Where do I plug in my SSD and HDD?

[JohnMartin7]

I have these different red colored ports on my motherboard but I'm not sure which one I should plug my SSD and HDD into. I read the manual that came with the motherboard but I couldn't figure it out. Any advice?

Here are the ports I'm talking about:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/109253356@N06/15846241334/

The motherboard if the Asus Vii Formula if that helps.

 

[volcanoscout]

Take your pick - I usually start at the top and work my way down.

 

[JohnMartin7]

Take your pick - I usually start at the top and work my way down.

You mean... I could plug either one in any port I want? I thought there would be a certain order. Hmm..

 

[volcanoscout]

To clarify, the six at the top (as you look at it with the mobo installed in the case) are dedicated SATA3 ports, the next four down are shared with the Data Express and the last two are dual Data Express ports.

 

[volcanoscout]

Usually they're numbered, with port 1 being the top/outside port, 2 top/inside, 3 second/outside, etc. That's the order that the mobo will read the drives in, and usually the order that I plug drives in so that it's nice and orderly (i.e. OS in 1, D: in 2, etc) but it doesn't matter as far as operation goes. You'll designate drive letters in Disk Management, and boot order in BIOS - which port each drive is plugged into won't have any affect on that. If you want to start with port 6 for cable management purposes, that's fine too.

 

[JohnMartin7]

Usually they're numbered, with port 1 being the top/outside port, 2 top/inside, 3 second/outside, etc. That's the order that the mobo will read the drives in, and usually the order that I plug drives in so that it's nice and orderly (i.e. OS in 1, D: in 2, etc) but it doesn't matter as far as operation goes. You'll designate drive letters in Disk Management, and boot order in BIOS - which port each drive is plugged into won't have any affect on that. If you want to start with port 6 for cable management purposes, that's fine too.

Ohh I see. So I can use any of top six. What about the bottom 4 and last 2? You can't plug into them? What are they for?

 

[volcanoscout]

You can use the top 6 or the bottom four SATA3 connectors, but the last two ports are for eSATA drive connectors. I'll have to check, but I believe if you use the two eSATA ports, the four SATA3 ports next to them are disabled. You can google "SATA3 vs eSATA" for a comparison of drive and protocol speeds.

Note: Above I should have said SATA Express or eSATA, not Data Express. Was in a hurry.

 

[JohnMartin7]

You can use the top 6 or the bottom four SATA3 connectors, but the last two ports are for eSATA drive connectors. I'll have to check, but I believe if you use the two eSATA ports, the four SATA3 ports next to them are disabled. You can google "SATA3 vs eSATA" for a comparison of drive and protocol speeds.

Note: Above I should have said SATA Express or eSATA, not Data Express. Was in a hurry.

Why do the bottom 4 sata ports look different than the top 6 ones? Just to conclude, regardless of the looks, I can plug my SSD and HDD into the bottom four aswell right?

 

[volcanoscout]

The bottom four look different because they share a data or control path with the eSATA connector. Without getting too technical, the top four ports use native PCH control, the next two use an ASMEDIA controller (slightly slower than the native PCH ports, but I doubt you can tell the difference in regular use), and the bottom four are shared with the eSATA ports.

According to your manual, the bottom six SATA3 ports only support data drives, so your SSD, assuming that is going to be your boot, or OS, drive, should be plugged into one of the top four. Your HDD can be plugged into any of them. If you have an optical drive, it should go in one of the top four also assuming you may want to boot from CD or DVD at some point.

 

[JohnMartin7]

The bottom four look different because they share a data or control path with the eSATA connector. Without getting too technical, the top four ports use native PCH control, the next two use an ASMEDIA controller (slightly slower than the native PCH ports, but I doubt you can tell the difference in regular use), and the bottom four are shared with the eSATA ports.

According to your manual, the bottom six SATA3 ports only support data drives, so your SSD, assuming that is going to be your boot, or OS, drive, should be plugged into one of the top four. Your HDD can be plugged into any of them. If you have an optical drive, it should go in one of the top four also assuming you may want to boot from CD or DVD at some point.

So I can plug my SSD and HDD into the 4 ports above eSata (bottom 2) or top 6 correct?

I can plug my SSD and HDD into these rights? Within the black square?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/109253356@N06/15846241334/

 

[volcanoscout]

According to your manual, you should plug your SSD (boot drive) into one of the top four ports. Your HDD (data drive) can go into any of the others. It's possible your boot drive will work in the bottom ports (the ones in the black square) also, but your manual says otherwise. I've seen boot drives work in ports that were similarly described as "data drive only", but you'd have to try it to see if it will work with that mobo.

 

[JohnMartin7]

According to your manual, you should plug your SSD (boot drive) into one of the top four ports. Your HDD (data drive) can go into any of the others. It's possible your boot drive will work in the bottom ports (the ones in the black square) also, but your manual says otherwise. I've seen boot drives work in ports that were similarly described as "data drive only", but you'd have to try it to see if it will work with that mobo.

You said "According to your manual, you should plug your SSD (boot drive) into one of the top four ports." I'm assuming you meant top 6?

 

[volcanoscout]

No, top four - remember the last two ports in the upper group of six use the ASMEDIA controller rather than the PCH. Your manual defines those as data drive only. May not make any practical difference, but I'd go with the manual's recommended configuration.

 

[JohnMartin7]

According to your manual, you should plug your SSD (boot drive) into one of the top four ports. Your HDD (data drive) can go into any of the others. It's possible your boot drive will work in the bottom ports (the ones in the black square) also, but your manual says otherwise. I've seen boot drives work in ports that were similarly described as "data drive only", but you'd have to try it to see if it will work with that mobo.

No, top four - remember the last two ports in the upper group of six use the ASMEDIA controller rather than the PCH. Your manual defines those as data drive only. May not make any practical difference, but I'd go with the manual's recommended configuration.

So I should plug my SSD into any of these inside the green box?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/109253356@N06/15846241334/

 

[volcanoscout]

Roger - green box is a go

 

[JohnMartin7]

Roger - green box is a go

Thanks, but my HDD can go anywhere right? (except the 2 at the very bottom).

 

[volcanoscout]

Yes, but I'd stick it in one of the top four along with your SSD so that it's using the native controller. May not make much of a difference, if any, but generally speaking, PCH is going to be better than ASMEDIA.

 

[JohnMartin7]

Yes, but I'd stick it in one of the top four along with your SSD so that it's using the native controller. May not make much of a difference, if any, but generally speaking, PCH is going to be better than ASMEDIA.

Gotcha. But you said it doesn't matter if I plug the SSD or HDD into whichever one of the top four correct? It's not going to affect the performance?

 

[volcanoscout]

Absolutely no affect on performance between the four.

 

[JohnMartin7]

Absolutely no affect on performance between the four.

Got it. Thanks alot mate!