Assembling computer for the first time.

[alternate]

Hello, everyone. I plan to assemble a new computer for the first time. I am wondering about the steps I should take. Once I assemble all the hardware (motherboard, CPU, RAM, video card, heatsinks, fans, power supply, hard drive, optical drive, etc.), I will then turn on the power. Assuming the compatibility of all hardware pieces and connections, what ought I to expect next to happen? What next is there to do?

(I need to install an OS (my choice is 64-bit windows vista), so is this the next step or is there something previous? I have no idea what is BIOS and am wondering if something to do with this is involved.)

Thanks!

[johnny_quest]

Well once you're all done, you'll wanna hit the power-on button. The "hardest" thing in my opinion is getting all those little header wires (mic,lineout, power on, reset, hdd activity, pc speaker, etc) into the right headers... It's hard to see where they go and the directions are usually lousy.

If you did all that right and the thing actually turns on, it's going to POST (power on self test) and it will go BEEP! (one beep is good! a few beeps are it's an error code, post back with the "tune" it produces (2 long beeps, one short, three short beeps, etc...)

if you got THIS far, then the computer will then look to the bios to see the boot order. The bios should be all ready to go (you asked if you needed to do anything to it), there isn't anything you need to set (at this point anyway) you can tweak it some other time. The boot order should be (preset to) FLOPPY (if applicable) then CD-ROM, then Harddrive. It searches in that order to find something to boot from.

If you let it go, it's gonna get to a harddrive which is empty and it will just sit there saying "OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND".

Simply pop in Vista, and reboot. If you got this far, it will load the disc up and walk you through the installation... after that you'll be up and running...

[jlreich]

First, make sure you download the latest chipset drivers and video card drivers from the manufacturers website. Not the mobo manufacturers, but the actual maker of the chips such as nvidia for nvidia chipsets and v-cards, or Intel for Intel chipsets, and ATI for ATI v-cards... Burn them on CD or copy to a thumb drive so you have them ready.

I wouldn't recommend just putting everything together. Start out with just the mobo, CPU/HSF, video card/monitor, one stick of ram, and KB.

Boot it up, go into the BIOS to make sure everything is detected correctly, and check that the temps are in good order.

If all is well add the another stick of ram if you have one, boot up again.

If all is well start adding in the rest of the components one by one, booting up each time until you have everything in the system.

This is a PITA and takes extra time but it can save you from big headaches if you have a bad component. It also doesn't require the system to deal with all these new components at the same time. How would you feel if all the sudden you woke up and had 8 or 9 new legs and arms?! :p

Also go out and pick up a new CMOS battery. The ones in new mobo's are often old. Dead or dying CMOS batteries can cause many problems. It worth a few bucks to just get a new one to rule out that problem from the get go.

After you have the system built install windows. Don't connect to the net just yet The first thing you want to do after that is install the chipset drivers. Then the video drivers, then AV/FW. Then activate windows. Then do windows updates. After that it's on to installing you favorite programs as you see fit.

[Whyzman]

If all is well start adding in the rest of the components one by one, booting up each time until you have everything in the system.I would add, that the first item to add after the RAM would be a floppy drive. They are inexpensive and still an invaluable troubleshooting tool...

Have memtest 86 ready to go on floppy and run that after adding the floppy...it is self booting and let it do its thing exploring all the nooks and crannies of your RAM.

Following that, I would add a harddrive, but then use the floppy once again to run the harddrive diagnostics...these can be downloaded from the harddrive manufacturer's website. They are also self booting and will analyze your harddrive for you...

Also, at the top of the PC Guide Forums home page is a guide for building a computer...it is wonderful and clearly written...

[alternate]

Thank you for all your help! I will wait until 3.7.7 Friday to do this when my processor arrives.

So, please tell me if I write anything wrong here in what I should expect to happen when I turn on my computer. When I turn on my computer, the BIOS should detect all the connections and eventually display "no operating system found" on the screen. If I decide to add another piece of hardware, I do so by simply switching the power off and then installing the hardware and afterwards again by turning on the computer. When my hardware installation completes, I should then install my operating system. Next, when I install the updated drivers for my hardware pieces, I should do it while running the operating system.

