AHCI mode on Biostar N68S3+??

[Socket7-84]

Hi Fellas,

Got my self a Integral SSD 240gb drive

Mobo Biostar N68S3+

Want to use it as a OS drive instead of my current 500gb mchanical drive.

So:

SSD: Windows
Old Drive: Storage 2nd drive

I hear you have to have AHCI mode enabled to use the SSD to its full potential.

I can't seem to find it in BIOS

So far I have windows still on my old drive and the SSD installed also in the 2nd Sata port. But not installed anthing on the SSD.

What do I need to do to be this to work?

I thinking the mobo might nor support AHCI but I found this driver:

Biostar N68S3+ Ver. 6.x SATA AHCI Driver 11.1.0.30 for Win7

http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/Other-DRIVERS-TOOLS/NVIDIA/Biostar-N68S3Plus-Ver-6x-SATA-AHCI-Driver-111030-for-Win7.shtml

This is my MB manual:

Biostar N68S3+

http://www.biostar.com.tw/upload/Manual/N68SB-M3S_100521_B.zip

http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=506#specification

 

[hang-the-9]

Your motherboard should have AHCI mode, and it's likely already set to that. That was not a link to the manual, just the spec sheet. Look in the BIOS under drive mode or some similar option.

 

[Socket7-84]

Sorry here is the manual if you want to Download it

http://www.biostar.com.tw/upload/Manual/N68SB-M3S_100521_B.zip

Can't seem to see the option in BIOS

The SSD is in now but only as a 2nd extra drive under my computer not the primary drive.

How can AHIC already be enabled f I haven't installed windows on the Drive yet?

Ideally I need to remove the old drive and connect the SSD to the Sata port which the original one was then boot and change to AHCI is that corret?

Then install windows 7 fresh then add the old hard drive back and format.

 

[Socket7-84]

Here are could of pics of my BIOS if that helps

 

[hang-the-9]

That download from sofptedia does not look like a valid AHCI driver, if you actually download, it states "sataide_vista32".

Does not look like there is an AHCI mode in that motherboard after all.

 

[Socket7-84]

I read somewhere you can use Raid setting but not actually set it up and it automatically switches on ACHi.

If I don't have it does that make it not not worth having a SSD?

 

[hang-the-9]

I read somewhere you can use Raid setting but not actually set it up and it automatically switches on ACHi.

If I don't have it does that make it not not worth having a SSD?

Even in ATA mode the SSD will be much faster than the regular hard drive. And yes you can set it to RAID mode but not actually use multiple disks. It does make it harder to install Windows though as it may ask you for the drivers.

 

[Socket7-84]

I'm waiting on some Sata cables and a power spliter off ebay then I can properly have a go. Most likely just install straight on the SSD and see how it performs.

 

[BadAsAl]

A lot of motherboards didn't offer the option to change SATA mode and I think this is one of them.
If you install the SSD run a hard drive speed test like CrystalDiskMark and you will see Read and Write speeds.
You are not going to get above 250MB/s Read since that board is SATA II.
Let us know what speeds you are getting.

 

[Socket7-84]

Ok so all installed now.

Seems as the new SSD windows partition is the same spead as the old HDD! What's that about?

Speed tests below:

SSD: C drive (windows)

SDD (partitioned drive storage)

Old HDD (500gb)