MSI releases utility to help users reconnect SATA devices to non Intel ports

MSI 6 Series SATA SCAN eases worries of MSI 6 Series users

2011/2/11

【Taipei-Taiwan】World-renown mainboard and graphics card manufacturer MSI announced the MSI 6 Series SATA SCAN, an utility to cope with Intel’s statement about Intel 6 Series chipset design error on 31 January 2011 in the USA. In addition to easily optimizing the SATA installation status of MSI’s 6 Series mainboards, MSI 6 Series SATA SCAN can solve all known problems found in the Intel 6 Series chipsets.

By running the MSI 6 Series SATA SCAN, users will not need to open the case to detect the SATA connection status of their systems. With the MSI 6 Series SATA SCAN, populated SATA ports will be highlighted for users to determine if their devices have been connected to the black SATA 3Gb/s ports supplied by the Intel 6 Series chipsets. The specially designed arrow signs will guide users to prioritize the connection of SATA devices to the white SATA 6Gb/s ports. Running the MSI 6 Series SATA SCAN and the following scenarios will appear:

Scenario 1: All SATA devices are connected to the SATA 6Gb/s ports. When no device is connected to the any of the affected black Intel PCH SATA 3Gb/s ports, the message ‘SATA configuration is OK’ will pop up.

Scenario 2: When SATA devices are connected to the affected black Intel PCH SATA 3Gb/s ports, and there are unpopulated Intel PCH SATA 6Gb/s ports, the SATA SCAN will advise you, ‘Please move devices from black Intel PCH SATA 2.0 ports to the available white SATA 3.0 ports.’

Scenario 3: When SATA devices are connected to the affected Intel PCH SATA 3Gb/s ports, and the two Intel PCH SATA 6Gb/s ports are populated, the SATA SCAN will advise you, ‘Any use of Intel PCH SATA 2.0 ports is not recommended.’

If only one or two SATA devices are used, simply connect them to the two white SATA 6Gb/s ports to stay away from the known problems of the Intel 6 Series chipsets. If three or more SATA devices are used, users are recommended to connect important devices, such as HDD or SSD, to the white SATA 6Gb/s ports. Users can connect other less important devices, such as the DVD-ROM, to the black SATA 3Gb/s ports. We will also suggest you to upgrade to the same model of MSI’s 6 Series mainboards using the Intel 6 Series chipsets with B3 Stepping or install SATA 6Gb/s expansion cards to ensure device safety.

Please note that the MSI 6 Series SATA SCAN is designed for MSI’s 6 Series mainboards only. Consumers who have bought an MSI’s 6 Series mainboard can download the utility here. The applied models are as below: