SATA controller AHCI mode questions

[TVeblen]

I read and I understand what AHCI is and what it's benefits are. I
understand that switching the SATA mode after Windows XP is installed can
cause problems.
Regarding the BIOS setting "SATA Configuration":

Is there any downside to setting the ICH10R ports to AHCI mode? (*Before* XP
installation, of course). My setup will be 2 Sata HDDs and one Sata ODD on
ICH10R.

If the setting is to RAID (as Intel recommends, which activates AHCI also),
and I do not set up any RAID array, will that affect the normal operation of
the system? Or is it just "RAID ready" so to speak? Any Downside to this
using setting?

On a secondary controller (JMicron JMB363 or JMB322) would setting this
controller to AHCI have any affect on the PATA connection (which is on the
same chip)? Would a standard EIDE hard drive or ODD still work if this
controller is set to AHCI?

In "SATA Configuration" there is a setting: "IDE Detect Timeout (Sec) [35]"
and "AHCI CD/DVD Boot Timeout (Sec) [35]" . What is the purpose of these
settings? Any harm in lowering the timeout(s)?

 

[Flasherly]

Is there any downside to setting the ICH10R ports to AHCI mode? (*Before* XP
installation, of course). My setup will be 2 Sata HDDs and one Sata ODD on
ICH10R.

Very driver specific and OS intolerant (done right or not at all)
according to wiki -

Enabling AHCI in a system's BIOS will cause a 0x7B Blue Screen of
Death STOP error (INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE) on installations of
Windows XP and Windows Vista where AHCI/RAID drivers for that system's
chipset are not installed; i.e., boot failure.[5] Switching the
chipset to AHCI mode involves changing the BIOS settings and will not
work. Usually, manual installation of new drivers is required before
enabling AHCI in BIOS.[6] Alternatively, a "Repair" installation with
the appropriate driver loaded during the setup process usually
corrects the problem. For motherboards with more than one Sata
controller (for example, some boards have Intel and Jmicron Sata
controllers) another alternative is possible. The sata cable for the
boot drive can be inserted into a port on one controller (which can be
configured in IDE mode), allowing the machine to boot successfully
with the other controller configured for AHCI mode. The AHCI drivers
can then be installed in windows without difficulty before swapping
the cable back.

 

[TVeblen]

Is there any downside to setting the ICH10R ports to AHCI mode? (*Before*
XP
installation, of course). My setup will be 2 Sata HDDs and one Sata ODD
on
ICH10R.

Very driver specific and OS intolerant (done right or not at all)
according to wiki -

Enabling AHCI in a system's BIOS will cause a 0x7B Blue Screen of
Death STOP error (INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE) on installations of
Windows XP and Windows Vista where AHCI/RAID drivers for that system's
chipset are not installed; i.e., boot failure.[5] Switching the
chipset to AHCI mode involves changing the BIOS settings and will not
work. Usually, manual installation of new drivers is required before
enabling AHCI in BIOS.[6] Alternatively, a "Repair" installation with
the appropriate driver loaded during the setup process usually
corrects the problem. For motherboards with more than one Sata
controller (for example, some boards have Intel and Jmicron Sata
controllers) another alternative is possible. The sata cable for the
boot drive can be inserted into a port on one controller (which can be
configured in IDE mode), allowing the machine to boot successfully
with the other controller configured for AHCI mode. The AHCI drivers
can then be installed in windows without difficulty before swapping
the cable back.

Yes I read that. It is my understanding that the wording refers to already
installed versions of the OS - versions that were installed in IDE mode and
then converted in BIOS to AHCI afterwards. Further reading seems to confirm
this. One user "was able to force the installation of the drivers" to work
around the problem. But in any case it seems to be quite important to choose
a mode at first build and stick with it. Thus the annoying questions.

 

[Conor]

Yes I read that. It is my understanding that the wording refers to already
installed versions of the OS - versions that were installed in IDE mode and
then converted in BIOS to AHCI afterwards. Further reading seems to confirm
this. One user "was able to force the installation of the drivers" to work
around the problem. But in any case it seems to be quite important to choose
a mode at first build and stick with it. Thus the annoying questions.

All I've ever done is install the SATA drivers, reboot and change to
AHCI and it's been fine.

 

[TVeblen]

All I've ever done is install the SATA drivers, reboot and change to
AHCI and it's been fine.

Before or after the OS install?

 

[Stephen]

I read and I understand what AHCI is and what it's benefits are. I
understand that switching the SATA mode after Windows XP is installed can
cause problems.
Regarding the BIOS setting "SATA Configuration":

Is there any downside to setting the ICH10R ports to AHCI mode? (*Before* XP
installation, of course). My setup will be 2 Sata HDDs and one Sata ODD on
ICH10R.

If you don't slipstream the drivers, you'll need a floppy with the
drivers. I use nLite. www.nliteos.com

If the setting is to RAID (as Intel recommends, which activates AHCI also),
and I do not set up any RAID array, will that affect the normal operation of
the system? Or is it just "RAID ready" so to speak? Any Downside to this
using setting?

No, the drives and os won't care.

On a secondary controller (JMicron JMB363 or JMB322) would setting this
controller to AHCI have any affect on the PATA connection (which is on the
same chip)? Would a standard EIDE hard drive or ODD still work if this
controller is set to AHCI?

Won't affect the PATA.

In "SATA Configuration" there is a setting: "IDE Detect Timeout (Sec) [35]"
and "AHCI CD/DVD Boot Timeout (Sec) [35]" . What is the purpose of these
settings? Any harm in lowering the timeout(s)?

The ide timeout: how long the bios waits for the drive to get ready.
The dvd timeout: a delay to allow the drive time to recognize a disc.
On my Asus P5Q-EM, the dvd timeout is only used when dvd is first in
the boot order.

 

[Conor]

Before or after the OS install?

After. Saves having to mess about inserting a driver disk during
installation.