Need Sata Raid Driver for ECS RX480

[crockman]

Motherboard is a ECS RX480 with a SB400 Southbridge.

I've only done 1 other Sata-Raid prior to a Clean Windows Install. That was with an Asrock 939DualSata2 MB. The Asrock had easy instructions and a Bootable Asrock CD to make the Sata-Raid Driver Floppy.

This ECS CD doesn't Boot, so I do not know how to make the Sata-Raid Floppy, or if maybe ECS doesn't need a Sata-Raid Floppy for a Clean Windows Install.

I do have this PC, of which I'm typing to you with, to make the Sata-Raid Floppy (If needed that is), but i do not know how to do it.

Any suggestions ?

Thanks

 

[corkyg]

According to this detailed review, the RX480 shouldn't need a bootablev floppy to install the RAID drivers.

ECS

 

[crockman]

Thanks Corkyg,

So if i don't need to do F6 prior to the Windows install is there any other specific thing i need to do so the Windows will be installed as a Raid-0 ?

Thanks

 

[corkyg]

If you have the RAID controller enabled in BIOS, then Windows should find it during the installation, and if a driver is needed, it should be on the mobo's CD. Why RAID 0? That is a higher risk array with little tangible gain.

 

[crockman]

Thanks Corkyg,

Raid is now set in BIOS.

So all i have to do now is Boot to the Windows CD ?, and then Windows will ask what kind of Raid i want to run ?

And the reason I'm running Raid-0 is because i bought a 36 Gig Raptor back in January, then 6 months later when i finally put the PC together I quickly realized that 36 Gigs wouldn't be anywhere near the amount of HD Space needed.

But by then the Raptor was not returnable so i simply bought 1 more Raptor 36gig and did Raid-0 for the extra HD space.

Although i find alot a criticism towards Raid-0, but in reality I find all the Loading screens in the Online games i play to be Much faster, plus everyday normal stuff is quicker as well, such as Virus Scans, etc.. & Software installs are much faster as well

 

[corkyg]

Normally, the RAID controller has its own BIOS that runs right after the system one, and that is wher you select and build your RAID array.

Suggest you get an external eSATA drive equal or greater than the size of your RAID 0 array so you can backit all up on a single drive in the event you ever have a Raptor failure. Then you can rebuild your arfray.

If your RX480 has a manual, the installation procedure for RAUD should be detailed in it, step by step.

When I boot my system, right after system POST, the RAID BIOS pops up and that has all of the RAID choices available. When that is done, Windows starts to load - not before. Windows really doesn't get involved - it simply sees the RAID array as a lettered drive, period.

 

[crockman]

Suggest you get an external eSATA drive equal or greater than the size of your RAID 0 array so you can backit all up on a single drive in the event you ever have a Raptor failure

True, but my raptors are used on a PC that is used 90% of the time as just an Online gamer. I have nothing of value on it. I've been meaning to buy a DVDRW so i can copy the MMO's Downloads to Disc so as to avoid all the Downloads I'm staring at again cause of a fresh Windows install. This Windows install is due to my Asrock 939DualSata2 went Hay-wire, so I picked up that ECS RX480 from Fry's for 25$ as a Cheap Fix til' my soon-to-be Home-Built Dual Core PC.

If your RX480 has a manual, the installation procedure for RAUD should be detailed in it, step by step

The RX480 Manual is actually a pretty decent in-depth Manual, much better than the Asrock's manual was, but in Raid specific the ECS manual mentions no step by step at all, but the rather Spartan Asrock Manual had a very good Raid Step-by-step.

Anyway, Thanks for the Help Corkyg and I'll go try to install Windows now on that ECS, hopefully it works.

 

[crockman]

Update.

I found the ATI Southbridge Drivers at the ECS Website. I downloaded and Extracted them.

But the Extracted File is a bit over 8MB, hence wont fit on a 1.44 Floppy.

Anyone know exactly which drivers i need to put on the Floppy from the Extracted File ?, & How would i do it ?, use "Send to " ?, Copy ?

I figure that Windows may still ask for a Floppy of Drivers after i set up the Raid Array with F4.

So while I'm waiting to hear some answers on what Stripe Size etc.. to set this Array up at (IE i have another thread asking Array questions), I figure it might be safe to have a Sata Raid Floppy created just in case.

Thanks