Anyway, what is a CMOS battery? I don't think my mobo is too out of date. I'll list the hardware that I will have:
motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128024
processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819117104 (i chose this over the Core 2 E6600 with a leap of faith)
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820231098
video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130073 (should i get something else, instead?)
CPU heatsink: I haven't decided which to install:
either http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185038 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835109122.
The C*/W ratios from internet reviews seem lower of the latter than the former, and the latter is more likely to fit, but I think my case is big enough. Which would you install?
case: http://www.lian-li.com/Product/Chassis/Mini_Tower/Mini_PC-V300.htm

thanks again.

[azzey]

The problem isn't that the motherboard is old, it's that Gigabyte probably has been using the same truckload of batteries for a while, and the batteries only keep in storage for so long... If you buy a new one, you're almost guaranteed to get a fresh one--and that's only less problem you have do deal with.

Dying CMOS batteries can easily bring a system down - cryptic errors, corrupted settings, etc.

[alternate]

I have a question about some of the little header wires that connect to the motherboard from the case, particularly audio lineout, mic, usb. Are these an extension of the audio port on my motherboard to operate under the same driver? And similarly for the usb on the front of the case?

This is where I download my drivers:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/Driver_Model.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2388&ProductName=GA-965GM-S2 and http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/cs-022768.htm.

Intel's website gives three downloads for the Intel G965 chipset: graphics driver, chipset software, and installation utility matrix storage manager. The graphics driver is more recent than the one on Gigabyte's website, and the chipset software is the same on both websites. I'm not sure what the last one is. What is the 3rd download on Intel's website for? I should install it, yes?

For the graphics driver, Intel's website reads that the former is "not to be used if the system has a third party graphics card." I have another graphics card... (and the sentence seems to conflict with an intention to install this driver) so what exactly does this mean? Should I not connect my video card before installing this driver or should I not install this driver? By the way, I have found the download for the updated NVIDIA driver for my video card on both NVIDIA's and the manufacturer EVGA's websites. Should I install this one instead?

Gigabyte's website gives 3 more drivers to install for 64-bit vista: audio, LAN, and SATA RAID. These don't seem to be for the Intel chipset and are instead called Realtek HD Audio beta driver, Marvell Lan beta driver, and GIGABYTE SATA2 RAID Driver, respectively. Depending on which previous drivers I intall, two or three of the set of all drivers mentioned seem redundant. Should I install all of these and not install the first and third on Intel's website?

Also, I'm confused about which I should install before boot and which after the operating system has booted. Could someone please make this clear?

Gigabyte's website also gives a BIOS download. Should this be put on floppy and booted with before installing the operating system after I install the new CMOS battery? Else, how do I use it?

Of course, thanks again, everyone. These are many questions, but please don't miss any. :)

[jlreich]

If the mobo or a separate sound card has an audio header then you can hookup the front panel audio connectors, if you like. I personally never do since I would rather have the audio in the back. I do sometimes hook up the mic in front so it is more accessible, but then again I haven't had a mic hooked up for years. :p

If you have a nvidia v-card then get the video drivers directly from nVidia (http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp). And don't install the drivers for the onboard video from Intel.

For the BIOS update, check the version on your system. It should be listed in the BIOS somewhere and on the POST screen. If it is up to date don't worry about it. If it is not current then look to see if the new one fixed bugs or added features that may help you. If nothing important don't worry about it. Usually we advise only to do a BIOS update if it is necessary since a failed BOIS update can render the system useless.

Install the storage management software. It is a storage bus driver that is better than the default MS one.

If there are Vista 64bit drivers and you are going with vista 64bit, then install those drivers from Gigabyte's website if Intel doesn't have any Vista drivers available.

If you don't think you will ever use raid then don't worry about installing the raid drivers. If you do think you will use raid then follow the instructions in the mobo manual on how to make the raid floppy (if it doesn't come with one) and hit the F6 key at the very beginning of windows install.

[alternate]

This may be a very obvious question. The motherboard doesn't come with any of these drivers installed, right? The drivers are installed on the hard drive, right? So that I have to choose what to install in order to have the installed things installed? That's probably the case, but I'd rather have someone's confirmation here...

