10

How can I check to see if my SSD is running in AHCI mode?

Do I need to install some special driver for that?

Looking for some AHCI indication: Screenshot of my device manager, looking for some AHCI indication

I'm using Windows 7.

Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007
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Pedro77
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4 Answers4

20

Windows uses AHCI by default, but it may not be enabled if your BIOS wasn't set properly during installation of the operating system.

Check if you're using AHCI mode by viewing the list of controller drivers.

  1. In Windows 7, click the "Start" button > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Device Manager

  2. Click the arrow next to "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers" to display the list of controller drivers currently used by your system.

  3. Check for an entry that contains the acronym "AHCI." If an entry exists, and there is no yellow exclamation mark or red "X" over it, then AHCI mode is properly enabled. If you don't see an "AHCI" entry, or the only entry contains a red or yellow mark, then there's a problem and AHCI mode is not properly enabled.

Also you can check what is a driver system using:

Right click on one of controllers > Properties > Details tap > Change property to Service

  • pciide.sys = microsoft IDE driver
  • msahci = Microsoft AHCI driver
  • iastor.sys = Intel AHCI/RAID driver

In my system:

enter image description here

Conclusion: My system has no error, it using Microsoft AHCI driver hence AHCI is on.

Please, edit my post if you see any errors (grammatical, technical and etc). Thank you!

Phoenix
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4

Check your BIOS first to see if AHCI is turned on. When you install Windows it installs AHCI drivers and uses it by default (if it's enabled in BIOS). Except for the cases when you may be cloning HDD on SSD.

Kinnectus
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4

Run AS SSD Benchmark and look under the name of the SSD:

enter image description here

If it is green and shows mv91xx (AHCI driver for your Marvell Controller) you use AHCI if it shows PCIIDE in red you run in IDE mode.

enter image description here

magicandre1981
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-1

You’re using the wrong S-ATA connector on your board. Please consult the manual and connect your SSD to your Chipset-native controller. Which is currently not running in AHCI mode, by the way.

Additional controllers (in this case a Marvell chip) tend to cause problems and often provide inferior performance.

user219095
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