IDE or AHCI?

[RAVTIM]

Hi guys,

 

I'm building a computer with one 250 GB SSD for my OS, and a 2TB HDD for file dumping.  Should I be using the IDE setting or the AHCI setting? I'll be using windows 8.1, with a gigabyte G1 Sniper Z87 M.B.....I have very little experience in this area, and honestly I can't even say I knew about it before the parts arrived .

 

Thanks for your help! =)

[madscientist56]

I'm not sure what the difference is but just use whatever your motherboard has set default, (i think its AHCI)

[SparkySamZa]

AHCI more up to date and increases the speed of your SSD's 

[Sundanc3]

AHCI

[SparkySamZa]

I'm not sure what the difference is but just use whatever your motherboard has set default, (i think its AHCI)

IDE is old , what they used to use with the old 10 pin connecters back in the days before SATA 

[madscientist56]

IDE is old , what they used to use with the old 10 pin connecters back in the days before SATA 

yeah, i have an old IDE ribbon cable just wasn't sure if the setting meant something different (because a gigabyte g1 sniper obviously does not support IDE)

[WinNut]

AHCI because that is basically native SATA mode, running in IDE mode disables support for hot-plug and NCQ, plus your SSD will run faster in AHCI.

 

IDE compatibility mode is for older operating systems that can only "speak IDE", such as XP, Win2K, ME, 98, 95, and backward. Windows 8 supports SATA natively, that is why you should enable AHCI.

 

(By the way, it stands for Advanced Host Controller Interface )

 

Make sure to install your Intel SATA drivers (do you still have to?) for the best performance. Please, for the love of whatever you believe in (Linus quote) don't use the Microsoft drivers.

[Guest]

use AHCI

[FizzyFantom]

Definitely use AHCI for modern SATA drives, especially SSDs. ACHI is generally faster and supports more features of modern HDDs and SSDs, incuding Trim on SSDs. As stated above IDE is a compatability mode for older hardware and OS that don't support AHCI natively. Windows XP doesnt support AHCI natively, but drivers can be slipstreamed in (from a floppy disk of all things ), but this is unlikely to matter too much in a couple of weeks anyway.