• Home
  •  > 
  • Utilities
  •  > 
  • What is AHCI mode and how to configure it? What is AHCI mode and how to configure it.

What is AHCI mode and how to configure it? What is AHCI mode and how to configure it.

Competent work computer is possible only with coordinated interaction between the hardware and the operating system. Technologies are developing and lately This is most noticeable in the area of ​​storage. Modern hard drives and SSD drives are many times faster than those used in computers 5-10 years ago. Used for data transmission SATA interface, through which the drive is connected to the computer. The SATA interface is capable of operating in two modes: IDE and AHCI, and if you have a modern hard drive or SSD, you can speed up your computer by enabling AHCI mode.

What is AHCI mode

As noted above, AHCI is one of the data transfer modes over the SATA interface. As you know, through the SATA interface you can transfer information at speeds from 1.5 to 6 Gigabytes per second. Maximum speed is supported specifically in AHCI mode, which should be used with all modern drives. As for the IDE mode, it is supported in the SATA interface for compatibility with older hard drives.

By default in the operating room Windows system AHCI mode is not always enabled, even if the drives are connected to the motherboard via SATA. Because of this, the user loses in computer performance, since the disk speed is limited by software. By setting the AHCI mode, you can increase the speed of the drive by 20-30%, which will affect the overall experience of the computer.

How to find out if AHCI mode is enabled in Windows

Most often, users do not even suspect that it is necessary to enable AHCI mode in order to improve computer performance. At the same time, Windows by default does not always work with HDDs and SSDs, even the most modern ones, in AHCI mode. To check if AHCI mode is enabled in Windows, you need to do the following:


Please note: Also, the absence of devices operating in AHCI mode in the list may be due to the fact that old drives that are not capable of operating in the new mode are connected to the motherboard.

You can also check whether the SATA interface works in AHCI or IDE mode through the BIOS. To do this, you need to restart the computer and press “Del” or F2 during the boot process. The BIOS will launch, where you will need to find the item SATA Mode and see if the AHCI or IDE option is installed.

Important: If you notice in the BIOS that the SATA interface is set to work in IDE mode, you do not need to switch to AHCI mode, since this will not do any good.

How to enable AHCI mode in Windows

Microsoft in operating systems Windows started support AHCI mode with Windows 7. However, you can enable it in Windows XP if you download necessary drivers on the Internet, made by enthusiasts, and install them. However, it is worth noting that this method does not always give a performance boost, and on Windows XP it is better to abandon the idea of ​​​​using AHCI mode and work with drives through a standard IDE.

To enable the AHCI mode itself, just set the appropriate setting for SATA in the BIOS. But this must be done before installation. operating system Windows, otherwise when booting the computer will display error 0x0000007B INACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE or go into the constant reboot. Therefore, to switch the IDE mode to AHCI when Windows is installed, you need to make some changes to the registry; below we will look at what actions to perform for each version of the operating system.

How to enable AHCI mode in Windows 10

In the modern operating system Windows 10 Microsoft company did not offer a setting that would enable support for AHCI mode on the fly if the SATA interface was previously running via IDE. To correctly switch to AHCI mode, you will need to do the following:


After the computer boots, the Windows operating system will prompt you to install the necessary drivers to work with AHCI mode; be sure to do this.

How to enable AHCI mode in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1

To switch the Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 operating system to work with AHCI mode, you need to do some work in command line. You will need to do the following:


It is worth noting that if the computer runs on an Intel CPU, then you can use standard utility company that allows necessary settings For switch Windows to work with AHCI. This is done as follows:


Please note: The above method is only suitable for computers with Intel processors, for AMD such a decision V at the moment No.

How to enable AHCI mode in Windows 7

In the Windows 7 operating system, the method for enabling AHCI mode is close to that used in Windows 10. Here you will also need to make some changes to the registry as follows.

In order to receive fast computer sometimes it's not enough just to buy solid state SSD drive and install the system on it. In some cases additional fine tuning operating system and Computer BIOS. One of these tweaks is to enable AHCI mode, which is necessary for proper operation some functions.
What is AHCI mode? Advanced Host Controller Interface is a special technology that is used in the protocol Serial ATA, through which the PC hard drive is connected. It allows you to use certain advanced functions that are essential for correct and fast work solid state drives. For example, NCQ (Native Command Queuing), which makes it work much faster.
How to switch the controller to AHCI mode?! Current mode SATA work controller changes in parameters Basic System I/O. To do this, you need to go into the BIOS or UEFI when you boot your computer. Depending on the system version, configuration options SATA controller in the BIOS it may be located in the “Integrated Periferals” section:

Or in the “Main”>>”Storage Configuration” section.

