Setting up RAID on X58 Pro-e MB

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dtebo

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Current setup as far as HDD's go:

SATA1: WD Raptor - contains OS: Win7 64
SATA2: WD Raptor - used as a scratch disk for photo editing
SATA3: WD 500GB - used for storing data
SATA4: DVD ROM
SATA5: DVD ROM
SATA6: empty
SATA7: empty

Current drives and connections are all SATA II.

I picked up 3 WD 1TB drives (SATA III) to be used in RAID 5 configuration, which gives me 1 more drive than I have SATA connections. If I can implement the RAID the 500GB drive will not be needed, which would bring me back down to 7 drives all together.

I've read most of the threads on this section that pertain to RAID, so I've picked up a few things here and there. I've also downloaded the manual and read Appendix C. Within Appendix they gives instruction for "if you are installing the OS follow thses directions". The 'if' appears to indicate the is another option, but I have found no directions for cases where the OS is already installed, which leads to question #1: Can the on-board RAID be setup without re-installing Windows 7? I would like to avoid re-installing if possible.

I'va also looked into an add-on card for RAID, which I could get in the SATA III flavor matching the addition drives that will be used for the RAID. I'm under the assumption the add-on card could be installed without re-installing the OS. The downside that I've read is the add-on card slows down the boot sequence in addition to spending more money. How is the boot sequence for the on-board RAID for this MB?

If I choose to use the on-board RAID how should the drives be configured (what SATA connection)? Can the OS drive be part of the RAID controller (SATA1-6) even thou it's not a RAID drive? Can the DVD ROM's be in the RAID controller. Am I better off getting an add-on card for internal SATA connections (non RAID card) for misc drives? Does the OS drive and atleast one DVD ROM need to be somewhere on SATA1-7 for booting purposes? I'm just not sure how the drives should be setup.

I just would like to see what my options are before going any farther and spending more money or time.

Thanks,

Dennis
 
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That'll work if you are on Professional or better if I'm not mistaken. I'm on the Home Premium version.

Edit- After looking into the Windows RAID, it looks like RAID 5 is not supported, which is what I wanted to do. I may have to rethink this situation.

Dennis
 
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dtebo - the Intel ICH10R controller supports SATA RAID in the following configurations;

RAID TYPES = 0/1/5/10

When you enter the RAID BIOS (ctrl+i) during boot you'll be presented with the RAID setup screen.  From there you can pick which connected drives will be part of the RAID array.  Yes, you're OS drive will show up in there too - but since you don't want the OS drive in the array - you just don't select it at the setup screen.

You can do exactly what you want to do without any issues.  The only constraints are the number of available SATA ports :)

The RAID BIOS is fairly self-explanatory, but if you have any questions holler and I'll help you set it up.

Essentially the setup steps are simple

1. Enter RAID BIOS
2. Select create a RAID array
3. Name the RAID array
4. Choose the type of RAID array you want to create (i.e. 0/1/5/10)
4. Select the disks that will be part of the array
5. Choose stripe size
6. Save and exit

 
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wevsspot -

I've been into the RAID bios and it is fairly self explanatory. I did set up RAID 5 on the 3 new disks, but the system will not boot after exiting the RAID bios. As a matter of fact the system will not boot as long as the bios is set to 'RAID'.

At this point I'm under the assumption that Windows 7 must be re-installed and the RAID drivers installed at the same time.

If the RAID drivers can be installed after the OS is already installed please let me know how it is done.

Thanks,

Dennis
 
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Ok, I managed to get the RAID up and running thanks to a post on another forum:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13940673&postcount=3


I followed the directions and made the one change to the regisrty and everything worked great. In addition, I installed an add-on card that I never could get to work before, but for some reason it's working now. This gives me one addition internal and external sata connections.

Now if I could just fix the issues with the MB only recognizing 8GB out of 12GB of memory installed.

Dennis
 
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Windows 7 Home doesn't support more then 8GB, sure you have the premium?

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778%28v=vs.85%29.aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_7
 
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No doubt it is Home Premium. I have seen other posts on this board and other boards where people with my exact board have had issues going beyond 8GB. Here is one from this Board:

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=135048.0

I've been tempted to step up to 3x4GB modules to get 12GB, but that would render my 6 current memory sticks a waste.

Dennis
 
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I have 2 sets of these:

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D

Dennis
 
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This should do the trick (assuming that all of your memory modules are good)

Make sure you have the latest BIOS revision for your motherboard - latest version is 8.F released on 3/19/2011.  If you have an older version, flash you BIOS to the latest version.

Now - enter your BIOS setup and navigate to the Cell Menu and open it up

Select Advance DRAM Configuration and make the following changes;
1N/2N Memory Timing - Change from Auto to 2N
Cas Latency (CL) - 8
tRCD - 8
tRP - 8
tRAS - 24

Now select the Advanced Memory Setting and change from Auto to Manual, this will open up all of the secondary memory timings - don't touch anything in here other than tRFC setting
tRFC - 103 for now, it can be tightened later.  This setting doesn't affect performance too much, but can have a huge impact on stability and detection of all your memory

And a few voltage tweaks;

Manually set QPI Voltage to 1.25v
Manually set DRAM Voltage to 1.65v

Save all your changes (F10) escape and reboot.  See if that does the trick.

Regards,

Wev








 
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Wev,

I didn't update the bios yet, but I did try making the changes to the memory settings like you suggested. I was able to set everything but the QPI and DRAM voltage. Both appeared to be greyed out and I couldn't change the value. Did I miss something that allows me to change them? If I can get these values changed and it still doesn't work then I'll try flashing the bios, which I have done 2 times previously (to the current version at the time) and neither time did it make a difference.

Thanks,

Dennis
 
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