SSD and RAIDed HDD's on same controller?

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Don
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Everywhere I've read says to put storage type as AHCI in bios.
I've done this and installed Win7 to a new SSD.

Now I also haev 3 HDD's connected to the controller, but cant RAID them.
Do I need to enable RAID in the Bios and will this effect the SSD?
 
You need to enable RAID in the BIOS.

This shouldn't affect the SSD.

It won't be part of the RAID array so TRIM will work and RAID mode offers the same features as AHCI.
 
Tried and it just gave me a flashing dot instead of windows loading, I'll give it another bash.

Another Q, If I have the SSD and the striped raid array on the same controller Im not gonna see any issues am I?

Appears the Marvell ports are non bootable, so cant move the SSD to them.
And theres only 2 ports so not enough for the raid lol

off to try :p
 
Are you saying you want one array of disks on AHCI (SSDs) and the others on RAID-0 on the same controller?

This can't be done, not on the same controller as far as i know.
 
Nah I think I misread the original SSD thing saying the disk had to be on AHCI mode, I read that as the controller.

I've just rebooted in RAID mode, created my HDD Array on the Intel controller, left the SSD on the same controller but not as part of the array...

Instant BSOD that goes straight off :(
Switched back to AHCI in bios, rebooted and got the repair windows/start normally option. normal startup and fine.

So on the intel controller I have:

Single 120 GB SSD
Samsung 320GB
Samsung 320GB
Samsung 320GB

what Im after is:
Single 120 GB SSD

RAID
Samsung 320GB
Samsung 320GB
Samsung 320GB
Striped
 
I'm assuming we're talking a single SSD and a RAID array with the 3 HDDs?

Did you make sure the SSD was still listed as the first boot device after you created the RAID array?

Did you have any other disks connected when you installed Windows on the SSD?
 
yeah surveyor thats it.
Yeah the bootable sI had was SSd and RAID Array.
Made sure was still on SSD.

Just running a quick few tests on the HDDS when unraided just to check for errors or anything

Can't make my OS image until I have this sorted as wanted to change all the default paths and such :(
 
nope made sure was just the SSD, the USB HDD MIGHT have been attached tho I've had it in and out of all 3 rigs this morning lol
All 3 HDDs came back fine, no errors and nothing showing in SMARTinfo
 
Is the 100MB boot partition on the SSD?

If you had an external drive connected it might have ended up on that.

Ultimately it might be easiest to reinstall Windows with the SATA mode set to RAID but with the HDDs disconnected while you do it.
 
You can't change from AHCI to RAID after Windows is installed. There is a registry fix you can apply. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976

Also, you might find performance of the SSD is crippled by the hardware RAID. I had my SSD and 2 x HDDs in RAID 0 on my Crosshair V, and while the array was super fast, the SSD was less than half its rated speed.

The solution: use the built in Windows RAID! Set the drives to AHCI and then go to disk manager in Windows and create a RAID 0 array from the HDDs there. Now both run at full speed.
 
Ah ballsacks :(
few reboots and a few tweaks to the bios, still BSOD :(
Yea the 100Mb doodah is on the SSD.

I can't even test is it cripples the SSD as I've reinstalled everything now :(
Lemme have a look at the windows raid then

LOL
Went itno disk management...
I've set the Bios back to AHCI and I currently have a 894Gb drive, this ofc is the 3x320Gb F1's
I have no idea how it's showing as a single drive :/

It shows up as Intel Raid0 Volume, Intel Matrix manager thing however shows no arrys :/

If I run that MS fixit for the Error code will I be able to go back to AHCI?

Heres a screenshot:
2zfluf5.jpg
 
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I might be misunderstanding the problem here, but if you are switching from an AHCI enabled OS, you're system has already activated NQC. Switching to IDE or RAID turns this off in the BIOS but it's still enabled in the BIOS.

Try the following:

1. Set the system to AHCI,
2. Startup "Regedit
3. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlset / Services
4. Open msahci
5. In the right field left click on "start" and go to Modify
6. In the value Data field enter "3" and click "ok" (if AHCI is enabled this will be "0"
7. exit "Regedit"
8. Reboot PC and enter BIOS as normal
9. Change the SATA Mode from AHCO to IDE or RAID.
 
Yea I thought the whole controller had to be AHCI for the SSD :(

The last few posts have gotten me thinking, I'm gonne create a acronis image fo the SSD now, then try the regedit youve posted, Im guessing its the same as the fixit that was linked?
 
I might be misunderstanding the problem here, but if you are switching from an AHCI enabled OS, you're system has already activated NQC. Switching to IDE or RAID turns this off in the BIOS but it's still enabled in the BIOS.

Try the following:

1. Set the system to AHCI,
2. Startup "Regedit
3. Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlset / Services
4. Open msahci
5. In the right field left click on "start" and go to Modify
6. In the value Data field enter "3" and click "ok" (if AHCI is enabled this will be "0"
7. exit "Regedit"
8. Reboot PC and enter BIOS as normal
9. Change the SATA Mode from AHCO to IDE or RAID.

BSOD still :(

Will try the MS fixit

EDIT:
Ran the Fixit and rebooted.
RAID mode and In windows WOO!

It did installer different drivers for all my drives, rebooting now then Ill run some SSD Benchmarks to make sure the performance isnt affected too much

EDIT: Christ it reboots fast lol

EDIT:
BEnches from earlier on AHCI
2qx2fl3.jpg


Benches now on RAID (with no array yet setup)
2hcq43m.jpg


EDIT:

Array added and back on desktop!
ALMOST THERE!

EDIT:
Heres the Raid Array
2jcd5s0.jpg


Gonna go retest SSD

EDIT: SSD Results With the RAID setup and array active
8yg9zl.jpg
 
Last edited:
tooka whiel but yeah seems to be running fine now.

thanks for the help guys :)
Gonna get my user files and folders sorted, install the usual and make another acronis image :)
 
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