Gigabyte X48-DQ6 + Samsung SSD 830?

[Chike]

I think I read before in this forum that the Windows 7 AHCI drivers perform even better than the intel drivers.

[cool_slowbro]

you should be fine,just remember to set to ahci in the bios before you install windows 7

the samsung 830 is a good ssd for the price

@cool_slowbro,you would be better getting the 256gb samsung if you could,its not much more and uses more memory chips which improves performance on toggle nand ssd's

Yeah my current HD is already running in AHCI mode without any problems. It's a slow HD (WD GP 5400rpm, completely forgot this was a 5400rpm drive when I removed my other 7200RPM) but there aren't any issues. I was actually thinking about the bigger SSD's but then I'd be putting myself in another price market and comparing even more SSD's in the price pool. :[

Yes, you will want to run the update for AHCI. Windows 7 supports AHCI but having the most compatibility from the chipset with updated drivers, etc, can only help, IMO.

I'm more curious as to what changed in the F8D BIOS in respect to AHCI. If it was something like, oh I dunno say, removing the god damn AHCI scan on every boot then I'd rush and go flash my BIOS now. xD.

[profJim]

AS SSD benchmark main screen shows that my P35 system is using the msahci driver.
For optimal performance all disk partitions (ssd and hdd) should be 4K-aligned.

[Chike]

AS SSD benchmark main screen shows that my P35 system is using the msahci driver.
For optimal performance all disk partitions (ssd and hdd) should be 4K-aligned.

Not very sure about that.
The system probably reads it's sector size.
The minimal data that can be read (Direct I/O) is the physical sector size of the drive, for hard-disks it is 512 bytes.
The SSD may have a physical sectore size that is small but internaly I belive it is 8k or even more, meaning even if you read 512 bytes the SSD controller will be forced to read that size.
The last thing you want is having more than one file on the same line size the controller reads because then the trim command may mark a portion free but won't be able to free the whole line because there is still data of another file in a portion of it.

I wouldn't make any assumptions and test which is the best. with each drive and/or technology.

[profJim]

There are numerous articles that explain why 4K partition alignment improves disk performance for ssd's and hard drives.
Win7 automatically creates 4K aligned partitions.
new SSD: OCZ Agility2 60GB (Extended Capacity), post #44 shows my ATTO results with three different WD Caviar Black sata2 hard drives.

Paragon's partition alignment tool (PAT) and some partition management software can re-align existing unaligned partitions.
To avoid possible problems, you should backup each partition before aligning it.

http://download.paragon-software.com...hite_Paper.pdf
Search the web using: 4k alignment for more information.

Assumptions? NO WAY!!
I haven't bothered with 4K alignment tests on my old IDE hard drives.

[Chike]

Sorry i was misteken alignment with cluster size.
Does this software align existing partitions without destoying the data? I wonder if I will get 1MB/s more aligning my non aligned partitions.

[profJim]

I didn't loose any data when I aligned my my partitions, but....
.....that's why I said in my previous post:

To avoid possible problems, you should backup each partition before aligning it.

Several hard drive manufacturers offer a free version of partition aligning software, but their versions might only work on their hard drives.
It might work with different hard drive brands as long as you have one of their hard drives installed.

In my linked to post, I said:
With 4K partition alignment, the WD640 drive is now about 20 -22% faster than the non-aligned hard drives.

[RichieBoy]

..
I'm more curious as to what changed in the F8D BIOS in respect to AHCI.

I've just today upgraded to the F8D version. Looks like AHCI scan screen is a lot faster.

[cool_slowbro]

I've just today upgraded to the F8D version. Looks like AHCI scan screen is a lot faster.

Alright, thanks. That is enough to warrant a flash in my books. Time to note all of my settings and do my first motherboard flash. ;/

[profJim]

Follow the procedure in BIOS Flashing - A "How To ~ Qflash Guide"
Be sure to disable Keep DMI Data before flashing with QFlash.
I always flash with non-overclocked bios settings.

Let us know how your new ssd performs.