Gurus, What is the general consesus with SATA Mode in the Bios AHCI or IDE. The manual leans toward AHCI but if you read NickN's post on setting up FSX, he recommends IDE rather than AHCI when using Standard hard drives.This also brings up the issue if you upgrade from a standard hard drive to a SSD and have the SATA mode in IDE, to change to AHCI do you have to completely restore the operating system.I apologize if this issue has already been raised already, but I am on a steep learning curve in regards to this.Another query, should all the bloatware applications supplied on the motherboard disc(eg AI Suite SRT etc) be installed? Thanks Andrew EDIT: After a bit of reading I have discovered that the different controllers can be set to either mode. So if you set the Marvell Storage Controller to AHCI if you connect a SSD later this is the Controller you would use. I hope I am on the right train with this.

I would avoid the Marvell controller at all costs. stick to the intel chipset provided SATA ports. IDE or AHCI seems to make little difference these days. I only have mech HDD's but I used AHCI as the install method because I am planning on an SSD in the near future (need AHCI for this anyway) As for the mobo drivers etc, I would forget about the bloat and install only the chispet and utility (LAN, USB3.0 etc) drivers and then check for the latest updates at the relevant sites. Win 7 will probably offer upgrades if available anyway.

Quote from NickN "MYTH: NCQ and advanced BIOS SATA functions such as AHCI increase FSX performanceTRUTH: TRUE for network servers and workstations, UTTERLY FALSE for high performance drives such as the Rap, Vrap and gaming system use." Glen, what's wrong with the Marvell Controller

You do not mention what CPU or motherboard you have. If you have a i7 9XX and a X58 motherboard do not put your OS drive on the Marvell ports, they are more trouble than they are worth and even if you get them to work overall performace in not any better than an Intel port. If you have a P67 or Z67 MB then the Marvell ports on most boards seem to be okay. Whatever port you use, if you have a SSD set that port to AHCI. Only AHCI supports trim, IDE does not and SSD's will perform better on a port set to AHCI. If you have a standard mechanical HD then set the port to IDE, mech HD's perform better on IDE. This all assumes a home PC setup, not a custom setup for a server or other application. If you have mech HD's and SSD's and your motherboard has multiple SATA controllers then you can put the SSD on one port set to AHCI (Intel) and the mech HD's on another port (Marvell and/or Jmicron) and set that to IDE.

From my understanding, you cant set specific ports. Its AHCI or IDE for all (unless you really want to use the jmicron/marvell crap) If you install AHCI first then you can switch back to IDE simply. Not so if you go IDE first. I switched between the two and noticed zero differnce on my mech HD's. I As I said, I left it on AHCI as I am planning to add an SSD soon. Marvell controller is notouriosly flaky.......

You do not mention what CPU or motherboard you have. If you have a i7 9XX and a X58 motherboard do not put your OS drive on the Marvell ports, they are more trouble than they are worth and even if you get them to work overall performace in not any better than an Intel port. If you have a P67 or Z67 MB then the Marvell ports on most boards seem to be okay. Whatever port you use, if you have a SSD set that port to AHCI. Only AHCI supports trim, IDE does not and SSD's will perform better on a port set to AHCI. If you have a standard mechanical HD then set the port to IDE, mech HD's perform better on IDE. This all assumes a home PC setup, not a custom setup for a server or other application. If you have mech HD's and SSD's and your motherboard has multiple SATA controllers then you can put the SSD on one port set to AHCI (Intel) and the mech HD's on another port (Marvell and/or Jmicron) and set that to IDE.

Thanks for your reply, Z68 2600K Andrew Dixon

From my understanding, you cant set specific ports. Its AHCI or IDE for all (unless you really want to use the jmicron/marvell crap) If you install AHCI first then you can switch back to IDE simply. Not so if you go IDE first. I switched between the two and noticed zero differnce on my mech HD's. I As I said, I left it on AHCI as I am planning to add an SSD soon. Marvell controller is notouriosly flaky.......

Thanks Glen

From my understanding, you cant set specific ports. Its AHCI or IDE for all (unless you really want to use the jmicron/marvell crap) If you install AHCI first then you can switch back to IDE simply. Not so if you go IDE first. I switched between the two and noticed zero differnce on my mech HD's. I As I said, I left it on AHCI as I am planning to add an SSD soon. Marvell controller is notouriosly flaky.......

I am talking about setting all Intel 3Gb/s ports to IDE or AHCI and all Marvell ports to IDE or AHCI. In the BIOS of the MB you certainly can set the individual Intel group and Marvell group ports to one or the other if you have a decent MB. On my MB the Jmicron port only allows for IDE and the Jmicron ports are not crap. On IDE the Marvell ports are also not crap if you install the latest drivers ect., but when set to AHCI and running an SSD on a X58 board the Intel port set to AHCI will give you better overall performance than a Marvell port set to AHCI.

