XP can't see any SATA SMART data - is this normal ?

[swayzak]

My new drives are just listed as RAID/SCSI devices (each is installed as RAID 1+0) - no manufacturer, temperature (via HDTach) etc.

Is there anyway I can access the data from Windows ?

MB = Asus P4PE

thanks

swayzak

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

It looks like it very well might be the norm for RAID arrays attached to the motherboard's RAID controller. LOUISSSSS is having the same issue right now, and I haven't been able to find a solution. For my Areca controller I use ARCHTTP, which is the software (not BIOS) for the RAID controller, and it lets me view the SMART data for drives connected to the controller. I can't find an Asus equivalent to it though.

 

[swayzak]

Thanks.

Bummer - although presumably this must be an ancient problem as my board is 5 years old+. If there is no fix for it I must assume that it can't be done.

Could you help with another query ?

I have set these drives up as 1+0 each as this was the only way I could figure to use them purely as SATA drives (PATA replacements, not RAID array data back up setup).

Am I correct ? Are there any performance issues with this setup (compared to my previous 3 PATA IDE drives) ?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: swayzak
Thanks.

Bummer - although presumably this must be an ancient problem as my board is 5 years old+. If there is no fix for it I must assume that it can't be done.

Could you help with another query ?

I have set these drives up as 1+0 each as this was the only way I could figure to use them purely as SATA drives (PATA replacements, not RAID array data back up setup).

Am I correct ? Are there any performance issues with this setup (compared to my previous 3 PATA IDE drives) ?

1+0 each? I don't quite follow you. The first place I would check for answers to RAID array configuration questions on your setup would be the motherboard manual. It will tell you the capabilities of the controller, as well as setup instructions there. But if you are just wanting to use the SATA drives on the RAID ports, then you don't have to setup the drives as RAID arrays. On my motherboard, I have a single 74gb Raptor for boot, and it's basically just set to "volume"--no RAID config at all.

 

[swayzak]

The only way I can get these drives recognised on SATA is enabling RAID/SATA in BIOS. This then prompts the Promise 376 RAID BIOS - if I don't set up an array then the drives don't appear in Asus BIOS (or windows).

It seems that SATA is integral to the Promise chip - can't use it without.

So what would a 1+0 array mean for each disk (and ? effect on performance) ?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: swayzak
The only way I can get these drives recognised on SATA is enabling RAID/SATA in BIOS. This then prompts the Promise 376 RAID BIOS - if I don't set up an array then the drives don't appear in Asus BIOS (or windows).

It seems that SATA is integral to the Promise chip - can't use it without.

So what would a 1+0 array mean for each disk (and ? effect on performance) ?

Under normal circumstances, RAID 1+0 required 4 disks, and you get 1/2 the total disk space. So if you have 4 200gb hard drives, you will have 400gb available disk space. Performance hit should be minimal as there are no parity calculations involved (such as in the case of RAID 5). I myself have never used RAID 1+0 however; nor have I used RAID off of the mobo.

EDIT: Do you have an option for "volume" or "JBOD"?

 

[swayzak]

thanks again

I've set each of them to 1+0, and get the full capacity for both drives.

Option where - in Promise BIOS ? Don't think so - the only option is RAID ("performance" or "security") or not RAID (then, as I said, the disks don't appear to mboard BIOS.

I'm going to have another look at this tonight.

Can't seem to get the definitive answer for the P4PE (have posted on a few forums, and just emailed Promise, haven't got serial number of mboard to hand so can't email Asus at moment) - whether I can use these SATA drives in non-RAID mode ?