I will install the following in the order of the numbers:

-1. the hardware in the suggested order with the two hardware tests that I know to exist
0. the OS
1. chipset driver from Intel
2. storage management software from Intel
3. video driver from nVidia
4. Marvell Lan beta driver from Gigabyte's website
5. Realtek HD Audio beta driver from Gigabyte's website
6. all of my favorite programs

Hmm.. i wonder if i have any more questions... i do.

So, is that little header wire really all that is for required for usb 2.0 connectivity? If I plug in a header for an audio-out front-panel port thing, is there a definition for the extra channel in an 8-channel audio configuration on the motherboard? The extra channel would make the audio configuration a 9-channel. So, can anyone guess what would happen with the front-panel channel? Ai dios mio.

Is there anything else anyone would like to tell me? I can't think of more questions... By the way the Scythe heatsink fits unexpectedly well on my motherboard without approaching at all close to the memory modules or anything on the other sides, although it does touch northbridge heatsink at a neighborhood of the closest set of points. If I replace the latter with Thermalright HR-5 northbridge heatsink, then I suspect that the physical contact should cease to exist, although emotively the former two may still be connected. But I'm sorry, my friends, some things to be apart are better for the world around it. I'm sure you understand. It best be on its best behavior when the new northbridge heatsink arrives tomorow. Or else, it's gone with it. It mustn't forget that there's an XP-90C just around the corner. ;) By the way, a really nice design is http://www.swiftnets.com/products/mcx775-V.asp ; if only it would use use heat pipes and extend the concentric 'rungs' on each pin for greater surface area and perhaps make it taller. I almost got it but decided there are better performers. Don't forget I have questions above; 3 of them... heh, thanks, everyone.

[HomeSA]

After you have the system built install windows. Don't connect to the net just yet The first thing you want to do after that is install the chipset drivers.

Curious, and most likely a dumb question, but how does one install chipset drivers? Is it like installing device drivers? On a lot of "how-to"s that I've read about building PCs, almost none mention anything about installing chipset drivers.:confused:

[mjc]

It is exactly like installing other device drivers...

I like installing them before physically installing hardware...if I can. Often times, there is a set on the motherboard disk and you install them from there, but they are usually several version out of date, so download the latest from the chipset manufacturer's site, burn them to a disk and then install them from there...

[jlreich]

1. the hardware in the suggested order with the two hardware tests that I know to exist
0. the OS
1. chipset driver from Intel
2. storage management software from Intel
3. video driver from nVidia
4. Marvell Lan beta driver from Gigabyte's website
5. Realtek HD Audio beta driver from Gigabyte's website
6. all of my favorite programs
I would change that to -

6. install anti-virus and firewall
7. activate windows and go get windows updates
8. install your favorite programs
9. enjoy your newly created machine :)

So, is that little header wire really all that is for required for usb 2.0 connectivity? If I plug in a header for an audio-out front-panel port thing, is there a definition for the extra channel in an 8-channel audio configuration on the motherboard?
Yes on the USB question. Is the USB plug the kind where it's just one plug and has one hole blocked off, or is it split in two? If it's the former it's easy. But if it is the split kind make sure you look in the mobo manual for the USB pin diagram to make sure you hook it up correctly. The USB ports are the only thing left in a computer that can damage the computer if hooked up wrong.

If you plug in the front audio connectors it will disable the same on the rear connectors. Or perhaps entirely disable the rear ports.

[alternate]

ai... must i purchase antivirus and firewall software to get it... which software should i install?

also, the power header doesn't merely serve to light up an LED, right? the motherboard needs to be connected to the power button and turned on via the power button as the only way to turn it on (as i'm told by a friend)?

hmm... i've never installed an OS before. but it seems i can install all the drivers, antivirus, and firewall before activating windows, whatever activating means. what does it mean to activate? what would happen if i do not activate it?

[david eaton]

must i purchase antivirus and firewall software to get it... which software should i install

No need to buy anything, good programs are available for free!
For anti virus, there is Avast or AVG, and for a firewall, Sunbelt kerio (which is my personal favourite).

[jlreich]

Yes the mobo needs to be connected to the power button. In fact that is the only front panel connector that has to be hooked up for the system to work. Unless you want to short the two pins on the mobo with a screwdriver every time you want to turn it on or off. :p

Activating windows is MS's way of making sure you haver a legit copy of windows. If you don't do it windows will refuse to work after 30 days. Usually it is painless and quick, you just do it over the internet. Don't worry windows will prompt you to do it.

