Dynamically switching command types to a mass storage drive

A device, comprising:

• storage driver logic to:
• receive a first new access request to a mass storage disk;
• determine a total number of access requests to the mass storage disk received in a window of time, the window of time starting at a first point in time and ending at the time of the receipt of the first new access request;
• decrement a request frequency counter when the total number of access requests received over the period of time is greater than or equal to a request threshold number;
• increment the request frequency counter when the total number of access requests received over the period of time is less than the request threshold number;
• generate a legacy advanced technology attachment (ATA)-type command for the first new access request when the request frequency counter is greater than or equal to a request frequency counter threshold number;
• and
• generate a native command queue (NCQ)-type command for the first new access request when the request frequency counter is less than the request frequency counter threshold number.

A system, comprising:

• a memory to store an operating system;
• a mass storage disk;
• and storage driver logic to:
• receive a first new access request to the mass storage disk from the operating system;
• determine a total number of access requests to the mass storage disk received in a window of time, the window of time starting at a first point in time and ending at the time of the receipt of the first new access request;
• decrement a request frequency counter when the total number of access requests received over the period of time is greater than or equal to a request threshold number;
• increment the request frequency counter when the total number of access requests received over the period of time is less than the request threshold number;
• generate a legacy advanced technology attachment (ATA)-type command for the first new access request when the request frequency counter is greater than or equal to a request frequency counter threshold number;
• and
• generate a native command queue (NCQ)-type command for the first new access request when the request frequency counter is less than the request frequency counter threshold number.

A method, comprising:

• receiving a new access request to a mass storage disk;
• determining a total number of access requests to the mass storage disk received in a window of time, the window of time starting at a first point in time and ending at the time of the receipt of the new access request;
• generating a native command queue (NCQ)-type command for the new access request when the total number of access requests received over the period of time is greater than or equal to a request threshold number;
• and
• generating a legacy advanced technology attachment (ATA)-type command for the new access request when the total number of access requests received over the period of time is less than the request threshold number.