[CentOS] Install of 5.4 i386 formatting is very slow

>Why is my SATA drive showing up under /dev/hdb?

That was my hunch:)
Config your bios to use AHCI, not compat/ide/or whatever
mode it's in now...

Watch your fstab/initrd(if custom) if you boot off this disc.
If you are using default lvm/initrd, you'll be ok with a change
like this.