The reason I put it on the to do list at that particular spot is because ideally you want to have AV and FW installed and working before you connect to the internet.

As David said, there are good free AV and FW programs. I use Avast and Kerio. You will have to register for both, but they are free and I have never had any spam or anything from either.

[alternate]

0. I've installed the cpu and heatsink. (It was a little nervous closing the 775 lid, as it applied a bit of pressure on the top of the CPU to close the cover. This is normal, I hope... Yes? I've also installed the northbridge heatsink.)

I've connected:
1. the two power power cords, one 24-pin the other 4-pin, from the power supply into the motherboard
2. the power switch from the case,
3. plugged the monitor into the VGA on back panel
4. plugged in USB keyboard
3. turned on the battery, pressed the power-on switch.

The power supply fans begin. the power led on case turns on; so does the light on my keyboard; the cpu fan juts for a short quarter-second then decides not to spin (i believe its header is in-put correctly). I am upset I didn't hear a beep (Is the PC speaker a requirement for this?) [This message has been edited a few times.] There is a display on the monitor...

hold on, maybe it's working.... tada!! "intel xeon 3060 processor" displayed on monitor - yes!! ....(bunch of things.. then) "disk boot failure. insert system disk and press enter." ecstatic! the fan is spinning now; i feel a faint heat from the heat sink. hoo ah!

Update: I've now plugged in the pc speaker; I heard the one beep!

[johnny_quest]

woohoo you're on your way. everyone has given great advice but don't let it overwhelm you, there's really nothin to it! Just do things one by one,

[alternate]

yeah, thanks everyone. I haven't been able to install vista, as i only have the upgrade version. i thought i would be able to install it with just the upgrade, but maybe not.

now i have two hard disks that were initially blank that i'd started to start installing windows on (without even starting) and that now make the system not start up the same way if connected. Before (and if they're disconnected) the final line on the display was "disk boot failure. insert system disk and press enter." That was good. Now, with at least one of the hard drives connected, it reads "Boot from CD: [next line] Missing Operating System_", with the underscore flashing and a nonresponsive keyboard. If the vista DVD is in the optical drive, the same lines read, except the second line is "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.... Missing operating system." Also, the keyboard is nonresponsive except for clicks from the pc speaker; however, the keyboard is responsive during the ellipses before it out-puts "Missing operating system." Pressing a key during this period makes the computer boot from the vista DVD as expected. However, it occurs that before beginning installation again, I can see that my hard drive is not detected on the list of things to repair (in a menu right before installation). Installation obvious cannot continue even if the computer gives me the option. The problem is defintely with my hard drives. Does someone know what i can do. (I will be getting an older version of windows soon enough to try, FYI.) Is there a way to erase my hard drives? Both have ended up like this the same way. They both SATA-II, and my other computers don't have SATA connectivity.

Meanwhile, I'd removed my laptop's harddrive and noticed it does not fit any of the IDE cables that came with the motherboard. (So at the exact moment I can't boot with it on my new computer.) Hmm. I also feel like I did a crappy job applying thermal paste between the northbridge chip and its heatsink. If I apply a little bit of constant force on one of the edges, the northbridge heatsink actually can be made to move with my finger as a see-saw about the center binding mechanism, which suggests that the thermal paste (artic silver 5) has lost its stickiness to such an extent to allow this (it wasn't a thin layer, as i remember; and it wasn't all that smoth either, but i figured with the force between the chip and heatsink, it would smooth out with excess pouring to the sides, which is okay)... But te northbridge heatsink is the warmest thing in my computer right now, which suggest that in spite of the see-saw phenomenon heat transfers yet... I don't mean to sound like a whiner, but i think i might, so i apologize.

P.S. I have one more sata hard drive left that i've not &&&&&& up. It's new like the others but still inside wrapping. I'd like to try to fix these before continuing...

[Whyzman]

Did you incorporate a floppy drive? Did you run Memtest86 and the Harddrive diagnostics? Did the keyboard work at that time? PS/2 keyboard...or USB?

Troubleshooting is best done with the fewest variables...

