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1. Re: SATA Settings
ECBowen Aug 5, 2011 11:33 AM (in response to Islanders66)NCQ is why AHCI or Raid is better than IDE mode.
Eric
ADK
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2. Re: SATA Settings
Islanders66 Aug 5, 2011 11:55 AM (in response to ECBowen)Ok I was able to change both the 6.0 and 3.0 SATA ports to AHCI. Good to hear that's what I want.
My Blue Ray disk (LG) is also plugged into one of the SATA 3. I noticed it now says CD DVD drive instead of Blue Ray when it's booting up, and says ATAPI CD-ROM in the BIOS. Is this ok? I don't have any blue ray disk to test it with and havn't any experience with BD. Any more advice on this SATA set up would be appreciated. For the 3.0 SATA plugs there was only the choice for all AHCI.
I guess the question is am I on the right track here for using 4 disk set up for PP, and two for backup. Then later it can upgrade to RAID card without having to do a clean install of the OS?
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3. Re: SATA Settings
Islanders66 Aug 5, 2011 5:18 PM (in response to Islanders66)Ok, I suppose I'll try some place else for any questions. I'm a bit puzzeled at the lack of response for my specific questions. I must have missed some rule or something? oh well thanks anyway! still made some good progress.. I just don't want to keep asking questions if no one is intreted in helping out.
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4. Re: SATA Settings
JEShort01 Aug 6, 2011 8:48 AM (in response to Islanders66)Islanders,
I'll take a stab, but you may need to be more specific about your hardware. I tried to look up specs. of your motherboard, and there are many version of Asus Rampage; what exact board are you using? Also, what are all of your "drives"? This indeed does make a difference regarding the "optimum" way to set things up.
Regarding any Intel chipset SATA ports, Intel does have a utility that can be downloaded (from Asus?) that allows IDE to ACHI and MORE to be done from within Windows.
Jim
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5. Re: SATA Settings
Islanders66 Aug 6, 2011 10:22 AM (in response to JEShort01)Thanks Jim, that is nice of you to respond. Sorry about not providing enough information. I've been working so hard to try and figure out how things work and eveyone has been helpful, but sometimes my research doesn't connect all the dots.
The hdds are Hatachi 7K3000
http://www.hitachigst.com/internal-drives/desktop/deskstar/deskstar-7k3000
The MB is Asus Rampage III Formula.
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1366/Rampage_III_Formula/
The MB has two Marvell Sata 6Gb ports (red) and 6 Sata 3Gb (Intel)
I wasn't sure which ports to use Marvell or Intell and couldn't find any info with my various google searches.
The C: is on one of the Marvell 6Gb ports
I used all 8 of the Sata ports (used one for the BluRay and one for an eSata, because these exteranal ports already had Sata connections)
I was able to change them all to ACHI but really don't know what the advantage of ACHI or why the MB had IDE for the default for the two Marvell 6Gb ports? Everything I've read only claims ACHI makes them more compatible and the choice for SSD.
My questions are:
Are SATA ports hot swappable? Can I un plug them and move them around? Is it ok to use the Marvell 6Gb ports for the C: drive? Is my backup of C: valid with this configuration, as in will it work if I switch ports with another HD?
Thanks, I'll check out the Intel utility.
Sorry about the confusion. The MB user guide has very little info and I'm not having a lot of luck with my research although I've stumbled across all kinds of other interesting situations, but very few are about setting up multiple storage.
I'm impressed with Windows so far. A bit of learning curve but learning how to get around fast enough.
John
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6. Re: SATA Settings
JEShort01 Aug 6, 2011 1:05 PM (in response to Islanders66)John,
Are SATA ports hot swappable?
I'd vote no; vendors like to hype this, but I can share from personal experience whenever I connect drives to SATA for backup purposes I just add them and remove them with a cold boot on both ends
Can I un plug them and move them around?
Between Marvell and Intel - only at your own risk!? I would not without having a good backup or image file available
Is it ok to use the Marvell 6Gb ports for the C: drive? Sure
Is my backup of C: valid with this configuration, as in will it work if I switch ports with another HD? I would say yes, but this may be somewhat software specific; for example, I use ShadowProtect image backup for my C: (os/programs) backup and it can be restored to about any drive and/or controller known to man; Win7's backup utility however may be MUCH more limited
Regards,
Jim
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7. Re: SATA Settings
Islanders66 Aug 6, 2011 5:06 PM (in response to JEShort01)Thanks for the information, Jim. That is helpful to understand some basic guidlines for follow for harddrives. I'll need to do some more research to find out what the options and limitations are for the harddrive.
I used to use Retrospect Express for a backup. I'll check out ShadowProject as well.Most of the progams and applications I have used are cross platform as in they are both availble for Mac and Win. I was even able to use my same X marks account with FireFox. Good stuff. I'm just used to understanding my hardware and this is my first use of Sata drives and have already had to do one clean install.
John



