We’re not done with the nForce4’s storage features yet. Also included is support for command queuing. When partnered with a compatible hard drive, this technology allows the controller to shuffle the order of the data it requests from a given disk to take into account the physical facts of that data’s location on the drive.

In other words, the controller will request data out of sequence to optimize the time it takes the drive to physically read the data. This should increase drive performance, or at least decrease the performance hit imposed by a badly fragmented drive.

Finally, nVidia includes something they call the ‘disk alert system.’ Provided the motherboard manufacturer takes the time to implement the feature properly, when one of your hard disks fails, your system will pop up an alert window with a picture of your motherboard, indicating the exact controller where the failure has taken place.

I think this is more of a novelty feature, and not a useful as some form of LED indicator lights would be. Still, if you are unsure which drive is SATA0 or SATA1, I suppose it could be helpful. Next up, Gigabit networking, audio, and new software all from the nForce 4 chipset.