1st Homebuild

[togan]

How do I go about setting up a SSD "Boot drive" with (two) 1TB HDD in RAID 0

Specs:

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
SSD: Crucial M4 128gb
HDD: Seagate Barracuda (ST1000DM03) x2
MOBO: ASUS Sabertooth x79

I'd prefer to use Intel RST controller for RAID 0 setup.

Will these Sata 3gb/s ports be "fast enough" for these 2 HDD's in RAID 0,because
I want to save the SATA 6gb/s port for SSD.

A step-by-step guide would be greatly appreciated.

PS. I have not yet installed the OS,I am in the process of connecting all wires to psu/mobo.

Regards,
Togan

 

[Dereck47]

How do I go about setting up a SSD "Boot drive" with (two) 1TB HDD in RAID 0
A step-by-step guide would be greatly appreciated.

1.) Connect SSD to port SATA6G_1 & CD/DVD drive with Win 7 installation disk to port SATA3G_6 (all other drives should be disconnected)
2.) Install Windows
3.) Install motherboard drivers
4.) Install latest Intel RST drivers http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20624&keyword=%22rst%22&lang=eng
5.) Reboot pc
6.) Shut down pc & connect HDDs to ports SATA3G_3 & SATA3G_4
7.) Boot into BIOS & change Intel SATA controller mode to RAID
8.) Verify 1st boot device is SSD; 2nd & 3rd boot devices should be set to "Disabled" or "None"
9.) Save BIOS settings & reboot into RAID BIOS
10.) Create RAID-0 array with 2 HDDs
11.) Save BIOS settings & reboot into Windows
12.) If Windows has not done so automatically, initialize the RAID array, format it, and assign it a drive letter (all of this can be done in Disk Management)

Will these Sata 3gb/s ports be "fast enough" for these 2 HDD's in RAID 0,because
I want to save the SATA 6gb/s port for SSD.

Yes, the ports will be fast enough. 2 HDDs in RAID-0 cannot spin fast enough to saturate SATA 3Gb/s ports.

 

[togan]

Wow Dereck47,sounds like you really know your stuff!!!

I will surely try out your steps tomorrow morning,as I am
pooped from installing all these components...

I'll let you know how I fared following your advice.


Togan