Here's my situation... My HP Pavilion dv6 notebook came with a 32GB micro SSD and 1TB HDD running under an Intel Rapid Start Technology (RAID) configuration. The OS is Win7 SP1 (x64). A few months ago the HDD crashed, so I bought and installed a 1TB Samsung 850 EVO SSD and successfully restored a disk-image backup of the HDD (before it crashed) to the new SSD. Since the 850 EVO is faster than the micro SSD (that was just serving to help the HDD bootup faster), I disabled Intel RST in the BIOS and I now just use the micro SSD as a 'scratch drive'. The problem is that I haven't been noticing any difference in performance since installing the 850 EVO. Furthermore, when I first got the notebook in 2013 Windows Performance Information reported a sub-score of 7.9 for the Hard Drive and now it is still reporting the very same sub-score for the 850 EVO ! Samsung Magician reports 'AHCI mode is deactivated' and I can't find any provision in the BIOS to activate it. Device Manager lists (only) the Intel SATA RAID controller and it also lists my new SSD as an 'ATA Samsung SSD 850 SCSI Disk Device'. So I'm guessing that's the reason I'm not realizing the performance potential of the 850 EVO. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can implement and enable AHCI ?
Hi Brian, thanks for responding, but the HP BIOS (Insyder F.2B, with Setup Utility Rev. 3.7) does no't provide that item/setting! The only item relating to disk control that I see in the BIOS is 'Intel Rapid Start Technology' with the option to Enable or Disable. That's it...
OK. I've always avoided that setting. You have an image backup so why not try installing AHCI drivers to Win7? See page 37 in the TBOSDT manual. Go to Install Drivers (Install a specific driver) on page 41.
@Brian K, first of all I don't have the TBOSDT manual you referred to... Secondly, I see that the HP Support website has a more recent (2016) BIOS available for my notebook. I don't know if the newer 2016 BIOS offers more disk controller options (but it may). Do you think I should download it and flash my 2013 BIOS (and if so, are there any 'fail-safe' precautions I can take)?
7.9 is the highest rating possible in Win 7. The overall windows experience number is as high as the lowest rating as in you're only as strong as your weakest link.
Is that to say Win7 is the weak link ...and that as long as I'm running Win7 my new SSD can not improve the performance I was getting from the HDD)?
try to disable it. When i added an m2 SSD to my laptop, it couldn't be recognized until the RST setting in BIOS was disabled and i set AHCI.
Cruise, It probably wouldn't help you if it doesn't enable AHCI in the BIOS. Sorry, I thought you owned TBOSDT Pro. It's part of IFW.
The new BIOS might offer to enable AHCI - I just don't know. ....is there much of a risk in flashing the BIOS (I've never done it before)? Btw, I do have IFW v3, but I've just used it for (simple) backups & restores.
Do you have this folder? C:\Program Files (x86)\TeraByte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite\TeraByte OSD Tool Suite Pro\docs It contains tbosdt.pdf.
Brian, I found the pdf and checked out those pages - but as I'm not too technically savvy, it's 'way over my head'.
As long as your numbers are: Processor - 7.9 Memory (RAM) - 7.9 Graphics - 7.9 Gaming graphics - 7.9 Primary hard disk - 7.9 Then Win7 COULD be the weak link.
the only risk while flashing the bios is either: - you shutdown the computer - you picked the wrong bios - you didn't follow the instructions properly
Here are my current performance numbers ...and they were the same when my 'Primary hard drive' actually was a hard drive!!! Processor - 7.6 Memory (RAM) - 7.9 Graphics - 7.4 Gaming graphics - 7.2 Primary hard disk - 7.9 (Samsung 850 EVO SSD)
If it goes wrong (for any reason) and my notebook won't boot, will I be able to bootup with WinPE and re-flash the BIOS?
Cruise, I can help you with TBOSDT but first you have to find the SATA/AHCI drivers for your controller.
Brian, I've been googling for just that (over the past several hours) - so far no cigar. I'm about to retire for the day as I have a 6:30AM flight tomorrow. Tomorrow evening I'm going to attempt flashing the BIOS with the most recent version (hoping it provides more disk controller options)!
Sorry, I don't get it. ....I'm concerned about my SSD's performance, not graphics performance! -- besides, I'm not a gamer so why should I care about that value?
Cruise, can you check SSD performance with ATTO? https://www.techpowerup.com/download/atto-disk-benchmark/ Is the Windows partition 1 MiB aligned?
I sure will Brian, but that will have to wait until I return home tomorrow eve. I'm hitting the sack.
Cruise, for the 1 MiB alignment question run PartInfo (should be in the TeraByte section of the Start Menu). When PartInfo opens click File, Export to Text File. Can you post the MBR Partition Information (HD0... section. Like this....
