Udma 7?

[JVM]

I ran HD Tune to check Info among other things for my new SSD Intel X25-M not formatted, waiting for Windows 7, and while it says UDMA 6 supported, it says Active UDMA 7 ATA/512. Does that make any sense? I have the EX38-DS4 MB.

[NimrodAUS]

Re: Udma 7?

Dont really know but I would want active Mode 7 over Mode 6. It looks like it would be faster. Try Googgiling it.

[Psycho101]

Re: Udma 7?

Thaqt's very strange! I recommend you post me your X25-M so I can.. erm.. fix it for you. ;)

Seriously though, there's nothing to worry about. UDMA mode 7 = SATA I spec and UDMA mode 8 = SATA II. Strangely, even though it says UDMA mode 6 is active, you will still get full speed from your device.

To put your mind at rest, I would format the drive as data storage for now and run the HD Tune benchies plus AS SSD, which is now used by the majority of publications to test SSD's. Download from here (site is German but they have kindly included a little English so you can see where to download): Alex Intelligent Software - Downloads: AS SSD Benchmark

Sometimes HD analysis tools report DMA modes erroniously, other times they are measuring the internal speed, or the interface speed. These don't give a true indication to actual performance. Things such as Burst Transfer refering to data going from cache to interface etc etc, all different terms that mean good performance in different areas.

Have a look to see if there's a firmware update for the drive too. Intel are generally good with bringing updates to end users in this regard. Also make sure to install the latest drivers for your Intel SATA ports (either ICH9R or ICH10R, not sure on X38). If using the cable supplied by intel then you're fine, but if it came with no SATA cable, make sure the one you're using is undamaged, thickly insulated and is of the push-and-click type, as they're virtually guaranteed to be of the SATA II generation. This may not matter, but if you do experience performance problems, this, plus a look in the BIOS of the mobo may help.

[JVM]

Re: Udma 7?

I have the latest drivers installed for my X38 ICH9R chipset and all looks well, except for that crazy UDMA thing. I formatted the drive and ran a test with that AS SSD software and results below. The AS SSD does not show UDMA. Any reason why it says IDE and not SATA?

[Psycho101]

Re: Udma 7?

Because SATA is IDE. Both SATA and ATA are IDE drive types, the difference is in the data transfer method and cabling. SATA is serial transfer, ATA is parallel.

From the looks of those figures, all is well. For example sequential read is well above the SATA I spec of 150MB/s and close to the SATA II limit of 300MB/s, meaning the drive is taking as much advantage of SATA II as it can. Not the best 4K random read figure, but certainly not the worst, and bang on par for an X25-M. It's going to be a very fast main drive.

[JVM]

Re: Udma 7?

Well, then I don't give a damn what UDMA mode it is in.

Yes, I will be using it as my main drive for Windows 7.

Thanks for your help.

I do have one more question about AHCI, should I let Windows 7 install the driver or should I use the latest one from Intel?

[Psycho101]

[JVM]

Re: Udma 7?

"Installing the latest Intel .inf update after installation is recommended though."

You have me a bit confused on that one. Is that this http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=816&DwnldID=18052〈=e ng

If it is, I believe you can just execute by double-clicking and it pretty much does the rest, but don't you have to install the Intel Matrix Storage Manager after, even for just AHCI?

[Psycho101]

Re: Udma 7?

For Win 7 to use ACHI and NCQ, the Matrix Driver isn't essential. Win 7 supports all the features of AHCI natively already. I see no harm n using the Matrix Driver if you want to though.

The last time I built a system where someone insisted they had AHCI and NCQ was on a P35 with the ICH9B chipset. This chipset supports AHCI and NCQ, but the Matrix Storage Driver won't install, as an ICHxR version is required. The Matrix Storage Driver seems much more geared towards RAID.

[JVM]

Re: Udma 7?

So when you say to update with latest .inf after installation, do you mean running this http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=816&DwnldID=18052〈=e ng or?

[Psycho101]

Re: Udma 7?

Yes, just the normal ICH drivers.

[JVM]

Re: Udma 7?

Yes, just the normal ICH drivers.

That is for Intel Desktop boards and I have a Gigabyte EX38-DS4 MB so shouldn't I use this http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=816&DwnldID=18052〈=e ng

By the way, nothing in either link about AHCI.

[Psycho101]

Re: Udma 7?

I've used both interchangeably, depending on what was linked on the Tweakguides website. there should be no difference really. All Intel and 3rd party Intel based boards should have the exact same hardware with regards to SATA, USB etc.

[JVM]

Re: Udma 7?

So that link, either yours or mine, that says nothing about AHCI is what I would use to update the AHCI driver? And all that needs to be done is run it after OS installation?

[Psycho101]

Re: Udma 7?

No. I didn't say anything about updating an AHCI driver. Win 7 supports it natively, you don't need an AHCI driver.