"How To" convert the Promise TX2 ATA100 card to a RAID card?

[MichaelD]

This was mentioned as an aside in another thread. This is very interesting to me. My next mobo may or may not have onboard raid. I like my onboard raid, but cannot afford a real raid card. I assume this mod makes the controller card into a "software" raid card, as the card doesn't have it's own RISC processor.

Are there any tutorials on how to do this? I'd bookmark it for future reference. Thanks very much.

 

[bacillus]

MichaelD, this is for the ata100 card but may or may notwork with your present card!

 

[MichaelD]

Ah, Bacillus my friend, you are the man! I have the ATA100 card, BTW! Thanks bud. Owe ya one. Or is it 5 at this point? Later.

 

[MichaelD]

Wow. I read the tutorial. It is semi-intimidating. I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron, though. OK, who has done this and how does it work? Well, I know how it works, but how well does it work? Good to go? Thanks again, Bacillus; nice link.

 

[bacillus]

np

 

[MichaelD]

Uppa

 

[TunaBoo]

<< Wow. I read the tutorial. It is semi-intimidating. I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron, though. OK, who has done this and how does it work? Well, I know how it works, but how well does it work? Good to go? Thanks again, Bacillus; nice link. >>



Works.

Fairly large things you are solding to.

If you have any soldering experience, and can follow diretions, it is cake.

 

[MortaniuS]

Heh, doesnt seem worth the hassle to me. Should have bought a raid card in teh first place.

 

[TunaBoo]

<< Heh, doesnt seem worth the hassle to me. Should have bought a raid card in teh first place. >>



5 minutes soldering... $40 higher card....

Guess which I picked?

 

[MichaelD]

That's good to hear, TunaBoo. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll be doing this mod in the event that my next mobo doesn't have onboard raid. Have a good day.

 

[codehack2]

It's worth noting that in the Subject of your thread reads: How To" convert the Promise TX2 ATA100 card to a RAID card? and the linked page is for the standard Promise Ultra 100 not the TX2. I've got the TX2, and as far as I know there is no conversion for this card to raid. And yes, they are physically different cards.. the TX2 has the bios built into the chip, where as the standard Ultra 100 has an actual bios eprom.

CH2