Remember, the idea was to test and add one component at a time...

Windows Vista upgrade should be fine as long as you've a disk from a prior OS to authenticate. You should be able to fresh install without actually having to upgrade using this approach... It is better to backup your important data and fresh install... upgrades seem to always be fraught with problems...

[jlreich]

Actually unless I am missing something it sounds like everything is going as it should. The only thing you are missing is a qualifying OS to upgrade from. Which is easy enough to overcome. All you need is to put in an old disc of a previous version in when it says it can't find a qualifying OS. At least this is how it went for XP. I haven't done an upgrade install with vista yet, but I am pretty sure it is the same. With XP you could even put in an OEM restore disc and it would accept it.

All the error messages you are getting are normal for your situation.

my hard drive is not detected on the list of things to repair (in a menu right before installation).
There are two reason I can think of for this. Either Vista doesn't see a half installed OS as repairable, or you need to go into the BIOS, enable Raid, but do not enable raid on any hard drive, just enable raid itself. A lot of system are set up so you have to enable raid in order for the SATA drive to be fully recognized.

If you feel like you did a poor job with the thermal paste on the NB heatsink, take it off and have a look at it and reapply or clean it up if needed. But the NB is going to be one of the hottest components in the system. NB's are hot these days. I assume it has to do with the fact that they do so much these days, often incorporating the duties that used to go to the SB and losing the SB entirely. Go into the BIOS and see what the temps are.

Really it sounds like you have done a great job so far. :) A couple little snags like this are to be expected on your first build. It's just your nerves make them seem like a much bigger deal than they are.

If it's going to be awhile until you get a copy of windows to upgrade from you can use a Linux live CD like Knoppix to boot from and make sure the system is working good.

[alternate]

Yes, I've run the memtest without no out-put errors. I wasn't able to find the hard disk diagnostics on or around the website (http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/products.asp?DriveID=250), but I'm pretty sure that they work.

Both my mouse and keyboard are USB and I enabled them in the CMOS in the integrated peripherals. So, they work at all times except after the hard drive is attempted to boot from. I do have a floppy drive, but given no flopplies, I ran memtest on a CD.

I enabled SATA Port0-3 Native Mode in the Bios in the integrated peripherals as well; is this what i should have done? I didn't find 'RAID' somewhere.

Actually, I do have an oem version of windows XP and tried to install it, but I think it detected the problem with my hard drive and decided to stay at one screen for a very long time (20+ minutes) before installation, at which point i decided to reboot and not re-attempt. Perhaps I should use my third disk?

[jlreich]

I enabled SATA Port0-3 Native Mode in the Bios in the integrated peripherals
Yes this is correct.

Also on the same screen go down to "OnBoard SATA/IDE Ctrl Mode" and make sure it is set to "AHCI". This enables all the nice features of SATA.

It's unusual these days but you're are going to have to install the SATA/AHCI drivers during windows setup.

Follow the directions starting at the bottom of page 72 of the mobo manual (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/Manual_DownloadFile.aspx?FileType=Manual&FileID=17502).

Note you will need a floppy disk. So if you don't have any you will need to get one.

Don't worry about what I said about raid. It doesn't apply to your system. Unless of course you want to use raid.

EDIT - Here is a direct link, meaning it should start the download when you click it, to the WD diagnostics (http://websupport.wdc.com/rd.asp?p=sw30&t=122&lang=en&s=http://support.wdc.com/download/dlg/Diag504cCD.iso) ISO. I choose the ISO so you can burn the image to a CD since you don't have any floppies handy. Here (http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp) is the link to choose which version you want if you need something else.

