SATA HD Help!

[uneedkhoality]

Hi, I'm about to build a new computer and I need help on how to install 2 SATA Western Digital HD to my Asus A8V Deluxe. There's like 4 plugs for SATA I think on the motherboard, which ones do i plug them into? I want to install a SATA DVD-Writer too. Never tried installing SATA drives before so please forgive my ignorance THANKS!

 

[rasczak]

you can plug them into any pair of ports, this is beacuase all sata drives are master drives in the eyes of the os / mobo, make sure you have your sata drivers aready to go on a floppy when you reinstall your os.

 

[Boztech]

I would generally suggest you plug the hard drives into SATA ports 3 and 4 (refer to your motherboard manual). These ports are unlocked. However, since you have a 3rd SATA device you may not have a choice. You can essentially plug any of the devices into any port you like... the beauty of SATA is there are no jumper settings to worry about because each device has it's own independant channel.

As far as installing the software, it sounds like in your case you are using the built-in SATA controller which will not require any drivers to be installed during the WinXP install routine. However if you are using a SATA controller such as Silicon controller that is embedded on your motherboard, you will have to install the drivers from the included floppy during the WinXP install routine by press F6 at the prompt during the initial stage of the WinXP install. Then follow the prompts to add the SATA drivers during install, otherwise Windows will not recognize the hard drive and you will not be able to install.

 

[uneedkhoality]

Yes, I will be using the built-in SATA controller. I want to use the Raptor as my main drive and use the other as storage. Thanks!

 

[bleeb]

Yeah you'll definitely need those floppies for the drivers tawp dawg ... good luck!

 

[uneedkhoality]

So, do I plug the HD's into the South Bridge or the Promise Controller? Thanks!

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: uneedkhoality
So, do I plug the HD's into the South Bridge or the Promise Controller? Thanks!

I always use the native controllers for my HD's... northbridge I assume on the VIA...

 

[uneedkhoality]

Ok, looking at the mb, I have 2 connectors SATA1 and SATA2 which the manual says is for storage. Then there's 2 other connectors SATA_RAID1 and SATA_RAID2 but the note says "Promise PDC20378 RAID controller does not support ATAPI devices such as CD, DVD-ROMS, so if i plug my HD's into SATA1 and SATA2, then i can't plug my writer into SATA_RAID1????

 

[uneedkhoality]

Ok, looking at the mb, I have 2 connectors SATA1 and SATA2 which the manual says is for storage. Then there's 2 other connectors SATA_RAID1 and SATA_RAID2 but the note says "Promise PDC20378 RAID controller does not support ATAPI devices such as CD, DVD-ROMS, so if i plug my HD's into SATA1 and SATA2, then i can't plug my writer into SATA_RAID1????

 

[rasczak]

correct, plug your hdd's into ports 3,4

 

[uneedkhoality]

So let me get this correct, plug my HD's into SATA_RAID1 and SATA_RAID2? Then i can plug my SATA DVD-Writer into SATA1? thanks!