GA-P35-DS3R SATA controller(s) question

[pavel-]

Hello,

I just put together a new build with 3 harddrives in it (2 x 74GB WD Raptors + 1 x 500GB 7200rpm WD).
I would like to run the 2 Raptors in a striped set (RAID 0), however I am unsure whether I should put them on the ICH9R controller (yellow slots) or on the GigaSATA controller (purple slots).

Secondly, I have not had experience with setting up hardware RAID arrays, so I am unsure about the following:
Will I be able to install the OS on the 2-Raptor striped set? If so, will I be able to partition this set for dual booting?
Or does the OS have to be on a single drive? If so, would you recommend installing the OS on one of the Raptors or the 500GB drive?

PS, the OSes I'll be installing are Vista Ultimate x64 and Slackware 12.0.

Thanks.

 

[cfvh600]

You can install your OS on the 2-Raptor striped set.When running your OS install setup you should be able to partition the striped set.Not sure in which order you have to install your OS's though.As for the ICH9R controller or the GigaSATA controller,see what your Mobo manual says in this regard.Sometimes not all the controllers on a MOBO supports RAID.

 

[nukemaster]

Use the Intel ICH9r(they both do raid). It generally performs better.

Are you familiar with running the intel matrix setup? (think it ctrl + I when booting, it says when to press it.) its not hard to setup

You will also need access to a floppy drive as thats how you get the drivers over to windows....you do this by pressing F6 during the start of the windows setup(but with vista you may luck out and not need it, you will have to test that)

As for Slackware, i am not sure what driver support there is. Some linux distros see the drives by them selves[so it sees 2 drives and not one raid volume], so be careful.....

 

[pavel-]

Thanks for the quick replies, gonna give the procedures a go later today (1am here ATM).

 

[darkguset]

ICH9R, is quicker

 

[jeremyrailton]

use the ich9r, it's better, but adds probably 10 seconds to your boot time while it runs its diagnostic stuff. i also have two of those raptors in raid0, and they work fine on this board (loud as junk, btw). regarding dual boot, i'll defer to someone who has tried it.

 

[pavel-]

Thanks for replies.

Now, I'm sitting here at the Windows Vista setup screen, and it's asking me "Where do you want to install windows?". At the bottom I get a little exclamation point saying "This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu".

I have copied the needed ICH9R drivers onto a floppy diskette and successfully loaded them from this screen (or at least windows didn't seem to have a problem with it), I have also successfully configured my RAID0 for the 2 raptors, so my options are:
-Disk 0 Partition 1 - 140gb - Primary (this is my striped set)
-Disk 1 Partition 1 - 465gb - Primary (this is my 500gb drive)
However, when I select EITHER of the options and click Next I get the following message:
"Windows is unable to find a system volume that meets its criteria for installation."

I have been searching on google, so far unsuccessfully, perhaps someone has encountered this problem and can offer a quick solution?

Thanks again.


EDIT:

Recreating the RAID volume has fixed the problem.

 

[jeremyrailton]

Three cheers for someone who fixes their own problems by trying stuff instead of endlessly arguing with people trying to help them. Hip Hip. . .