Older PC allergic to SSDs

[jakew8]

I upgraded the processor in my old Asus ET2203 all-in-one from a Core 2 Duo T6600 (2.2 GHz, 800 MHz FSB) to a T9550 (2.66 GHz, 1066 FSB). The faster FSB CPU works, though I didn't really see a noticeable speed improvement.

 

Next I tried to upgrade the storage from the stock 5400 RPM hard drive to an SSD.  I had one problem after another with two different SSDs and I'm trying to figure out why.  I was able to install Windows on a Crucial SSD, but half the time the BIOS wouldn't recognize the drive on startup and, when it did, Windows would hang on file transfers.  Next I tried a PNY SSD but the Windows installer wouldn't even recognize that drive.  So for now I am using a 7200 RPM hard drive--just a slight improvement over the 5400.

 

Per the CNET specs in the link below--and based on the fact that I was able to use a SATA III SSD at all--I have deduced that the SATA controller is physically a SATA II and thus should work with newer SSDs.  However, Speecy reports that the interface is only SATA I even though the 7200 hard drive says 3.0 Gb/sec on it (see pic of the drives below).  In the BIOS, under Storage Configuration, there are options for Disabled, Compatible and Enhanced (see pic of the BIOS below).  But even using "Enhanced" mode, Windows sees just a PCE IDE Controller with ATA 0 and ATA 1 channels (not an AHCI controller).  If the mobo has AHCI disabled, could that explain the SATA I speed limitation and the poor/incompatible performance with SSDs?

 

The other possible issue is that the SSDs have higher burst power consumption (see pic of the drives below).  This computer is essentially a big laptop with a 19 volt power brick, so could power draw be an issue?

 

Original Specs:

https://www.cnet.com/products/asus-eee-top-et2203t-core-2-duo-t6600-2-2-ghz-21-6-tft-series/specs/

Chipset info:

https://ark.intel.com/products/35135/Intel-82PM45-Memory-Controller-Hub

Southbridge info:

https://ark.intel.com/products/34229/Intel-82801IBM-IO-Controller

 

Speecy drive information:

 

          Hard drives

          ST9500420AS ATA Device [This is the upgrade 7200 RPM drive]

                   Manufacturer         Seagate

                   Form Factor 2.5"

                   Cache Size   16MB

                   Heads 16

                   Cylinders     17,442,378

                   Tracks         488,386,584

                   Sectors        976,773,168

                   SATA type  SATA-I 1.5Gb/s

                   Device type  Fixed

                   ATA Standard       ATA8-ACS

                   Serial Number       5VJB40VN

                   Firmware Version Number         0003LVM1

                   LBA Size     48-bit LBA

                   Power On Count    1832 times

                   Power On Time      148.8 days

                   Speed 7200 RPM

                   Features       S.M.A.R.T., APM, NCQ

                   Max. Transfer Mode        SATA I 1.5Gb/s

                   Used Transfer Mode         SATA I 1.5Gb/s

                   Interface      SATA

                   Capacity      465 GB

                   Real size      500,107,862,016 bytes

                   RAID Type  None

[19_blackie_73]

does the problem occur with the HDD unplugged?

eventually, there are leftover windows install files on the hdd that confuses the ssds (and the mobo and cpu)

[jakew8]

The computer can hold just one drive at a time.  Of course after posting the question, I read this:

 

https://www.win-raid.com/t1346f16-Adding-AHCI-selection-in-ASUS-ET-T-ICH-M-Bios-possible.html

 

Looks like I'm SOL unless I can find an SSD that works without AHCI mode....

[ElSeniorTaco]

Any firmware updates available for this computer?

[jakew8]

Naw, firmware was abandoned long ago.  And I've got the latest version--from 2010!