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SATA Asmedia versus AHCI Clarification

pixelman
Level 7
For my motherboard SATA drivers, for a non-raid configuration, do I want to install Asmedia or AHCI drivers? Can anyone enlighten me on the difference or application of one versus the other? Much thanks for any help.



CPU: AMD FX-8350 Vishera 4.0GHz
MB: ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z
Memory G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 32GB DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900)
Hard Drives: Seagate 7200 RPM 500 Barracuda plus 4 other data drives
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GT 640 2048MB GDDR3 Dual DVI, mHDMI Graphics Card 02G-P4-2643-KR
Case: Antec Sonata IV - ATX Mid Tower Case
CPU Cooleer: Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler System
Pixelman



CPU: AMD FX-8350 Vishera 4.0GHz
MB: ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z (CPU: AM3+ Chipset AMD 990FX/SB950)
Memory G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 32GB DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900)
Hard Drives: Seagate 7200 RPM 500 Barracuda plus 4 other data drives
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GT 640 2048MB GDDR3 Dual DVI, mHDMI Graphics Card 02G-P4-2643-KR
Case: Antec Sonata IV - ATX Mid Tower Case
CPU Cooleer: Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler System
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6 REPLIES 6

Myk_SilentShado
Level 15
Niether, ASMedia is a different controller and pretty much used for Optical Drives. Refer to your other thread for my replies which hopefully should help you out 🙂

HiVizMan
Level 40
AHCI is not a controller, and due to performance issues for OS hard drives not particularly popular. Rule of thumb use the sata ports that do not require third party software or drivers to work.
To help us help you - please provide as much information about your system and the problem as possible.

pixelman
Level 7
Much thanks for your insight. So do you just default to using for example what your current operating system assigned as drivers for your SATA controllers? I am curious if you have any comment on the tech at ASUS insisting that I download the AHCI drivers if they really don't apply? Was that just a textbook answer I was getting and a lack of experience?
Pixelman



CPU: AMD FX-8350 Vishera 4.0GHz
MB: ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z (CPU: AM3+ Chipset AMD 990FX/SB950)
Memory G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 32GB DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900)
Hard Drives: Seagate 7200 RPM 500 Barracuda plus 4 other data drives
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GT 640 2048MB GDDR3 Dual DVI, mHDMI Graphics Card 02G-P4-2643-KR
Case: Antec Sonata IV - ATX Mid Tower Case
CPU Cooleer: Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler System

HiVizMan
Level 40
It is platform specific. So for an Intel system all you download is your Intel chipset inf update and you are good to go. AMD you need to do even less when it comes to installing drivers.

As to the official ASUS technician, there are SATA drivers that you can download for the third party controllers. It might be that which s/he was referring to.
To help us help you - please provide as much information about your system and the problem as possible.

sectionate
Level 12
asmedia controller does have ahci drivers
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DaemonCantor
Level 13
pixelman read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Host_Controller_Interface , This will answer most of your questions. Now as to the ASMedia...when I forgot to install those drivers on my CHIVF and also on my CHVFT I got BSOD's. Those ASMedia drivers are needed because they control 3 ports on the Motherboard and the E-SATA Port in the Back Panel. As to the AHCI the OS will automatically install them but when you go to install your ATI/AMD Video Drivers thru Catalyst you'll find only 1/2 of the needed Drivers. You'll also need to install the latest Chipset Drivers as well which is a separate download: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/raid_windows.aspx

I hope that helps you in your research.