Is it possible to set up raid 0 with 2 HDDs and separate SSD with OS on B350 mobo?

[b.gaj.bg]

I've recently build a new system and because besides gaming I would like to do some video editing on top of that I though out about setting up RAID 0. It's more like a fun thing than something I expect to gain tons of performance. But still I'd be hoping for some HDD speeds to increase. However after getting my 2nd drive I can tell I'm pretty much lost. And am no longer sure whenever this whole RAID idea was a good one. ;-)

So I have one SSD drive, which is supposed to be OS drive and two 2TB mechanical drives. I figured I would use them HDDs to build a 4TB Raid 0 'storage', to keep my games, videos, do some edits and maybe even record games on the go.

As much as HDD technology is quite old now, I'd hope to make it perform a bit better with Raid.

So I've connected the 2nd HDD, went to BIOS, changed SATA mode from AHCI to RAID and went to AMD's controller bios/setup.

By default it seemed like all my drives were connected into single array, which I didn't liked. So I've deleted the default array and not sure how to proceed now. If I want to keep that SSD for OS and kind of separate, should I create a separate raid array with just this one SSD drive? Or there's some other way around it?

During setup of second array which consists of two 2TB HDDs I've learned I can only have up to 2TB drive/partition in this setup. Which is pretty much pointless to progress with Raid 0 setup.

I've learned there's a software way of setting up the raid 0 which I haven't tried simply because this software way is to be said performing slower. But is probably a way to go, I've noticed MSI has this app that's supposed to help with it if I understand correctly. MSI Smart Tool https://www.msi.com/files/pdf/SMART_TOOL_User_Guide_EN.pdf haven't used it though.

So what are my options? If there are any?
Try reinstalling Windows in RAID mode? Won't SSD's performance be affected then?
Or get back to AHCI mode and try software Raid?
Or give it up after all? 😀

Thanks!

My setup:
MSI B350 Gaming Plus with latest BIOS
Gskill Flare X 2x8GB
AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Gigabyte Aorus RX 580
ADATA - Ultimate SU800 256GB
2x Toshiba - P300 2TB

 

[alceryes]

First off, almost all RAID offerings on desktop motherboards these days are what's called 'software' RAID. Your board is no different - it's software RAID.
If possible keep your SSD out of the RAID mix. I'm not sure if all or only some of the SATA ports do RAID.
First, install the latest RAID drivers in Windows. Next, go into BIOS and turn on RAID mode (I believe you want legacy ROM if it's an option). On the next boot go into the RAID config (before the OS starts up) with the two drives attached. Now add both drives to a RAID 0 array and let it create the array (all data on these drives will be erased). On your next boot into Windows you should see the one 4TB disk ready to be initialized and formatted.
Let us know how it goes.

 

[b.gaj.bg]

First off, almost all RAID offerings on desktop motherboards these days are what's called 'software' RAID. Your board is no different - it's software RAID.
If possible keep your SSD out of the RAID mix. I'm not sure if all or only some of the SATA ports do RAID.
First, install the latest RAID drivers in Windows. Next, go into BIOS and turn on RAID mode (I believe you want legacy ROM if it's an option). On the next boot go into the RAID config (before the OS starts up) with the two drives attached. Now add both drives to a RAID 0 array and let it create the array (all data on these drives will be erased). On your next boot into Windows you should see the one 4TB disk ready to be initialized and formatted.
Let us know how it goes.

Thanks for your answer!
I don't seem to see an option to switch each SATA port into different mode. In fact, I find this setting on my mobo quite simplistic, it's only either AHCI or RAID:
https://i.imgur.com/HLDpwTL.jpg

I must have messed something maybe deleted MBR or something during my messing with raid bios config thingy because windows no longer boots. The data is still on the drive, I've checked and copied what I needed with help of ubuntu on a usb stick, so I'll just reinstall Windows I guess.

When I've been installing latest drivers with setup files I was getting some error anyway, but If I recall correctly, I found information to install RAID drivers when installing Windows.

What about the 2TB limit given by on board raid driver?

I think the AMD's raid driver might be a bit dodgy. Anyway, I think I'll try installing windows with those RAID drivers first.

So should I just keep RAID mode and leave SSD out of array?

 

[alceryes]

If you can keep the SSD out of the RAID array then I would go that route. If not, just make the SSD a single disk RAID on it's own (one of the RAID options should allow this), and the 2, 2TB drives a separate RAID 0 array.
You'll need to load the RAID drivers during the Windows install so have the drivers on a USB stick ready and plugged in.

As far as the 2TB limit goes. See if it affects you first. At worst you'll need to create 2 logical drives out of the 4TB RAID array - no biggie.

 

[b.gaj.bg]

So I've had to create separate array just for the SSD because otherwise windows installer wouldn't see it.

I've used drivers from MSI's webpage, funny thing is I had to install them kinda in turns (there was like 3 files each one appearing after other one was installed), but seems it's working, at least to some degree.

Unfortunately I have no clue how to retrieve the lost space when connecting drives into RAID 0 with this AMD controller limit.
https://i.imgur.com/gY7F0it.jpg

But overall it seem the raid is working as supposed, at least in synthetic test:
https://i.imgur.com/exMQ7tC.jpg not sure about this write speed, seems like from just 1 drive.

And the SSD's speeds seem mainly unaffected:
https://i.imgur.com/WhAQGSd.jpg

However, this setup is a no go without getting rest of the space from HDDs. Trying the software way with some windows tools now? Any ideas?

 

[alceryes]

Erase the partitions you created thus far, 'clean' the disk in diskpart, and use GUID partition table instead of MBR.
MBR is limited to 2TB drives, maximum.
If it still doesn't work then it's possible that it's a board limitation. Maybe try contacting MSI support?

 

[b.gaj.bg]

I have no clue how, but I missed a guide on MSI webpage and only been finding for other manufacturers with Google. But MSI support pointed me to it. So the guide is here: http://download.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/AMD-RAID-Guide-en.zip

And it shows how to set up RAID 0 through UEFI, which lifts the 2TB limitation. I'm not sure whenever I should try to remove my SSD from RAID array, what do you think?



___________________________________________________
Do you mean partition mode in Windows? Because I've chosen the GBT or whatever it's called. I have no clue how to use GUID instead of MBR you speak of.

I think the on-board bios won't let me create anything above 2TB.

The only clue I got right now is RaidXpert tool, it was mentioned in Asrock guide about raid setup I've found. No guides for MSI whatsoever.

And yes, I did send a query to MSI support. It might be the MSI BIOS, but I think there should be option to set up RAID through UEFI, like with many intel controllers. Unfortunately haven't seen such option in my BIOS.

 

[alceryes]

Yup, sounds like you'll need to reinstall Windows in UEFI mode in order to get past the 2TB limitation. When you create the Windows 10 USB using the windows 10 creation tool be sure to select UEFI mode.
Yes GPT= GUID partition table.

 

[failboat]

I've heard the windows software raid is very easy to use. Have you looked into that? If you don't want raid on your boot then software is probably the way to go.

 

[b.gaj.bg]

No worries I got it up and running, just couldn't find a bloody guide from my motherboard's manufacturer, which was under my nose. But I would never expect such guide to be under 'quick guide' section. 😀

Anyway, thank you all for you help.

It turned out to be super easy to set up once I got pointed towards specific settings within BIOS. I had to turn on an option called windows WHQL, which I would never expect to unlock RAID controller options in bios, which were hidden.

So I've just set it up in UEFI and got fresh partition to create. I did benchmark it with cristaldisk and speeds increased so must be working. 😉