What happens if I plug a HDD into another slot?

[GreatDane]

I have 2 questions:

1. I have 2 serial ata HDD's. They are both plugged into the same controller (2 different slots, but right next to each other). I have 4 spare slots left on 2 seperate controllers. They are all on-board slots, no add-in cards. Can I plug one HDD into another slot (ie 3-6) without problems? Will windows still recognize the HDD fine? It currently has data on it.

2. Is there any benefit to having each HDD on a seperate controller? (It looks like the 3 controllers all share the same IRQ in device manager).

 

[chookman]

First of all what MOBO do you have that has 3 controllers onboard?

Second are you running the drives in an Array?

 

[GreatDane]

Foxconn C51XEM2AA - 8EKRS2H
The reason I say three controllers is because it has 3 listed under controllers in Device Manager. As far as on the board, 4 of em are all near each other and 2 others paired nearby.

No arrays, just single HDD's.

 

[chookman]

On that board all connectors are on the same controller that i know of. and the fact that you dont have an array means you can move them around onto different ports freely. Please note that it maybe nessecary to select the correct drive to boot from BIOS if the OS drive is moved to another port.

 

[dberm22]

the fact that you dont have an array means you can move them around onto different ports freely.

Say I was running a RAID1 Array, that would be an issue moving them around? I was told most RAID configs were set by drive UUID, not port, and that changing them around, wouldn't make a difference. (See second comment here: http://superuser.com/a/866857/224284)