IDE or AHCI mode?

[MrbLOB9000]

yep, mine says "Intel(R) 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller"

[VorLonUK]

yep, mine says "Intel(R) 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller"

Excellent

- ‘Intel(R) 82801HBM AHCI I/O Controller’
If the controller above is present, the system is
an ICH8M system in AHCI mode and no further action
is required

Did you bother to install the Windows version of the Intel Matrix storage Manager, so that you have use of the Intel Console? Obviously the AHCI driver was installed by Vista during the OS install, but I'm curious as to what the Windows portion of the Matrix storage manager actually does. what can you manipulate with it?

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/CS-022239.htm

Question 2 - Is your system in AHCI mode?

If the answer is yes, proceed to question 4.

If the answer is no, proceed to question 3.

Question 3 - Is your system in RAID mode?

If the answer is yes, proceed to question 4.

If the answer is no, the F6 installation method and the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager are not required.

Question 4 - Are you using Microsoft Windows Vista*?

If the answer is no, you will need to use the F6 installation method to load the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager driver during operating system install. If your system is in RAID mode, once the operating system has been loaded, it is recommended that you install Intel® Matrix Storage Manager via its executable from within Windows*. This will allow you to take advantage of the Intel® Matrix Storage Console and event notifications available via the system tray icon.

If the answer is yes, the F6 installation method is not required. If your system is in RAID mode, once the operating system has been loaded, it is recommended that you install Intel® Matrix Storage Manager via its executable from within Windows. This will allow you to take advantage of the Intel® Matrix Storage Console and event notifications available via the system tray icon.

[MrbLOB9000]

I installed windows, decided to see if it would work without having to give it the driver, it worked and windows loaded, I installed the Intel Chipset drivers, then Intel Matrix drivers.

[Reflex]

Intel(R) 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller

Same as MrBlob apparantly.

[VorLonUK]

Some older AHCI benchmarks here...

http://www.behardware.com/art/imprimer/624/

[MrbLOB9000]

Intel(R) 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller

Same as MrBlob apparantly.

then wtf? why'd you need the driver and I didn't?

[VorLonUK]

Intel(R) 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller

Same as MrBlob apparantly.

then wtf? why'd you need the driver and I didn't?

Seeing that Intel contradict themselves could this be down to different builds of windows Vista? - if indeed they exist? (ie pre SP1)

[MrbLOB9000]

I think they just have one CD for Pre-SP1 but don't know for sure, wait, he was using 64bit, I was using 32bit, could that be the difference I wonder?

[Reflex]

All CD's are the same, the license key determines your version.  You can install Ultimate from a Home Basic copy if you use an Ultimate key.  In my case it was the pre-SP1 version, I'm guessing MrBlob's was as well.  I was, however, using 64bit.

[VorLonUK]

All CD's are the same, the license key determines your version.  You can install Ultimate from a Home Basic copy if you use an Ultimate key.  In my case it was the pre-SP1 version, I'm guessing MrBlob's was as well.  I was, however, using 64bit.

Reflex has there never been any slight build differences from the first released Vista CD/DVD's to whats being shipped now, that you know of?  I ask that because as per my long post further up the thread, the earlier Intel Readme's in regard to Vista maintain the AHCI driver needs to be loaded during the initial Vista install using the F6 method, whereas later that whole procedure is scrapped with Intel stating Vista contains all neccessary AHCI drivers.

Also i've noted the NONE suffix chipset's such as ICH9 and ICH8 etc, do not officially support AHCI. However the chip itself does and Intel marketing doesn't appear to want it known, hence users are modifying inf files etc to take advantage of the facility.

Also noted that although AHCI supports staggered startup, that not many bioses actually support that function. So whilst AHCI adds a host of extra features, only a few or less of those features is implemented in current hardware.

[MrbLOB9000]

their was a Vista Release to manufacturer that was OEM but was 64bit and 32bit on one disc that went to the large OEM computer makers but all the OEM system builder pack discs should be the same.  They will probably be updating them soonish to include SP1, but who knows when.

[Reflex]

I can't speak for OEM versions, but retail versions have been consistant until SP1, which is the first change they will take.

[MrbLOB9000]

if it's like WinXP OEM discs, the discs are the same until they change Service Packs (or like when they got sued and had to remove their java runtime, they released OEM discs that contained SP1a or something that didn't have the runtime but was otherwise the same).

[VorLonUK]

You say (Reflex) that the Key Code denotes the version you have purchased, yet my Vista Premium 64 OEM, is printed with just that on it's label.

So do MS, unlock the OEM Vista Version Install through the key code alone, but equally print the DVD's with their specific version too?  I suppose printing would be cheaper than changing the build of the Disk - but it sounds weird.

[Reflex]

I can't speak to OEM versions as the OEM's often customize them to include their driver packages and apps.  But the CD's MS produces(retail copies) are all identical with the exception of what is silk screened on the top and what the packaging looks like.  However if you buy a copy of Vista Home Basic, and during the install you put in a license key for Vista Ultimate, it will install Ultimate not Basic.  The data contained on the CD's is identical.

The retail versions ship with two CD's, a 32bit and 64bit one.  The only reason for that is space constraints, the manufacturing method would allow all of it to be contained on one disc if the disc was of sufficient size.

[VorLonUK]

I can’t speak to OEM versions as the OEM’s often customize them to include their driver packages and apps.

I meant the MS OEM versions, not the OEM's OEM versions.

My 64bit Vista Premium is a proper MS OEM version bought from a retailer, not like the one that I had shipped with my Dell (32bit Vista Premium - which is customised in Label etc)

Edit: think you've answered the question as the MS OEM's are like this too:-

the exception of what is silk screened on the top

This must be for the "MS Anytime Upgrade" Feature.

[MrbLOB9000]

Mine just says "Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate" then "OEM Software" under that and that's it.  The CD says "This disc contains the 32bit version" or some such.  No where on the actual package or stickers does it say 32bit.  All the other stickers I've seen don't say 32bit or 64bit I don't think.

[VorLonUK]

Hard Drive utilities that work in Vista 64, with AHCI enabled and the Intel Storage matrix manager software installed. (NOT in Raid mode)

S.M.A.R.T Info visible on Boot drive and subsequent drives:-

Hardware Monitor - cpuid.org
PcWizard - cpuid.org
Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostics for windows - wdc.com
Sisoft Sandra - sisoftware.co.uk

S.M.A.R.T Info Not visible on Boot drive, but visible on subsequent drives:-

HdTune - hdtune.com

Noticeable change in "Burst Rate" benchmarks with HDtune:-

WD3200AAKS

Ide mode                      : 115.1 MB/s
Win AHCI default Driver :   91.8 MB/s
Intel AHCI Matrix Driver : 125.3 MB/s

Edit: Sadly though all my benchmarks show an impovement in "Burst/Buffered" Read/Writes in AHCI mode. Random and Sequential reads and writes seem to have taken a hit.