[OldNewbie45]

I'm looking to set up a RST - Raid 0 with Trim using (2) two SanDisk 128GB SSD. One of the SSD is now my C: drive which has Win 8 on it. The second one is new. Here is my unit:

CPU: Intel i5 - 3570k 3.4 MHz

Cooler: Corsair H60

RAM: 8gb DDR3/1866Mhz

PS: 800 W

M/B: Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H

SSD: SanDisk 128gb SATA3

HHD: WD Cavier Blue 500gb

Video: AMD Raqdion HD7770 1gb


1. Will I need to format the existing SSD to remove WIN 8?

2. Should I install Win 8 on the 500gb HHD or on the Raid array?

3. Will the array show up as a single drive?

4. Will all the changes be done in the BIOS? Including relabeling the drives.

5. Should I install the new drive and adjust the BIOS then install WIN 8 or install Win 8 first?

6. Do I need to download any files to do this change or are they already on the motherboard?

7. And last is there anything else I should be aware of??

Thanks ahead of time for your help.

[Rommel]

OldNewbie45, on 10 January 2013 - 11:56 AM, said:

I'm looking to set up a RST - Raid 0 with Trim using (2) two SanDisk 128GB SSD. One of the SSD is now my C: drive which has Win 8 on it. The second one is new. Here is my unit:

CPU: Intel i5 - 3570k 3.4 MHz

Cooler: Corsair H60

RAM: 8gb DDR3/1866Mhz

PS: 800 W

M/B: Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H

SSD: SanDisk 128gb SATA3

HHD: WD Cavier Blue 500gb

Video: AMD Raqdion HD7770 1gb


1. Will I need to format the existing SSD to remove WIN 8?

2. Should I install Win 8 on the 500gb HHD or on the Raid array?

3. Will the array show up as a single drive?

4. Will all the changes be done in the BIOS? Including relabeling the drives.

5. Should I install the new drive and adjust the BIOS then install WIN 8 or install Win 8 first?

6. Do I need to download any files to do this change or are they already on the motherboard?

7. And last is there anything else I should be aware of??

Thanks ahead of time for your help.

1. No
2. Up to you. Those who oppose RAID 0 seem to have the #1 dislike is loosing 1 drive all data is lost. IMO, it doesn't matter, lose your primary drive all data is lost regardless if you use 1 drive.
So whatever the setup, backup.
3. Yes
4. You will need to set it to RAID in bios. The OS install will designate the drive letter. Should be C:
I will enter my BIOS after work incase I missed something.
5. I would not because I haven't done it that way before. Just me.
6. You will need to get the RAID driver from your motherboards resource CD or from the motherboard manufactores website. Then put those files on a flashdrive.
Your BIOS has the RAID utillity, you will just need to set it RAID to enable it.
7. Make sure your HDDs have the same firmware version.
After you establish same version, reboot and enter BIOS, again I'll check some things later, when set to RAID a new screen will post during boot.
This screen will have you press something like "CTRL+F" to enter your RAID utility.
Follow manufactors instructions in motherboards manual to setup RAID. I've done RAID on Asus and MSI and find Asus much more user friendly to setup.
Once you build your array and select RAID 0 "performance" exit and save.
You also want to make your your boot priority is set to the optical drive with the OS disc.
Save and let pc boot and follow on screen for install.
I never installed w8 but if it's like w7 there is a long puase during install as it first configures. Hang tight.
Once it starts to load, choose your array for location install and then later a window will pop up asking about third party drivers.
Browse to your flashdrive and select the RAID files you put there.
They will be extracted and the RAID driver will be installed with the OS.

I have 2 OCZ 128 GB Vertex 4s in a RAID ), posted a bence mark awhile ago. It hit the 9s in performance. Real nice.
Hope I didn't miss anything.
Lastly, after windows is installed, make sure you go to scheduled tasks and disable any scheduled defrags.
You don't want to degrag them.

[LiveBrianD]

With RAID 0, statically, I think you have a higher chance of a single drive failing, which obviously kills the entire thing. The other issue I have with RAID (all types) is that you can't access the SMART data from the drives.


Also, Windows 7 and later automatically disable defragmenting on SSDs, so you should be already set. (however, if you put SSDs in RAID, I don't think it will, and TRIM commands also won't get passed to the drives)

[Rommel]

LiveBrianD, on 11 January 2013 - 12:55 PM, said:

With RAID 0, statically, I think you have a higher chance of a single drive failing, which obviously kills the entire thing. The other issue I have with RAID (all types) is that you can't access the SMART data from the drives.


Also, Windows 7 and later automatically disable defragmenting on SSDs, so you should be already set. (however, if you put SSDs in RAID, I don't think it will, and TRIM commands also won't get passed to the drives)

I had to disable the auto defrag in my win7 raid setup.