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    New SSD RAID VS AHCI mode

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by kzius, Nov 24, 2012.

  1. kzius

    kzius Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi guys, i bought a new SSD OCZ Vertex 4 for my Alienware M14x R2, i want to know what mode is better to a fresh install Win7, AHCI or RAID mode ? there any performance difference between this two mode ? wich you recommend me ? i only use this SSD for normal use ( games, normal use of windows ).
    Thx!
     
    kzius, Nov 24, 2012
    #1
  2. Quix Omega

    Quix Omega Notebook Evangelist

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    The performance will be the same with AHCI or RAID, assuming you're comparing one disk on the RAID controller (JBOD mode).
     
    Quix Omega, Nov 25, 2012
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  3. kzius

    kzius Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thx for the fast reply Omega, so is the same performace both modes.
     
    kzius, Nov 25, 2012
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  4. blindpet

    blindpet Notebook Consultant

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    I had also worried about the same thing, any evidence to back up your claim Omega? Not that I'm disagreeing, would just like to see some data on the matter.
     
    blindpet, Nov 25, 2012
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  5. romanstine9

    romanstine9 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have an mSATA SSD set to RAID for no particular reason (it's what was set in bios when I performed a clean install) and my read and write speeds are at full potential. Either option will perform the same in your case as well.
     
    romanstine9, Nov 25, 2012
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  6. kzius

    kzius Notebook Enthusiast

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    Here i found a really cool guide : The SSD Optimization Guide Redesigned - The SSD Review
    They said " ENSURE YOUR COMPUTER IS OPERATING IN AHCI MODE " but there talk about IDE, and not RAID , maybe is like Quix Omega said, " The performance will be the same with AHCI or RAID" but different in IDE mode ( but the alienware m14x r2 dont have that option of IDE on the bios ).
     
    kzius, Nov 25, 2012
    #6
  7. Quix Omega

    Quix Omega Notebook Evangelist

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    I tested it a little while ago, although it was on a desktop board with a Z68X chipset. I ran a whole battery of tests with a Vertex 3. This of course makes sense because RAID mode is just AHCI mode + a software raid bootrom.

    There have been several different articles online too. Google is your friend there.
     
    Quix Omega, Nov 25, 2012
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  8. Scharfschutzen

    Scharfschutzen Notebook Guru

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    fyi, my laptop would not play nice with a samsung 830 and bios set to AHCI, ended up returning the SSD think it was causing the problem. Later on found out my problem was setting bios to AHCI and not leaving it in RAID. Why i have no clue why it acted up like that.
     
    Scharfschutzen, Nov 25, 2012
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  9. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    It's the same but if you have a single drive it is recommended to use AHCI for stability.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Nov 27, 2012
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  10. kzius

    kzius Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for taking my doubts!
     
    kzius, Nov 27, 2012
    #10