AHCI

(Advance Host Controller Interface)

What is AHCI mode?
What is AHCI mode?
• Hardware mechanism
-thats allows software to communicate with Serial
ATA(SATA) devices (such as host bus adapters) that
are designed to offer features not offered by Parallel
ATA (PATA) controllers, such as hot-plugging and
native command queuing (NCQ).
What is Serial ATA(SATA) and Parallel ATA(PATA)?
Serial ATA (SATA) and Parallel ATA (PATA) are two
interfaces that are used to connect to mass storage
devices like hard drives and optical drives. SATA storage
devices can transmit data to and from the rest of the
computer much, much faster than an otherwise similar
PATA device. SATA cables themselves are much smaller
than the PATA ribbon cables.
(They are easier to manage because they don't take up as
much space and can be tied up more easily, if need be.
The thinner design also results in better airflow inside the
computer case.)
Most modern Hard Drive or SSD can be set in IDE or AHCI
mode:
• IDE – a compatibility mode for older equipment
and software. In fact, in this mode SATA capacity is
no different from its Parallel ATA (or PATA)
interface;
• AHCI – a new mode for memory devices, where a
computer can use all SATA advantages, when you
activate AHCI mode, it increases the speed of
access to files in memory devices and improves
overall performance of your computer.
ADVANTAGES of AHCI mode
-enables cool features like Hot Plugging or Hot Swapping
(you dont need to shutdown your computer if you want to
unplug external drive from eSATA port)

-Native Command Queuing (NCQ)

(improve computer/system/hard disk responsiveness,
especially in multi tasking)
How to check if AHCI mode is properly
enabled?
-Go to Device Manager
-Open the section “IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers”
-If there is a device containing “AHCI” in its name as
in our case, it means that AHCI mode is used in this
computer.
Most mother board or usually todays mother board
will have AHCI enable.
(if you wanted to install windows using AHCI mode
instead of other modes like IDE, then you normally
need to have AHCI enbale in BIOS first)
How AHCI also help speed up SSD?
• by the benefits of NCQ on SSD it is important
advantage support for NCQ which can affect the
way that your computer handle multiple
command/request to fixed data on time.