Is there a trick with SATA?
Friday, 29 February, 2008
I made my own computer by buying separate parts and putting it together myself.
However, I seem to have a problem with SATA drives.
I assume it's with SATA drives because it doesn't present itself when I run off my IDE drive, both after a clean format.
The problem is that while the computer is running in Windows Vista it eventually (intermittently) fails to run smoothly and it visually and aurally lags (in the same way a videogame would lag with high activity on some computers - I find it most obvious by moving the mouse in a circle on the desktop and it continues to freeze after a couple seconds). As I mentioned, the parts are all new and I have also replaced my SATA drive, even with a different model (and even plugged it in other SATA ports on the motherboard).
My question is whether there is a particular fashion in which to plug it into my motherboard which I am not aware of, as it is obvious it has something to do with me using a SATA drive. It's a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R motherboard.
Aaron Browing, Sydney, Australia
 Hi Aaron - interesting question.
We can probably split it into two pieces - what you've asked and what else the problem might be. (Second part to be answered in another post.)
I'm not aware of any particular tricks about which SATA controllers or sockets you should use when assembling a PC. You'd hope that if there was a trick to it that the motherboard manufacturer would mention it in the manual, but I can't say I've ever noticed such a thing.
Gigabyte is very good at providing information and support for its products so the first thing I'd do is go to the web site for a look around. (I've linked it in your question.)
Here's the manual if anyone is interested in reading it.
Off the top of my head (and without reading the manual) here are some things I'd be looking at if that were my computer. Don't do them all at once though, as you may slip past the solution without realising it.
- Reset the BIOS setup to the default settings.
- Check the BIOS settings to do with hard disks. There may be something that you're setting incorrectly because you're jumping to conclusions.
- Check the RAID settings. If you aren't running pairs of disks in one of the RAID configurations having the wrong setting could cause just such a problem.
Otherwise, this Google search should yield some interesting and useful reading. Paul Zucker
 Reader solutions
JeffPosted: 06/04/2008 re: Is there a trick with SATA? PZ, just read the Manual (for Aaron's motherboard)...and,yes, it does 'detail'...exactly what I suggested to be done.
Page 37....to be exact.
This does give the user the 'option'....to properly set-up a SATA hard-drive.
An easy 'choice', here !
1.... IDE
2.... SATA
3.....AUTO (Select this.....and, motherboard will 'detect' SATA ...as an IDE 'set-up')
Aaron..should also look at....
Page 26 (this also'comfirms' what I have stated).
Page 16........this will clearly show the 'configuration'...of RAM (if properly installed !)
This is equal....to the BIOS of my motherboard's RAM 'set-up'.......and,yes I do have 4 x 1 Gb (double-sided) RAM modules installed .
(now,IF I had a 64-bit OS installed.....this 'amount' gets 'doubled'.....by the 'in-built' Multipler (X2)...to make all 4 into 8 Gbs (IF RAM is double-sided..ONLY).
Single-sided RAM.....stays, at 4 Gbs (regardless of OS being 32-bit or 64-bit)!
Stick a 256Mb graphics-card..into PCI-E slot....yeah, it 'doubles', too(straight from the word "GO").
(I know...I just put in a new Graphics-card (PCI-E one)..myself)
It also 'includes'......whatever 'Shared Memory'..the 'On-board' Graphics is meant to use.
Yeah, a 'funny quirk'...available,to most Vista-ready Motherboards !
Read the Manual. (if I am not believed....because I HAVE ! For mine..and his !)
JohnPosted: 04/03/2008 re: Is there a trick with SATA? If you have second generation SATA drive, you may need to lock the drive to 150 MBs check out info at WD: http://wdc.custhelp.com Zoran TubakovicPosted: 03/03/2008 re: Is there a trick with SATA? Problem is simple. You have IDE drive As master and windows installed on SATA drive. Ide and SATA should not run togethor GrahamPosted: 03/03/2008 re: Is there a trick with SATA? PS to first post
in bios go to intergrated peripheral
If Not using Raid disable
Enable Serial-ATA 1 and 2 GrahamPosted: 03/03/2008 re: Is there a trick with SATA? Answer no.2 and no.3 will most probably be the answer to you question the sata drive has to be set in the bios the default settings will most likely turn it off as paul said re-read the manual.
Regards
Graham JeffPosted: 03/03/2008 re: Is there a trick with SATA? Aaaron,there isn't a 'trick' to Sata.
You just failed, in understanding the 'Set-up' of the BIOS of your motherboard, that's all.
It is a Dual-Core 'Vista-compliant' motherboard, with integrated SATA.
Look to the BIOS set-up, you will find (if you ever read it properly!)that the SATA 'set-up' will give you the 'option'........to either use the RAID capability, or 'set-up' your SATA drive for use as IDE.
Select the "IDE" option.
The 'intermittent behavour' your computer's motherboard is the very cause of you NOT 'configuring' this option (the motherboard,hence your computer is acting 'in a rather confused state'.....whether it should 'run' in RAID (or SATA IDE).
Once you have 'corrected' this error of judgement, need I say that you should be able to add more SATA drives (to your computer)...by the 'hot-wired option')....that is, you should be able to connect them while it is still 'powered-up'...though,this is not 'highly recommended'.
In case you might 'short-ciruit' something-else...on your motherboard (wouldn't want to 'undo' all that 'good work', would you?)
The only 'trick' involved with computers,is....to pay 'full attention to detail' (of what you are doing,reading-assembly-whatever). And, 'it' is never 'included'...in any Manual.
|