Whats Needed For My New RAID 0 Setup??

lettuce · 10 Dec 2008 at 18:12

Have just purchased 2 300GB VelociRaptor's and will be setting up a RAID configuration. I have an ABIT IP35 Pro mobo, and am all new to having a RAID setup, i want to run the 2 drives in RAID 0 configuration. I shall be doing a fresh install ofvista 64, and am just woundering what steps i need to tak to set RAID 0 up on the ip35 pro mobo.

I have looked on the ABIT website and have noticed that they have a, INTEL Application Accelerator RAID Driver , Intel RAID/AHCI Installation Disk & JMicron RAID/AHCI Installation Disk, which of these do i need for getting RAID up and running, and do i need to run these in the vista setup process, if so how?

lettuce · 10 Dec 2008 at 18:59

Ok thanks for the reply, so in the BIOS i need to set the Hardisk to AHCI mode, id need to burn the 'Intel RAID/AHCI Installation Disk' on to a CD and then F6 (i think its F6) at the start of the vista installation, and then after vista has been installed use the 'INTEL Application Accelerator RAID Driver', and i should aviod the JMicron installation disk, is that the jist of it?

Any suggestions for a good guide?

EDIT: Just seen Mike1983's post, thanks mike

lettuce · 10 Dec 2008 at 19:14

Ok cheers, have looked on the intel website and im not 100% sure with Matrix storage manager driver im looking for, are these not on thr ABIT site?

EDIT: found them now i think: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/fil...dows+Vista*+64&lang=eng&strOSs=150&submit=Go!, but i only see the one Matrix storage manager, you mention above that there is 2?

Would it be best to get the RAID drivers from the actual ABit website, as wouldnt these be specific to the Ip35 Pro mobo?

lettuce · 11 Dec 2008 at 16:54

Well apparently the date on the HD's are June, so dont know if that would be the launch FW or not?? Now cos im going RAID 0, if one of the HD fails, they bith fail! So what safe guards can i put in place?

lettuce · 13 Dec 2008 at 15:52

Mike1983 said:
How's things going with this Lettuce?

Got the drives now, just awaiting my Antec 1200 case and 720W Enermax Infinity PSU, and then will install them

lettuce · 16 Dec 2008 at 17:49

Ok im at a complete loss as to which Raid driver i need form the Intel website, to install at the vista64 installation there are sooo many files, any help please?

lettuce · 16 Dec 2008 at 18:38

i take it i can stick the files in the 64-bit Floppy Configuration Utility.zip fiolder on a cd?? And then install the, Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager once windows has been installed?

lettuce · 17 Dec 2008 at 13:02

Mike1983 said:
Cool, didn't realise you had stuff outstanding. Remember to let us know how you got on.

Thanks

Mike

Mike, I noticed in the abit bios there are 2 pages that have options relating to Raid, I think they are, IDE mode, and Onboard sata chip??, do I need to set both of these options to Raid?

lettuce · 17 Dec 2008 at 15:37

cheers mike, I enabled both options in the bios and the raid setup went fine and installed vista without a hitch. I'll look when I'm a home and see which one I need to disable. On a side note when you fitted the raptors in your case did the sata plugs plug in snuggly to the rear of the raptors??, as my sata cables don't seem to clip and lock in place on my raptors like they do on my other hard disks and can be pulled out with very little effort!?

lettuce · 17 Dec 2008 at 18:59

HD Tach doesnt appear to work with Vista 64 does it?? Regarding the sata plugs, just seem strange that both of the raptor drives have the same problem.

The new PSU i got, Enermax Infiniti isnt 100% compatable with the Ip35-Pro however, the system will shut down, then a second later power back up again, to stay on for 5-8 seconds then finally shut down properly, very strange. So ill have to take the PC apart again to swap out the PSU (probably go for the, Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 750W) so will have a better look at the sata plugs then

lettuce · 17 Dec 2008 at 20:57

Mike1983 said:
With regards to your SATA plugs, I note you are now bringing in your PSU into the discussion. What are the cables you are having loose fitting troubles with, are they the power connectors from the PSU or the data cables from the motherboard?

I was referring to the SATA data cables in my earlier post.

yeah i was talking about the sata cable, the red ones that come with the IP35 Pro

lettuce · 18 Dec 2008 at 01:34

Ok heres my first bench for the 2 300GB Velocaraptors in raid 0.....

Not sure if theres anything i can do to increase performace??

lettuce · 18 Dec 2008 at 09:56

cool, I'll try that when I get home. What does burst speed help with in real life performance btw?

lettuce · 18 Dec 2008 at 14:28

Should i enable 'advanced Performance' then?? As i dont have a backup PSU ???

lettuce · 24 Dec 2008 at 14:42

Ok been getting a 'A Drive In A RAID 0 Volume Is Failing' from Matrix Storage Controller, as posted in this thread...

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17956059

This is the Boot up screen i get, does everything look as it should (apart from the error message)

Now i had thought i had gotten the latest drivers from the intel site, but at the top it has a date of 03-05-2007!? Also its listing a 'AHCI BIOS' is this correct, i though it would be under RAID?

lettuce · 27 Dec 2008 at 12:42

Mike1983, have you had any problems with your RAID setup??, as you have similar setup to me. 2 times now ive had Matrix Storage Controller report to me that one of the drives in my RAID array is failing. I have now reinstalled Vista on my old drive and removed the RAID 0 array and scanned both my raptor drives for errors and are both fine. So it must be the Array on the IP35-Pro, just wondered if you had any problems??