BIOS support SATA AHCI on Inspirons

I understand the consumer category Inspiron is aimed at but can not understand why BIOS support for SATA AHCI was not implemented.
Or maybe I should say 'removed' as the chipset supports it: 6400/E1505, 9400/E1705, 1501, etc.
Dell made this option available on newer Inspiron models (e.g. 1720) but it should be easier to implement for other models as well.

That BIOS option could be set to 'ATA compatible' by default so it will not cause any issues when re-installing the OS but the user should at least have the option to use it.
Having a 7200rpm HDD without being able to use NCQ doesn't make any sense.
This should be easy to fix with just a BIOS upgrade.

I've recently seen this posted as a suggestion on the Dell ideastorm website:
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/sh..._BIOS_support_for_SATA_AHCI_mode_on_Inspirons

Would you guys like to have this option available?

- Please vote the idea so maybe we'll get the updated BIOS!

 

Is AHCI supported by the southbridge in the Inspirons you mentioned?

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imst/sb/CS-012304.htm

 

Yes it is supported - Intel ICH7-M
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=27&fileid=149851

And as far as I know the model from your sig has it enabled as well.

 

Same for 6400/E1505: Intel ICH7-M
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=27&fileid=149851

 

I just reinstalled XP and slipstreamed the drivers with nLite. Maybe Dell left it disabled to get them through the assembly line faster.

 

I'd recommend running CPU-Z ( www.cpuid.com) or Intel's Chipset Identification Utility to determine the actual chipset used in the E1505...

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6400/en/om/specs.htm#wp1054574

This Dell page says the E1505 is using the ICH7 for its express card and Intel says the ICH7 does not have AHCI support (but ones like the ICH7M do...).

 

Yes it is .

 

@davemolina:

This option has nothing to do with the assembly line.
Without this option, the HDD will be used as an old ATA drive (in compatible mode) without taking advantage of the modern features of SATA drives (Native Command Queuing, hot plug, etc).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Command_Queuing

I wonder if this option is active on your system...

With this option active you have to provide a driver when installing XP (in the text portion of setup by pressing F6) so I guess you either don't have it or it's turned off.

 

I think you misunderstood my post...big time.

When I initially installed XP on my 1520 I forgot to enable SATA in the BIOS. I realized my mistake and slipstreamed the SATA drivers to my OEM disc with nLite, enabled SATA, then resinstalled XP. Trust me, its working.

The question I'm asking is WHY Dell would disable SATA in a new 1520 when it can support the feature. I can't really see a reason other than speeding up the assembly process (especially with the delays they had). Maybe it wasn't efficient to add the process of enabling SATA in the BIOS, which would require new XP OEM discs be created and their current stock be phased out.

What would they have to gain by not enabling it?

 

You're right, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

I think Dell didn't want headaches from home-users (the Inspiron target) and this is the reason why AHCI was disabled.
Seeing lots of users asking for it as well as performance loss, they enabled it but only on the latest models.

It has nothing to do with the assembly process IMHO.
All they do there is make sure the option is disabled in BIOS then flush their image on the hard drives, that's it.

 

True...

Good to know they're enabling it again.

 

I found this article while searching for something completely different:

http://www.west-wind.com/WebLog/posts/146590.aspx

So I went in and switched my setting from AHCI to ATA because of my bluescreens on reboot. And like the guy said in the article, I couldn't tell a difference in performance. This is on Vista, btw.

I will probably do another fresh installation soon, as I want to order a 250GB drive to replace the 160, so I'm wondering where I would find this AHCI driver so I can do it right this time...

Rob