What is the Intel Application Accelerator Utility and should I use it?
The Intel Application Accelerator is only for Intel 810 chipsets and higher, and is available for Windows 98 through XP. It will basically upgrade the drivers for your IDE interface and offers performance enhancements to increase hard disk access. It is not required, but is recommended. Here’s what the Intel website
The Intel® Application Accelerator is a performance software package for desktop PCs using select Intel® chipsets. The following sections describe the major benefits of installing Intel Application Accelerator.
Enhanced System Performance
Intel Application Accelerator reduces the storage sub-system bottleneck, enabling faster delivery of data from the hard drive to the processor and other system level hardware.
Improved Application and Game Performance
Intel Application Accelerator provides accelerated disk I/O for games, graphics applications, disk utilities, and media authoring applications.
Optimizations for Intel® Pentium® 4 Processors
Intel Application Accelerator enables a performance-enhancing data pre-fetcher for Intel® Pentium® 4 processor-based systems.
Faster Boot Time
Intel Application Accelerator delivers faster overall system boot times by significantly accelerating the load time of the OS – enabling you to build Pentium 4 processor-based systems with a better overall end-user experience.
Large Hard Drive Support
Intel Application Accelerator supports 48-bit Logical Block Addressing (48-bit LBA) for 137 GB and larger hard drives. For additional information, go to the Large Hard Drive (48-bit LBA) Support page.
Automatic Selection of Highest DMA Transfer Mode
Intel Application Accelerator automatically enables the highest transfer mode supported by the ATA/ATAPI device and Intel chipset. For example, a CD-RW drive that supports a maximum of UDMA-2 will be set to this mode with no interaction required. Two devices that are on the same ATA channel can even be using different transfer modes.
Diagnostic Utility
Included in the installation package is the Intel Application Accelerator diagnostic utility that provides detailed information on all of the system ATA and ATAPI storage devices including hard drives, CD-ROM drives, DVD-ROM drives, CD-RW drives, and other ATAPI removable media drives. This utility also allows modification of settings for transfer modes.
Upgrade Path from Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver
Customers who are currently using the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver can upgrade to the Intel Application Accelerator for the latest enhancements and updates. Intel Application Accelerator has replaced the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver.
When you need help, Sweetwater has the answers!
Our knowledge base contains over 28,000 expertly written tech articles that will give you answers and help you get the most out of your gear. Our pro musicians and gear experts update content daily to keep you informed and on your way. Best of all, it’s totally FREE, and it’s just another reason that you get more at Sweetwater.com.
Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. Select manufacturers may require that only the manufacturer’s products qualify towards the minimum purchase amount needed to be eligible for promotional financing. Otherwise, an invoice that meets the minimum purchase amount and contains at least one qualifying manufacturer product is eligible for promotional financing. No interest will be charged on promo purchase balance, and equal monthly payments are required on promo purchase until it is paid in full. The payments equal the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next whole dollar. These payments may be higher than the payments that would be required if this purchase was a non-promo purchase. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to the prior months’ rounding. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.
Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. No interest will be charged on the promo balance if you pay it off, in full, within the promo period. If you do not, interest will be charged on the promo balance from the purchase date. The required minimum monthly payments may or may not pay off the promo balance before the end of the promo period, depending on purchase amount, promo length and payment allocation. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases and, after promo period ends, to the promo balance. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.
The estimated required monthly payment shown which excludes taxes and delivery equals the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next cent. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to this rounding. These payments apply only with the financing offer shown. If you make these payments by the due date each month, you should pay off this amount financed within the promo period, if it is the only balance you are paying off. If you have other balances on your account, this payment will be added to any other minimum monthly payments.
Applies only to select items from this manufacturer. Ask your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for more details.