AHCI on ASUS MF(x38, ddr2), Vista64, WD Raptor

Hello

Background info --------------->
I put together my new build last night, and ran into some issues with installing Vista64. I had previously read that the "best" approach was using IDE mode for SATA HD, so when I went into bios pre-vista install, I left that default value (on my Maximus Formula Mobo). The installation program for Vista ran fine up to the point where it wants to know where to install itself. The drivers I had downloaded (Intel matrix storage manager ICHR9), did not show up in the list of supported hardware-drivers (from floppy and CD).

The problem solved itself when I changed SATA to AHCI (advanced host controller Interface) and tried Vista again. Now the correct ICHR9r drivers showed up and I could partition the drives and load the OS.

Everything seems to run fine, but I have only had the time for some limited testing.

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Questions-------------------------->

Are there any advantages/disadvantages in using AHCI mode on SATA hard-drives in general, or more specific on a WD Raptor 150?
If there are any disadvantages, what are they, and under what conditions do they manifest themselves?

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I realise this question might be somewhere between the motherboard section and the harddrive section of the forums.

Regards
Torbjörn