AppleIntelPIIXATA kext fully working for all ICHx Mobo (All Sata Channels working), Fully working kext (Snow Leopard, Leopard & Tiger version 1.1) Options

[-DuNe-]

Hey all,

Here you can find the newest AppleIntelPIIXATA kext driver for Intel ICHx chipsets.(ICH0 to 8, 9 and 10)
All your sata ports should now work correctly. No more need of the old AppleVIAATA kext.
This has been tested and is know to work on the Asus P5K, P5K-E and Asus P5K Premium.
It should work with all mobos ICH based : 965 DS3, P5B, P5K-SE, P5K-VM, P5K pro etc etc.
Drive(s) are UDMA enabled, and fully working without i/o errors and this even with more than 3GB.

AppleVIAATA should be removed or at least IChx ID inside of it to avoid conflicts.(In case your AppleViaAta handle other hardware than IChx: Marvell IDE for exemple)

This fix works as well in IDE Enhanced Mode or in IDE Compatible Mode.

Give me feedback for any issues.

The two ICH9 sata controllers in action :



Here the link of the IOATAFamily kext with the new AppleIntelPIIXATA embedded in its plugin folder:

31.10.2009:

Snow Leopard 10.6.1 Universal version (32 & 64 bits) ! (Rev1: added missing Ich8 ID) : Here

Snow Leopard 10.6.1 64 bits version Only ! : Here

27.08.2009:
Here the 10.5.8 IOATAFamiliy Kext with new patched AppleIntelPIIXATA (ICH10 Support added too):

Leopard 10.5.8 : Here

16.05.2009:

Updated with the 10.5.7 IOATAFamily kext:

Leopard 10.5.7 : Here

06.02.2009:

Just a little update for 10.5.6 users, AppleIntelPIIXATA is still the same but IOATAFamily kext change so i did this little modification for you:

Leopard 10.5.6 : Here

28.02.2008:

NEW VERSION V1.1 and also TIGER VERSION (updated the Plist and changed the controller code detection in a cleaner way):

Leopard 10.5.2 to 10.5.5 : Here

Tiger 10.4.1x : Here


Installation :

If you use Kalyway distro , you can use kexthelper (you will find it in Application folder).
To remove AppleViaAta kext no need to open a terminal :
browse to your Extensions folder with the Finder, find the AppleViaAta kext and delete it.
After that , browse to your Library folder and delete the Extensions.mkext file
Reboot.
when back to your desktop open the diskutil app and do a repair permission.

if you use others distro , you can download kexthelper and use the same method than for the Kalyway.
If you do not want to use kexthelper do this:

Browse with the finder to your Extensions folder. Backup the IOATAFAmily.kext where you want.
Delete the one in the Extensions Folder. Drop in the Extensions folder the new one with the fix.
Delete AppleViaAta.kext if you want.
Open a terminal and type:

sudo -s (the system will ask you your password)
chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/IOATAFamily.kext
chmod -R 755 /System/Library/Extensions/IOATAFamily.kext
rm -f /System/Library/Extensions.mkext

close the terminal and reboot.
when back do a repair permission with disk util.

[cyclonefr]

Good job Dune, you did it !

So was is really that PCS thing ?

EDIT : I just noticed you didn't edit that... hmmm i'm gonna try your kext tomorrow so i'm not giving any feedbacks for now, I'm really curious what was the bug.

[-DuNe-]

Good job Dune, you did it !

So was is really that PCS thing ?

EDIT : I just noticed you didn't edit that... hmmm i'm gonna try your kext tomorrow so i'm not giving any feedbacks for now, I'm really curious what was the bug.

No, that was a bug in the apple code The second controller could not be seen cos of it. i corrected that.

Edit: contact me on irc if you want details on what i changed in the code

[cyclonefr]

Seems to work : I don't have more than 2 HDDs to be sure so I can't tell (I know I could unplug my hdd to plug 3 or 4 but i'm too lazy ) but at least ioreg is telling me that 2926 AND 2921 are working fine And booting up the system is normal, doesn't take further time than before.

[Dense]

Very nice work.

Why this has fallen to page 2 I will never understand. This is a fairly significant development.

[joe75]

Great job, -DuNe-

[Hyper X]

Does this work, this is HUGE! This should be front page news!!!!

[cyclonefr]

Let's up this I'm sure some people didn't see this topic !

[dnjmarlboro]

Hi all,

will try the new driver this evening (plain P5K).
I never used the IDE Mode in Bios (only AHCI), because of getting kernel panics every time using ide Mode and extracting big files with prior drivers.

One question: Will this driver regonize all 4 Sata Ports in IDE AND in AHCI Mode?

Thanks

[-DuNe-]

Hi all,

will try the new driver this evening (plain P5K).
I never used the IDE Mode in Bios (only AHCI), because of getting kernel panics every time using ide Mode and extracting big files with prior drivers.

One question: Will this driver regonize all 4 Sata Ports in IDE AND in AHCI Mode?

Thanks

Yes, this driver will recognise all 4 sata ports, you have to use Enhanced Ide mode.
you will have no more kernel panics with it.
Don't forget to remove the buggy AppleViaAATA kext.