[alternate]

I ran into errors that prompted me to disable the SATA Port0-3 Native Mode in the integrated peripherals and reset to IDE the Onboard Sata/IDE control mode after some problem attempting to install Windows XP Pro. I don't know what the AHCI mode does, but it's okay because I have sucessfully installed Windows Vista after installing XP Pro. They co-exist on separate partitions on my 160 WD Caviar HDD. HEE! :D ;) :p :rolleyes: :)

:p ;) :rolleyes: :D :)

By the way, up to now only one HDD has been connected at a time, as I have no extras and my motherboard came with only two SATA cables, one for the optical, one for an HDD. What should i expect to happen when i get two more cables and attach my other two hard drives (both of which are not blank, as you know what i mean)? Should I bother with the AHCI or RAID things, disjunctively? By the way, before installing I ran the WD diagnostic test (thanks for finding that!) once or twice and was out-putted "
Please contact technical support and report the following error.... [next line] dlgdiag 5.04c - data lifeguard diagnostics [next line] ready expected [next line] error/status code: 0162 [next line] copyright 1996-2004 western digital corporation [next line] hit any key to continue...." Pressing the key gives the next screen with the same output except in place of "ready expected ready expected [next line] error/status code: 0162" there read "drq timeout [next line] error/status code: 0135." Eh, I don't think anyone should know the meaning of this, except maybe western digital.

Anyways....thanks a whole lot, jlreich (thanks for reading the mobo manual - fun!) and everyone,... you definitely made this assembly quite easy and informative.

By the way, is there a way to check the northbridge chip temperature? I can check the CPU temperature on the PC health menu in advanced BIOS options.

[alternate]

I have a question. Since I have two partitions, each with a different OS, should I install the various drivers on each or would installing the drivers on just one be sufficient? I'm a little confused about what a partition implies... I can see the other partition while running vista labeled as the other 'local disk' D. I'm worried I might accidentally delete things from that one... Can someone tell me about partitions?

[jlreich]

Hey it's up and running. :cool: :D

The NB temp is the system temp in the BIOS.

If you want to dual boot XP and vista you will need to install drivers while booted to each OS. And only install the vista specific drivers to vista. If all you want is Vista, you can delete the XP partition. But I would leave it as it is for now so if you find something you need doesn't work in vista you can boot to XP and run it.

Partitions can be likened to rooms in a house. It's all in the same building but walls have been put up to divide it into sections for different uses.

I would contact WD tech support as the diagnostics said you should.

Did you install the SATA/Raid drivers when installing windows?

[alternate]

I don't remember seeing this option during vista. I did see a quick line asking to press a certain button if i wished to install something close to or equal to SATA/Raid drivers during the XP installation, which (latter) installation I did again to make unuseless the second HDD (i've yet to do it on the third - I don't think I have a HDD problem, but ADHD quite possibly). I'm only sure I did not install them, according to the perception and memory I function from.

[jlreich]

I don't think I have a HDD problem, but ADHD quite possibly)
LOL! :D

It sounds like you have it up and running and all is going well. That's all that matters.

Vista does have a place to install third party SATA drivers, but it may not have needed them.

You can pick up SATA cables for your third hard drive at your local computer store pretty cheap.

[alternate]

I am wondering about the AHCI/RAID funtionality for my motherboard (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/Driver_Model.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2388&ProductName=GA-965GM-S2). Two (physically colored purple as opposed to yellow like the rest) SATA connectors are controlled by the Gibabyte SATA controller, and four (the rest) are controlled by the Intel ICH8 chip (as suggest phrases on p.21+22 of manual). The Intel website (http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/cs-022768.htm) and Gigabyte website offer a RAID/AHCI driver for the Intel chip and Gigabyte controller chip, respectively. Gigabyte's RAID/AHCI driver is different from the one on Intel's website. Can it be determined if Gigabyte's driver enables the function on just the two purple connectors or on all six of them? (The manual on pages 21 and 22 reads for both sets of connectors (for the Intel controller and the Gigabyte controller) "Please refer to the BIOS setting for the SATA 3Gb/s and install the proper driver in order to work properly." This suggests that Gigabyte's driver is sufficient for enabling RAID/AHCI in all six connectors, as i don't believe the included CD has the Intel driver. The example on p. 70 of manual of configuring two HDD's for RAID does not confirm this, however.)

Does "proper" functionality mean AHCI/RAID functionality? Without installation of these drivers, data still transfers through these connectors at the maximum transfer speed of 3Gbit/s, right? In my experience so far, all six connectors function (detect devices connected and allow them to function) without any drivers.

I don't think I want RAID, but I think I want AHCI. Does anyone recommend AHCI?

Thanks.

[jlreich]

Yes you do want it. AHCI gives support for NCQ that allows for increased performance. The drive is still running at 3Gb, but you are missing out on NCQ.