RAID and AHCI are two different things -- one isn't a pre-requisite for the other. In fact, they're two different operational modes for the SATA channels.
That said, neither is required for SSD support. You can replace the hard drive with a 2.5" SATA SSD (just be sure you realize you may need a spacer to install an SSD, as hard drives then were 9.5 mm in height, while SSDs are usually 5 mm or slimmer).
It's also possible that because this system is an early SATA implementation, it may use a SATA to EIDE bridge (hence the absence of AHCI), which will limit the SSD to EIDE bandwidth (it'll still be far faster than any spinning SATA drive, though).
I started questioning my question after posting, is AHCI a must for an SSD, looks like is not. My understanding was in order for TRIM to work it would be. & the only way to get TRIM enabled on these older Dell machines was to select RAID for the SATA mode operation. Again, guess I was wrong, TRIM is the best way to keep the SSD optimized but not required.
ejn63
10 Elder
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30.7K Posts
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September 1st, 2020 10:00
RAID and AHCI are two different things -- one isn't a pre-requisite for the other. In fact, they're two different operational modes for the SATA channels.
That said, neither is required for SSD support. You can replace the hard drive with a 2.5" SATA SSD (just be sure you realize you may need a spacer to install an SSD, as hard drives then were 9.5 mm in height, while SSDs are usually 5 mm or slimmer).
It's also possible that because this system is an early SATA implementation, it may use a SATA to EIDE bridge (hence the absence of AHCI), which will limit the SSD to EIDE bandwidth (it'll still be far faster than any spinning SATA drive, though).
bacillus1
2 Intern
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415 Posts
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September 1st, 2020 11:00
daemoncycler
2 Intern
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158 Posts
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September 1st, 2020 12:00
@ejn63
I started questioning my question after posting, is AHCI a must for an SSD, looks like is not. My understanding was in order for TRIM to work it would be. & the only way to get TRIM enabled on these older Dell machines was to select RAID for the SATA mode operation. Again, guess I was wrong, TRIM is the best way to keep the SSD optimized but not required.
Thank you & thanks for the tip on the spacer :O)
@bacillus1
Thanks for pointing me to drives with adapters already included.
I am going to go ahead & give the SSD a shot.
Thanks guys (gals).
p.s. over the weekend I did install Windows 10 (x64) on the Vostro & it ran fine with only 2GB RAM.