[QuietOC]

Yes, this driver will recognise all 4 sata ports, you have to use Enhanced Ide mode.
you will have no more kernel panics with it. ;)

Cool, I will try it on my IP35-E, thanks!

[InorganicMatter]

I'm running a Badaxe 2 and have never had stability or speed problems running my drives in native SATA mode (AHCI, I think?). Is this for me, or people with 965 boards?

[-DuNe-]

I'm running a Badaxe 2 and have never had stability or speed problems running my drives in native SATA mode (AHCI, I think?). Is this for me, or people with 965 boards?

If you have AHCI use it anyway that's better. but those who have P5k or others mobo with only ICH9, ICH8 and not the R version should use my fix. Because before OsX wasn't able to see all the ports of their mobo. With AppleViaAta it worked, but it was buggy.
For them, my fix is the only way to have their 4 ports sata fast and stable.

[dnjmarlboro]

Hi,
first testing with Plain P5K:
- deleted AppleVIAATA
- installed your new IOATA driver
- flashed to newest Bios (used P5KR Bios before because of AHCI and support for newer CPUs)


=works without any kernel panics (extracting large files). All Sata ports are regonized!
Thank you very much!

But seems to be a little bit slower than AHCI Mode. Anyone else can confirm this?

Here are my xbench Results with new driver:

Results 49.21
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.5.2 (9C31)
Physical RAM 4096 MB
Model Mac Pro
Drive Type SAMSUNG HD501LJ SAMSUNG HD501LJ
Disk Test 49.21
Sequential 112.65
Uncached Write 134.65 82.67 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 130.55 73.87 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 78.32 22.92 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 130.69 65.68 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 31.48
Uncached Write 9.84 1.04 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 130.61 41.81 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 91.91 0.65 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 144.64 26.84 MB/sec [256K blocks]

[-DuNe-]

But seems to be a little bit slower than AHCI Mode. Anyone else can confirm this?

My results with the same hard disk than you on a P5K-E.

Enhanced IDE mode:

Results 68.22
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.5.2 (9C31)
Physical RAM 2048 MB
Model MacPro3,1
Drive Type SAMSUNG HD501LJ SAMSUNG HD501LJ

Disk Test 68.22

Sequential 126.65
Uncached Write 152.11 93.40 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 146.18 82.71 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 90.19 26.39 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 141.25 70.99 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Random 46.69
Uncached Write 15.90 1.68 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 181.43 58.08 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 94.45 0.67 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 149.59 27.76 MB/sec [256K blocks]

AHCI mode:

Results 65.40
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.5.2 (9C31)
Physical RAM 2048 MB
Model MacPro3,1
Drive Type SAMSUNG HD501LJ

Disk Test 65.40

Sequential 115.80
Uncached Write 153.82 94.44 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 146.41 82.84 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 71.10 20.81 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 139.92 70.32 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Random 45.57
Uncached Write 15.52 1.64 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 169.30 54.20 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 92.97 0.66 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 149.88 27.81 MB/sec [256K blocks]

So no, i do not think that is slower

[dnjmarlboro]

Strange, just tested a 500gb WD AAKS (my Time Machine)

Results 75.86
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.5.2 (9C31)
Physical RAM 4096 MB
Model Mac Pro
Drive Type WDC WD5000AAKS-00TMA0 WDC WD5000AAKS-00TMA0
Disk Test 75.86
Sequential 115.70
Uncached Write 110.16 67.64 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 110.77 62.67 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 109.51 32.05 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 136.32 68.51 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 56.43
Uncached Write 21.28 2.25 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 163.13 52.22 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 92.66 0.66 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 143.40 26.61 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Same results for Samsung and WD on Ports 1-4

Maybe i should install new on the AAKS :-(

BTW: are some HDDs highly recommend (exspecially in speed) for running OSX?

[QuietOC]

BTW: are some HDDs highly recommend (exspecially in speed) for running OSX?

Pretty much the same as Windows for normal desktop use (see the database at storagereview.com).

Here's my Raptor equipped iMac:

Results 139.13
System Info
Xbench Version 1.3
System Version 10.4.7 (8K1106)
Physical RAM 3072 MB
Model iMac5,1
Drive Type WDC WD1500ADFD-00NLR5
Disk Test 79.54
Sequential 158.47
Uncached Write 194.38 119.35 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 171.79 97.20 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 121.20 35.47 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 165.96 83.41 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Random 53.09
Uncached Write 17.42 1.84 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Write 196.66 62.96 MB/sec [256K blocks]
Uncached Read 133.31 0.94 MB/sec [4K blocks]
Uncached Read 186.56 34.62 MB/sec [256K blocks]

Xbench disk numbers are probably mostly meaningless.

[dnjmarlboro]

Just installed new on my WD AAKS (i love Timemachine).

Not only my xbench are scores way higher now, the system also feels snappier...


Could some Mod pin this thread? This ist the best driver for ICH9 - big thanks to the developers!

[spanakorizo]

nice dune i'll check it as soon as i'll return home and i'll post feedback

[spanakorizo]

everything works well and i'm back in IDE mode
all the drives are recognized
i didn't have the time to do tests like burning/rendering/copying big files
i hope it's stable

nice work