SATA drive spindown, laptop mode, and hdparm--what works and how?

enigma_0Z · 04-26-2008, 08:03 PM

I'm trying to configure the spindown on my SATA hard disk and it seems that hdparm has no effect, and some internet research confirms this...

I have laptop mode enabled, but most resources state that most SATA disks manage their own spindowns...

So what's correct? What is making my disk spindown, should I disable it, or is this something the hardware does automagically when my laptop goes off AC.

Oh yeah, and my hardware:
Dell Vostro 1400
Intel-based chipset
and so on. Any more info necessary?

GrapefruiTgirl · 05-02-2008, 03:11 PM

One thing to consider is that HDparm is not the proper tool for interacting with SATA or SCSI devices. Look into SDparm, and/or sg3_tools (sg3 Utilities) for the hdparm equivalents for SATA & SCSI drives.
(The above is based on my own experience with my SATA optical drive, and I am assuming that a SATA hard disk would be similar)

I don't use a laptop, so I cannot comment on specifics, but it does seem logical and possible that a decent laptop may use a hardware mechanism when it changes from AC to DC.

Sasha