Setting up a SATA RAID1 array in an ASUS A8V Deluxe

[JoeChicken]

Hey all,

I am planning to set up a RAID1 (mirror) array for my dual 74GB 10kRPM WD Raptor SATA drives on an ASUS A8V Deluxe mobo (AMD Athlon 64 FX-53 939 pin CPU). Been searching all day and haven't found a very good tutorial on the best way to go about doing this yet... and I haven't found any that use this hardware specifically.

I was also curious if I would be able to set up a second RAID1 array using dual 250GB WD SATA drives or just a single 250GB WD SATA drive for media storage use on the A8V mobo. Which setup would you all recommend, the second RAID1 or just keep it at the single drive (totaling 3 SATA drives in the case)? Not sure if backing up media would be worth buying (or trying to fit in my case for that matter) a second 250GB SATA drive. Especially when I can simply use CDs or DVDs to back up that information. I am using liquid cooling in a Koolance PC2-650 case btw (which is basically an Antec case).

Anyway, I could really use some opinions and suggestions if anyone has any. And some links to any good tutorials please! Thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

Chapter 5 of your manual covers working with the SATA controllers, if you didn't check that out already

 

[JoeChicken]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Chapter 5 of your manual covers working with the SATA controllers, if you didn't check that out already

I would if I could but I haven't actually baught the mobo yet, I wanted to make sure everything I wanted to do was possible and how I would need to do things before I actually got it. But thanks for the advice... maybe there is someplace I can DL the manual off the net? ... ASUS's site doesn't seem to provide manual downloads... at least from what I can tell. Thanks again!

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: JoeChicken

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Chapter 5 of your manual covers working with the SATA controllers, if you didn't check that out already

I would if I could but I haven't actually baught the mobo yet, I wanted to make sure everything I wanted to do was possible and how I would need to do things before I actually got it. But thanks for the advice... maybe there is someplace I can DL the manual off the net? ... ASUS's site doesn't seem to provide manual downloads... at least from what I can tell. Thanks again!

You can invade their space directly at ftp://ftp.asus.com or you can be nice about it and go to their downloads section

 

[JoeChicken]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: JoeChicken

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Chapter 5 of your manual covers working with the SATA controllers, if you didn't check that out already

I would if I could but I haven't actually baught the mobo yet, I wanted to make sure everything I wanted to do was possible and how I would need to do things before I actually got it. But thanks for the advice... maybe there is someplace I can DL the manual off the net? ... ASUS's site doesn't seem to provide manual downloads... at least from what I can tell. Thanks again!

You can invade their space directly at ftp://ftp.asus.com or you can be nice about it and go to their downloads section

Thanks much for the direct links. When I tried going to the DL site through their website I got this message:

The server is currently unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please try one of these alternate ASUS support sites:

 

[JoeChicken]

OK so after reading the ASUS A8V manual (thanks guys for the links) I came up with this conclusion on how to set up my drives on this board:

-----------------------------------------
VIA VT8237 Controller - RAID 1

Two WD 74GB Raptor 10000 RPM (SATA) drives installed on this array

- contains OS, All non imaging & game programs and all data files/folders

-----------------------------------------
Promise PDC20378 Controller - RAID 0

Two WD 250GB 7200 RPM (SATA) drives installed on this array

- containes media content and imaging & game programs (for the speed and the fact that this provides near 500GB of storage)

*I may also do a scheduled system backup for the OS onto this drive for double security of my OS although I would hope I would never need it, but I have the space to spare so why not?



Opinions? Suggestions? Comments? Am I doing this all wrong? lol, I have never set up a RAID before, nor have I ever set up SATA drives... so both of them together (being my first) are a bit confusing. Thanks!

 

[JoeChicken]

also curious, does setting up arrays in this way affect the ability to partition the drives?

 

[boomerang]

Not sure on the partitioning question. Some here have said no problem, but I have no personal experience. I would think you would want to set up the partition size you want initially, leaving the additional space free and then partition the remainder within Windows. As I said though, no personal experience doing this.

If you are for sure going to back up your OS drive, go RAID 0 there also.

Also, what software are you planning on using for your backup? I highly recommend Acronis. It's the only software I've tried that can successfully restore a SATA RAID array. And I've tried both Ghost and Drive Image.

 

[JoeChicken]

Originally posted by: boomerang
Also, what software are you planning on using for your backup? I highly recommend Acronis. It's the only software I've tried that can successfully restore a SATA RAID array. And I've tried both Ghost and Drive Image.

I haven't looked into what software I would use for my backup, my work uses Ghost for their servers I believe which are obviously set up in raid arrays (but not SATA). Thank you much for your recommendation though, I will look into Acronis.



If I am able to partition with no problem then I will create backups from the 74GB OS/Program/Data RAID onto the 250GB Media RAID backing up all the partitions from the 74GB and using the remaining space for media (video/music/pictures - all of which I can backup on CDs/DVDs). Also in that case I would make both RAID 0 like you recommend (for performace purposes) and then I would also keep all programs (including image programs such as Photoshop and all games on the first array since it will also be RAID 0 - which is the only reason I had those installed on the 250GB array in the first place). Whew, seems like a lot. Now I just gotta find out if/how RAIDs affect partitioning the drives within those arrays. Thanks for all the help!

 

[unlockthesource]

I would definitely use 2 RAID-0 arrays. Drive failures are VERY rare nowadays, especially with expensive Raptor drives

Using any RAID-1 is a terrible waste for you. RAID-1 on the raptor is a waste of a 10krpm drive that could be used for blazingly fast RAID-0!!!! And RAID-1 on the 250gb drive is a terrible waste of space.

Raid does not affect partitioning. you can use windows to partition the raid any way you like. in RAID-0, the drives are combined, so you start with a minimum of 2 partitions (1 per drive) with 2 RAID-0 arrays.

I run a RAID-0 array with 160 gb total, partitioned into 4 drives. they all act like independant drives. Also, I too have water cooled system. I did the entire job custom from scratch, there are pictures (linked below) if your interested. It keeps my CPU at 11 degrees celcius above ambient room temp, regardless of load or resonable overclocking.

 

[JoeChicken]

Awesome, thanks for the info! So that is what I will do then, two RAID-0 arrays. One final quick question: Which of the A8V's RAID controllers do you suggest I put the primary RAID-0 array on (the 74GB Raptors)? VIA VT8237 or Promise PDC20378? Does it even make any difference? Thanks again!

 

[boomerang]

In real world terms it probably doesn't make much difference. You should theoretically get faster throughput using the VIA option. Put whichever you want on there, keeping that in mind.

 

[unlockthesource]

Originally posted by: JoeChicken
Awesome, thanks for the info! So that is what I will do then, two RAID-0 arrays. One final quick question: Which of the A8V's RAID controllers do you suggest I put the primary RAID-0 array on (the 74GB Raptors)? VIA VT8237 or Promise PDC20378? Does it even make any difference? Thanks again!

Sorry for the long delay before responding.
I agree with boomerang, it shouldnt matter. Promise specializes in RAID and disk controllers if that makes a difference to you. If you keep track of stripe sizes on the array, you can probably switch the arrays between controllers...

...umm dont try that with important data on your array, its only a theory.