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View Full Version : MIVE-Z :Is it possible to connect sata devices to ports set to RAID when not in array


Cheeba
07-02-2011, 11:15 PM
First build so excuse the ignorance, but I plan on running my 2 Samsung f3 drives in Raid 0 on two of the Intel 3g ports. The other two Intel 3g ports I was going to run an optical drive and hook the other to my hot swap bay in my case (HAF X). I plan on turning off the Marvell controller. Using Intel 6g ports for SSD (510) and case hot swap bay.

Reading the manual I am confused by this, p. 4-22 "Due to chipset limitation, when set any of SATA ports to RAID mode, all SATA ports run at RAID mode together."

Can someone clarify what this means? Does this mean I can't connect my devices as described above?

Thanks
EAC
07-03-2011, 08:24 AM
The manual is technically corrent, all of the ports will be in RAID mode, but you can have drives which are outside of the main RAID array, so your proposed setup should work fine. Alternatively, you could use AHCI mode and use Windows RAID for your array.
Cheeba
07-03-2011, 10:35 AM
Thanks for clearing that up for me. Wasn't sure if I could have drives outside the array connected to sata ports set to raid.

After searching a bit more it seems I'll need to reinstall windows once I change the sata mode from ahci to raid in order to load the raid drivers in windows. Any way to avoid this? Could I install windows to the ssd with the sata port set to raid (without creating an array) so the drivers will load, then go back and add my drives and configure the array after installing the operating system?

Sorry to stray off topic.
Ferosin
07-03-2011, 06:38 PM
As long as the ports are set to raid mode when you install windows the raid drivers will be used. You do not need to have any disks already created in the raid array. Make sure you have a copy of the raid boot drivers on a usb or cd when installing.
Cheeba
07-03-2011, 07:50 PM
OK sounds good. The raid boot drivers are on the MB support DVD. Should I copy them over to USB floppy or can I load them straight off the support dvd during windows install (only one optical drive connected). Thanks again for helping out the new guy :D.