How do I enable SATA mode in A8M2N-LA (NodusM3) BIOS

mikel321 · Mar 15, 2009, 02:50 PM

My pc has the A8M2N-LA motherboard version 1.03 with BIOS 3.10. The BIOS has the SATA Controller Mode set to IDE and will not allow it to be changed. Does this chipset driver update fix that or is something else needed?

ChaosMinionX · Mar 16, 2009, 07:11 AM

I would say its locked because you do not have SATA HDD's if it will not allow you to change.

Also with some SATA controllers running in "IDE" mode is actually running as a normal SATA drive.

Usually they allow on of the following (if they are SATA or SATA/RAID controllers)

1> IDE Mode

2> AHCI Mode (similar to IDE Mode, however enables advanced features of a SATA HDD if supported ex. NCQ (native command queuing) you will see little to no real world performance difference as a home user from AHCI mode)

3> RAID Mode (multiple HDD, kind of an advanced setup

I would imagine that your HDD is in fact running as a SATA drive since its locked to IDE mode in the controller settings. I would do the following if you are unsure.

Download HDTune or HDTach, run them and then post a screenshot of your results. Also include HDD make/model.

Hope this helps.

mikel321 · Mar 16, 2009, 08:37 PM

Here's the HDTune information:

ChaosMinionX · Mar 17, 2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikel321

Here's the HDTune information:

Run the benchmark and post the results. That would more accurately say whether it is running normal.

mikel321 · Mar 17, 2009, 02:40 PM

Sorry, here's the benchmark:

ChaosMinionX · Mar 18, 2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikel321

Sorry, here's the benchmark:

Looks fine to me

Doggie1 · Dec 13, 2009, 06:18 PM

I have the latest nForce drivers for the SATA controller but my BIOS is the one shipped with my HP a1630n (it dates from 2006). It locks the mode to IDE. I have 3 questions:

1) Will a BIOS update to 3.10 allow me to change this? I can forget this one...the OP says no.

2) Can I proceed directly to the 5.07 BIOS?

3) Is there any advantage to either change for a WD Velociraptor? I'm getting a speed boost using the default mode, but I want to know if there's any further improvement to be had. The speed test results from Device Manager are as follows:

WDC WD1500HFLS-01G6U0

Current transfer mode is SATA Generation 1 - 1.5G

Theoretical limit 150

Burst speed 107.9

Sustained speed 102.6

So, even though the BIOS screen says locked to IDE it looks like I'm getting SATA 1. Can anyone advise me on the usefulness of going to SATA 2 if a BIOS update permits? Thanks in advance.

Optix · Dec 15, 2009, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doggie1

Current transfer mode is SATA Generation 1 - 1.5G

So, even though the BIOS screen says locked to IDE it looks like I'm getting SATA 1. Can anyone advise me on the usefulness of going to SATA 2 if a BIOS update permits? Thanks in advance.

SATAII doubles the bandwidth to 3.0Gb/s so that would certainly be the advantage.

Mar 15, 2009, 02:50 PM	#1
mikel321 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Re: The A8M2N-LA (NodusM3) in various HP media center systems My pc has the A8M2N-LA motherboard version 1.03 with BIOS 3.10. The BIOS has the SATA Controller Mode set to IDE and will not allow it to be changed. Does this chipset driver update fix that or is something else needed?

Mar 16, 2009, 07:11 AM	#2
ChaosMinionX USB 3 dot oh Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,911 Rep Power: 45 System Specs	Re: How do I enable SATA mode in A8M2N-LA (NodusM3) BIOS I would say its locked because you do not have SATA HDD's if it will not allow you to change. Also with some SATA controllers running in "IDE" mode is actually running as a normal SATA drive. Usually they allow on of the following (if they are SATA or SATA/RAID controllers) 1> IDE Mode 2> AHCI Mode (similar to IDE Mode, however enables advanced features of a SATA HDD if supported ex. NCQ (native command queuing) you will see little to no real world performance difference as a home user from AHCI mode) 3> RAID Mode (multiple HDD, kind of an advanced setup I would imagine that your HDD is in fact running as a SATA drive since its locked to IDE mode in the controller settings. I would do the following if you are unsure. Download HDTune or HDTach, run them and then post a screenshot of your results. Also include HDD make/model. Hope this helps. __________________ ::Heatware:: How you can help DriverHeaven by using Digg!

Mar 16, 2009, 08:37 PM	Thread Starter #3
mikel321 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Re: How do I enable SATA mode in A8M2N-LA (NodusM3) BIOS Here's the HDTune information: Attached Thumbnails

Mar 17, 2009, 02:40 PM	Thread Starter #5
mikel321 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Re: How do I enable SATA mode in A8M2N-LA (NodusM3) BIOS Sorry, here's the benchmark: Attached Thumbnails

Dec 13, 2009, 06:18 PM	#7
Doggie1 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Re: How do I enable SATA mode in A8M2N-LA (NodusM3) BIOS I have the latest nForce drivers for the SATA controller but my BIOS is the one shipped with my HP a1630n (it dates from 2006). It locks the mode to IDE. I have 3 questions: 1) Will a BIOS update to 3.10 allow me to change this? I can forget this one...the OP says no. 2) Can I proceed directly to the 5.07 BIOS? 3) Is there any advantage to either change for a WD Velociraptor? I'm getting a speed boost using the default mode, but I want to know if there's any further improvement to be had. The speed test results from Device Manager are as follows: WDC WD1500HFLS-01G6U0 Current transfer mode is SATA Generation 1 - 1.5G Theoretical limit 150 Burst speed 107.9 Sustained speed 102.6 So, even though the BIOS screen says locked to IDE it looks like I'm getting SATA 1. Can anyone advise me on the usefulness of going to SATA 2 if a BIOS update permits? Thanks in advance. Last edited by Doggie1; Dec 13, 2009 at 06:53 PM. Reason: spelling