In UEFI BIOS everything is almost the same. You need to find the SATA Controller configuration section either in the main settings:

Or in extended mode - “Advanced Mode”.

Among the three available modes need to choose AHCI mode. All that remains is to save the configuration settings and restart your computer or laptop.

Enabling AHCI on Windows 10

If you want to change the operating mode of the controller on an already installed Windows operating system, then you also need to set a couple of parameters in it. To do this you need to call the editor Windows registry and open the thread:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\storahci
In it you need to double-click on the parameter Start to open its properties for modification:

Set the parameter to “0” and click on the OK button.
Next, open the thread:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStorV
There should also be a parameter here Start:

It also needs to be set to “0”.
Close the registry editor and restart your computer or laptop so that the AHCI mode works.

Note: If you are still using old Windows 7, then in it enabling AHCI The registry branch “msahci” is not used instead of “storahci”. Otherwise, everything is exactly the same.

Greetings to all readers of my blog and this is Denis Trishkin again.

There are many tools to increase the operating system speed. And one of them is the improvement of information processing on the hard drive - Advanced Host Controller Interface technology. But how to enable AHCI mode in Windows 7? In this article I will share this information with you.

So, it’s worth starting by getting to know the technology itself. Advanced Host Controller Interface is a standard proposed by Intel Corporation that allows you to significantly increase the speed of reading and writing information from hard drive. True, this is only provided for hard drives connected via a SATA connector. So, if your equipment has just such an interface, and the motherboard allows the corresponding technology to work, you can increase the speed of your computer.

It should be noted that in latest versions Windows already automatic support for this technology is built-in. Therefore, during installation of the operating system, the driver appears independently. Old motherboards, which provide AHCI, this mode is blocked in the BIOS.

Enable( )

There are several ways to enable the system we need.

Transfer to AHCI in BIOS before Windows reinstallation. The fact is that if for some reason you decide to reload the operating system on your device, then it is at this moment that you can take all the necessary steps.

Of course, this is only possible if two conditions are met:

    SATA connector for hard drive;

    The motherboard allows you to connect the function.

So, when we launch the BIOS to set the system startup priority, we do not immediately exit it:


This procedure can be done while your system is in fully running mode. But then you will see that it does not load and will most likely show blue screen death.

The option implies inclusion required function without reinstalling the operating system.

To do this, we need to make all changes in the registry:


As a result, the operating system will have to install the driver and reboot on its own. After this, everything should work as we want.

Read, how to determine in what mode the computer controller is operating. And also, how to activate the mode AHCI interface SATA on a computer with already installed Windows . Many people will reasonably ask: why do we need IDE mode for a SATA drive, if the AHCI mode is its “native” mode and is the one in which the SATA drive will operate adequately for its characteristics and purpose. Moreover, many motherboard manufacturers set their PATA compatibility mode to IDE by default.

  • The SATA interface can operate in two modes, IDE and AHCI:

    • IDE is a compatibility mode for older hardware and software. In fact, the capabilities of SATA in this mode are no different from those of its predecessor, ATA interface(or PATA);
    • AHCI new mode work with storage devices, in which the computer uses all the advantages of SATA, the main ones being: more high speed work hard And SSD drive ov (Native Command Queuing or NCQ technology), as well as the possibility of “hot” replacement hard drives. Activating AHCI mode helps speed up access to files stored on storage devices and has a positive effect on the overall performance of the computer.

    Many people will reasonably ask: why do we need IDE mode for a SATA drive if the AHCI mode is its “native” mode and is the one in which the SATA drive will operate adequately for its characteristics and purpose. Moreover, many motherboard manufacturers set their PATA compatibility mode to IDE by default.

    The thing is that operating systems began to support the controller in AHCI mode starting with Vista. That is, if a disk with Windows XP is connected to a system whose controller operates in AHCI mode, the user will receive BSOD error(“blue screen of death”). And on the other hand, any SATA drive can freely operate in IDE mode. Moreover, many users, not knowing about it, will not even feel any difference. Thus, computer manufacturers are trying to avoid possible problems with computer compatibility and software users.

    Another important difference between IDE and AHCI concerns working with SSD drives. Please note that it is not possible to install an operating system in IDE mode on an SSD; this will require AHCI activation.

