing to do with life expectancy of the drive, at least not directly.

    I haven't observed anything like that on my non-AHCI laptop yet. Perhaps it has yet to occur (which would be the case if there was still virgin space on the SSD), or maybe it's one of the magical self-cleaning drives.

    I agree about the Dell advice probably being made-up nonsense.
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  8. Posts : 2,686
    Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64bit, Windows 7 HP 64bit
       #18

    My understanding is ACHI is required for the Trim command to function. However I have read that a lot of SSD's have their own "Garbage Collection" function that does the same thing as Trim so should function fine as IDE. I would research the SSD you are looking to buy as see if their support can give you that answer.

    Jim
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  9. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
    Thread Starter
       #19

    bobkn said:
    whs said:
    Burdus77 said:
    Thanks for the info Whs. I keep reading posts about write degradation if AHCI is not enabled on an SSD. Is that true at all or exaggerated?
    I have never heard about a thing like that and the reasoning is beyond me. There is a lot of smoke regarding SSDs on the web. One of my 4 year old SSDs runs in IDE and is still doing well. In fact the lifetime prediction is until 2021 - probably longer than my own lifetime prediction.

    And what Dell tells you is a lot of bull also. As long as you a Sata interface, the SSD will work.
    I presume that Burdus is referring to the slow-down in writing to an SSD that occurs if "garbage collection" isn't performed. Nothing to do with life expectancy of the drive, at least not directly.

    I haven't observed anything like that on my non-AHCI laptop yet. Perhaps it has yet to occur (which would be the case if there was still virgin space on the SSD), or maybe it's one of the magical self-cleaning drives.

    I agree about the Dell advice probably being made-up nonsense.
    Bobkn, Yes I meant garbage collection not life expectancy.

    My thoughts when Dell said "Your pc is not compatible with SDD" were..... "YEAH RIGHT!"
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  10. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
    Thread Starter
       #20

    Phone Man said:
    My understanding is ACHI is required for the Trim command to function. However I have read that a lot of SSD's have their own "Garbage Collection" function that does the same thing as Trim so should function fine as IDE. I would research the SSD you are looking to buy as see if their support can give you that answer.

    Jim
    Thanks Jim,

    The one I'm looking at is the Samsung 830. Had a like on their site but can't see any mention of garbage collection. It does come with their magician software which may be for that.
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