I ran IDE for years on Nick's advice. Thought I sprout my wings abit and chalenge the Master by setting ACHI. That was a couple of months ago and I am still alive and typing, the world didn't end. I actually tested extensively using HDtunepro, iometer, bench32 and probably a few others. Perfomance difference was marginal but I picked up .5nM in access time in AHCI (.5 better), an act of God or a fluke or whatever do not know but mine is on AHCI where it will stay. Truth be told you will never notice the difference either way. Be carefull with what you read and believe, some stuff was written so long ago that it has lost relevance. Drive technology has changed, W7 is here, memory map changes in SB e.t.c.

I ran IDE for years on Nick's advice. Thought I sprout my wings abit and chalenge the Master by setting ACHI. That was a couple of months ago and I am still alive and typing, the world didn't end. I actually tested extensively using HDtunepro, iometer, bench32 and probably a few others. Perfomance difference was marginal but I picked up .5nM in access time in AHCI (.5 better), an act of God or a fluke or whatever do not know but mine is on AHCI where it will stay. Truth be told you will never notice the difference either way. Be carefull with what you read and believe, some stuff was written so long ago that it has lost relevance. Drive technology has changed, W7 is here, memory map changes in SB e.t.c.

Thanks Gary,ACHI it is.I was only concerned with a degradation of performance in FSX when using platter type HD's.Andrew Dixon

Don't want to sound to dumb here but I'm about to do a fresh install of Windows 7 64 and have some SATA3 drives I want to use. I might also like to get an SSD but would like to get the install procedure straight for ACHI. I simply need to enable it in the BIOS and then install Windows 7 64?I mean, I don't need to install any third party drivers during the initial setup...while it's still in the DOS screens? Please advise and thanks!Mark

Don't want to sound to dumb here but I'm about to do a fresh install of Windows 7 64 and have some SATA3 drives I want to use. I might also like to get an SSD but would like to get the install procedure straight for ACHI. I simply need to enable it in the BIOS and then install Windows 7 64? I mean, I don't need to install any third party drivers during the initial setup...while it's still in the DOS screens? Please advise and thanks! Mark

Just enable it in the bios before installing. You do not need any F6 driver installs (DOS screen).

Don't want to sound to dumb here but I'm about to do a fresh install of Windows 7 64 and have some SATA3 drives I want to use. I might also like to get an SSD but would like to get the install procedure straight for ACHI. I simply need to enable it in the BIOS and then install Windows 7 64? I mean, I don't need to install any third party drivers during the initial setup...while it's still in the DOS screens? Please advise and thanks! Mark

When I first started up my system with an SSD, the BIOS immediately recognized it and I didn't have to do anything. I then installed Windows 7 with no issues. I guess it's wise to make sure though. Best regards,Jim

Quote from NickN "MYTH: NCQ and advanced BIOS SATA functions such as AHCI increase FSX performanceTRUTH: TRUE for network servers and workstations, UTTERLY FALSE for high performance drives such as the Rap, Vrap and gaming system use."

One needs to consider timing and context when quoting others...Nick's opinion quoted here was given before SSDs hit the mainstream, and were in reference to interface options for HDDs. SSDs are a different animal w/r/t NCQ/AHCI, and if you look at Nick's more recent discussions, it reflects that change as well. Bottom line, for most SSDs, AHCI/NCQ is the better choice, and can make a considerable difference in performance, especially with the sort of small-file access that FS does a lot of.

Hi Bob, If I am installing 2 WD Black Caviar SATA 111 hard drives should I use AHCI or IDE. I never said I was installing SSD's. I was under the impression according to Nick,s posts performance would be degraded in FSX using platter drives in AHCI Mode. Andrew Dixon

Hi Bob, If I am installing 2 WD Black Caviar SATA 111 hard drives should I use AHCI or IDE. I never said I was installing SSD's. I was under the impression according to Nick,s posts performance would be degraded in FSX using platter drives in AHCI Mode. Andrew Dixon

Install Windows (if you need to) with AHCI. Then you can switch back and forth between IDE and AHCI if you install an SSD in the future. If you installed Windows with your SATA set to IDE and don't want to reinstall, you can do this:http://www.windows7news.com/2010/05/25/how-to-enable-ahci-in-windows-7/ Nick recommends IDE for mechanical drives, but having the AHCI drivers installed in Windows will give you the flexibility to change to AHCI if needed