    How to determine in what mode the computer controller is operating?

    It is likely that AHCI mode is already activated on your computer. You can check this in several ways:

    Method 1

    • Go to
    • Open section “IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers”
    • If there is a device in this section with the word “AHCI” in the name, as in our case, then the AHCI mode is already in use on the computer.

    Method 2


    Please note that in the BIOS of some computers there is no option to change the mode to AHCI. In this case, the problem can sometimes be solved by updating (flashing) the BIOS version.

    How to activate the AHCI mode of the SATA interface on a computer with Windows already installed?

    There are several ways to activate the AHCI mode of the SATA interface on a computer with Windows already installed, while maintaining its functionality:

    FIRST:


    If for some reason the first method did not work, also pay attention to second option. But first, if you have any errors when Windows startup with AHCI mode, return to IDE mode and turn on the computer.


    After this:


    As you can see, the described actions in theory can lead to undesirable consequences, such as the inability to start the operating system. Therefore, take them on only if you know why you are doing it, can access the BIOS or UEFI, and are ready to correct unforeseen consequences if something happens. For example, by reinstalling Windows from the beginning in AHCI mode.

    • The speed of a computer is equal to the speed of its slowest part. In fact, the slowest part in a computer is the hard drive.

    Almost all modern hard drives have a SATA interface and support the SATA II protocol. Almost all modern motherboards can work with this protocol and support several controller operating modes, namely:

      IDE- Forces SATA to work in IDE mode.

      RAID- Enables the built-in RAID controller, after which you have access to its settings.

      It is important to understand that such RAID is software, not hardware. Software, albeit at the BIOS level.
      Its use is useless on Linux systems (it is much better and more correct to organize a raid using Linux itself), but it is quite justified for Windows (to avoid hemorrhoids with).

      AHCI- Enables AHCI mode for SATA II

    The problem is that the "IDE" operating mode is always enabled by default, for compatibility reasons. And all we need to do is just switch it to "AHCI".

    Instructions for Linux

    1. Enable AHCI mode

    Instructions for Windows XP

    1. Launch Windows XP
    2. Download the required SATA driver for the controller from the Internet
    3. In Device Manager, forcefully change the existing IDE driver to the downloaded one ()
    4. Reboot and go into BIOS
    5. Enable AHCI mode
    6. Reboot into Windows XP (now loading will be possible). Installation of “new” devices will take place automatically
    7. Reboot (Window itself will ask for this)

    Additionally

    Hot swap

    A disk connected to a SATA controller operating in AHCI mode can be replaced on the fly. That is, without turning off the computer. This won't work in IDE mode. new disk will be invisible until the computer is restarted.

    Very relevant for disk docking stations connected via eSATA and for software RAID arrays.

    There is no mode switching function in the BIOS

    This usually happens with Vista Ready computers.

    AHCI mode is enabled by default, the BIOS setting has been removed. Made to regular user I couldn’t install XP (its installer doesn’t have necessary drivers, but we cannot switch to the standard IDE).

    The result of a conspiracy between Microsoft and manufacturers.

    In this case, you can try to find third party firmware BIOS, where the mode option will be available.
    Use only at your own peril and risk. The BIOS flashing procedure itself is dangerous. Firmware with a third-party BIOS is doubly dangerous.

    NCQ (Native Command Queuing), built-in (hardware) command queuing

    Quote from Wikipedia:

    NCQ-enabled devices are capable of accepting multiple requests simultaneously and reorganizing the order in which they are executed to achieve maximum efficiency(performance) taking into account the internal architecture of the device (minimizing the number of head movements and waiting for the desired sector on the track).

    Visual illustration:

    Gives a productivity increase of 15-30%.

    Is NCQ supported in RAID?

    NCQ works at the hardware level of a piece of hardware or a hard drive. That is, at a lower level than any RAID.

    So "supported" is the wrong word. If the hard drive has NCQ, then it works regardless of the conditions in which the hard drive is located.

    Linux – converting SATA controller from IDE mode to AHCI

    So, there was a need to transfer the SATA controller from IDE mode to AHCI. I changed the BIOS mode, rebooted the server and got a kernel panic. It turned out that not everything is so simple.

    So, what needs to be done for the system to boot:

    1) return IDE mode to BIOS, boot the system.

    2) Open /etc/modprobe.conf for editing and look for the line:

    alias scsi_hostadapter ata_piix

    Replace it with the line: