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Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with Intel processors => Topic started by: Undead on December 28, 2010, 04:24:12 am

Title: Installing an OCZ Vertex 2 SSD with TRIM
Post by: Undead on December 28, 2010, 04:24:12 am

I am told to enable AHCI when I install my SSD, problem is, I don't know which configuration to change.

I found two things in my BIOS that have the ability to set to [AHCI]:
GSATA Ctrl Mode - [IDE] (Default), [AHCI]
PCH SATA Control Mode - [IDE] (Default), [RAID(XHD)], [AHCI]

The way the manual described it, is the GSATA is for my SATA3 connectors, which I don't use.
So please tell me if this is correct.
When I plan on reinstalling my OS to the new SSD, I will unplug my 2 other HDD's (Not RAID) and plug the SSD into one of the SATA2 ports.
But before I load into Installation, I will configure my BIOS to have "PCH SATA Control Mode" set to "AHCI" and then boot from the SSD and install my Win 7 accordingly.
Now after my Windows 7 is installed, do I switch that setting back to "IDE" when I plug-in my other 2 HDD's? Or keep it on "AHCI"? Or did I do something wrong all together?

Title: Re: Installing an OCZ Vertex 2 SSD with TRIM
Post by: Dark Mantis on December 28, 2010, 11:22:35 am

Hi again,

Please forgive me but I forget which motherboard you are using.

Generally Gigabyte labels all other SATA ports apart form the Intel Southbridge ones as GSATA. Apart form a slight performance boost there is no reason not to run a SSD on IDE mode especailly if you have other drives that wouldn't like AHCI. If possible however enable AHCI on the ports you are using it on and get the maximum speed out of it.

If you enable AHCI you wll have to leave it at that setting after installation of Windows.

Title: Re: Installing an OCZ Vertex 2 SSD with TRIM
Post by: Undead on December 28, 2010, 05:42:49 pm

I have the GA-P55A-UD3.

So which setting would I change to "AHCI"? GSATA or PCH SATA Control.

Title: Re: Installing an OCZ Vertex 2 SSD with TRIM
Post by: Dark Mantis on December 28, 2010, 09:44:16 pm

PCH SATA is the one to have your SSD on and if you choose to AHCI. Put the optical drive on the GSATA and set to IDE mode.

Title: Re: Installing an OCZ Vertex 2 SSD with TRIM
Post by: Undead on December 28, 2010, 10:09:59 pm

But isn't GSATA the SATA3 ports?
And what about my other 2 regular HDD's, where do I connect those?

Title: Re: Installing an OCZ Vertex 2 SSD with TRIM
Post by: Dark Mantis on December 28, 2010, 10:28:21 pm

The  GSATA are the SATA3 ports but they are actually not as fast in reallity as the Intel ICH10R southbridge ports which are SATA2. I know it sounds stupid but that is how itis the Marvell chip just didn't perform as it should have doen and this is not just a problem with Gigabyte boards.

So SSD on port 0
Other hard drives on ports  1 & 2
Optical drive on GSATA.

Title: Re: Installing an OCZ Vertex 2 SSD with TRIM
Post by: Undead on December 28, 2010, 10:30:58 pm

Alright, thanks. Appreciate the help! :)

Title: Re: Installing an OCZ Vertex 2 SSD with TRIM
Post by: Dark Mantis on December 28, 2010, 10:40:58 pm

No problem, you are welcome as always. ;)