RAID on Gigabyte GA-8KNXP

[lkittle]

I just got a Gigabyte GA-8KNXP mb and this is how I can't get it setup:

#1 I want to install 2 SATA WD 360 Raptors on either the ICH5R SATA connectors or the Sil3112 connectors (whichever would be better) in a bootable RAID 0 configuration.

#2 I want to setup an SATA WD 120Gb Caviar on whichever SATA channel is not used by #1.

#3 I want to setup 2 IBM Deskstars 40Gb drives in a IDE RAID 0 array on the IDE channels 3 and 4 (controlled by the GigaRAID chip).

#4 I would still like to use IDE 1 for my old reliable WD 18Gb. IDE 2 is used for a DVD-ROM reader and a DVD-ROM writer/reader.

I do digital video editing and digital photography and I get enormous files, hence the need for all the storage and the speed increase RAID 0 will give.I'm confused as to set the BIOS for the above. I've only just found out that the board has two separate RAID controllers (#1 above). But this is not made clear in the manual's text, only in diagram. Must the two matched drives in a SATA RAID 0 configuration be set up as master/slave, or does SATA RAID take care of this automatically? Yes, I know, I sould have looked more closely at the pool depth markings before I stepped into the deep end. I've installed Windows XP Pro four times in two days. I could sure use a helping hand here.
Thanks

 

[Caal]

First off I also find the BIOS and the Gigabyte text very confusing. It's like a bad translation from Chinese. Some tidbits I can pass along: There are 3 RAID controllers:
" on chip SATA" - the ICH5R,
"Onboard H/W SATA" - the Silicon Image contoller [supports hot plug function],
"GigaRAID Function" - IDE RAID for IDE channel 3 and 4.
If you want SATA RAID to be bootable I believe it needs to map to IDE Primary Master. That's how I have my single SATA HD set up. Perhaps you can set WD 18Gb as primary slave.
You are correct to plug CD/DVD ROMS to IDE 2.

 

[LaughnCynic]

Originally posted by: lkittle
I just got a Gigabyte GA-8KNXP mb and this is how I can't get it setup:

#1 I want to install 2 SATA WD 360 Raptors on either the ICH5R SATA connectors or the Sil3112 connectors (whichever would be better) in a bootable RAID 0 configuration.

Since the 8KNXP will require a sacrafice of one of the ICH5R IDE channels if you run non-raid SATA drives off the ICH5R controller you should put your SATA raid 0 on the ICH5R and your single SATA on the Sil3112. You will need the ICH5R raid drivers on a floppy so you can install them with 'press F6 to install scsi drivers' at the initial XP install screen. (with F5 bios... I don't know if they've fixed the IDE channel sacrafice using single SATA drives on the ICH5R with the F6 bios since I haven't flashed F6 yet.)

#2 I want to setup an SATA WD 120Gb Caviar on whichever SATA channel is not used by #1.

Put it on the Sil3112.

#3 I want to setup 2 IBM Deskstars 40Gb drives in a IDE RAID 0 array on the IDE channels 3 and 4 (controlled by the GigaRAID chip).

Should be no problem. Check the separate GigaRAID manual for info.

#4 I would still like to use IDE 1 for my old reliable WD 18Gb. IDE 2 is used for a DVD-ROM reader and a DVD-ROM writer/reader.

Shouldn't be a problem.

I do digital video editing and digital photography and I get enormous files, hence the need for all the storage and the speed increase RAID 0 will give.I'm confused as to set the BIOS for the above. I've only just found out that the board has two separate RAID controllers (#1 above).

Well it's got 3 as Caal mentioned. ICH5R (SATA raid 0), Sil3112 (SATA raid 0 or 1), ITE 8112 'GigaRAID' (IDE raid 0 or 1 or 0+1). I'm not sure but I think I read somewhere that the latest ICH5R raid driver adds raid 1 support now as well.

But this is not made clear in the manual's text, only in diagram. Must the two matched drives in a SATA RAID 0 configuration be set up as master/slave, or does SATA RAID take care of this automatically?

SATA drives have no jumpers since they'er all treated as 'masters' by the SATA controllers. If you're using IDE drives on SATA controllers with adapters then I'd assume you'd set them all as masters since that is the way the SATA controller sees/treats each drive connected to it.

Yes, I know, I sould have looked more closely at the pool depth markings before I stepped into the deep end. I've installed Windows XP Pro four times in two days. I could sure use a helping hand here.
Thanks

Hehe... Well for SATA drives I think it'll be something like the following:

Advanced BIOS Features:
SCSI/RAID Cntrl Boot Order: Select/move 'Intel ATA Controller' so that it's #1

First/Second/Third Boot Device: Set these up so that 'SCSI' is your choice for your raid 0. Floopy/SCSI/CDROM or the like.

Integrated Peripherals:
On Chip SATA (this is the ICH5R's SATA controller): Manual
SATA Port0 Configure as: SATA Port0
SATA Port1 Configure as: SATA Port1
SATA RAID Function: Enabled (enable raid support for ICH5R)

Onboard H/W SATA (Sil3112 controller): Enabled
Serial ATA Function: Base (sets Sil3112 to use the connected drives individually)

Onboard H/W GigaRAID (ITE 8112 controller): Enabled
GigaRAID Function: RAID

You'll need the ICH5R raid drivers on a floppy so you can install them with 'F6' at the initial XP installation screen. I hope I didn't mess any of that up and it gives you a clue. Maybe someone who's actually setup raid on the 8KNXP will comment further or correct anything I messed up.