RAID on a P4C800-E Delux

[KLIKER]

I have the board and 2 WD120 SATA drives.

My question:
This board appears to give the choice between INTEL or PROMISE technology,
which is best?

There are 4 SATA connections on the board, 2 labeled SATA-RAID and 2
labeled SATA.
Must I plug into the RAID labeled slots to get a RAID array, if so can the
array be configured as either INTEL or PROMISE?

The handbook is not clear on this

Kliker

 

[Michael S.]

The Promise controller is PCI-based and probably slower than the Intel
controller that is part of the Intel South Bridge chipset. The handbook is
not clear in this matter. As I consider setting mine up as a RAID 0
configuration, it appears that the Intel controlled SATA connectors are
labeled as item 13 in the motherboard photo on page 1-7 in the manual. It
also appears that the the SATA connectors labeled as number 14 are beside
and controlled by the Promise chip.

MikeSp

 

[steve L]

I am using the P4C800e-d with 2 raptor 36gb. I am using the INTEL RAID
set up as RAID0. I guessed the intel was faster for the mentioned
reasons. you use the connectors labeled 13 on page 21 (1-7) of the
manual. the other are for the prominse controller. you need to turn on
the intel RAID in BIOS (page 143 section 5.5)). you should probably
disable the promise controller, I have. then to set up an array you
hit <control I> during boot to access the intel raid bios. NOTE: the
intel raid bios appears after the main boot page. it flashes on for
less than a second. SO i just keep taping control I untill I see the
intel bios page.

If you want to put Windows xp on th raid you will need to browse the
CD and look for a file named IAA. it will have the driver for the raid
you need during the windows install.

Steve

 

[Walt]

I have this MB too, and from what I can tell, the answer depends
on if you are using Win XP or not. Win XP can overcome the resource
problem if you use the Intel chip for RAID, and that then makes the
Intel chip the chip of choice. If you aren't using Win XP, then
the Promise chip is the chip of choice.

 

[James Bald]

I'm quite interested to make the jump to a RAID setup using this board.

It's a late decision, co I already have a MAXTOR 120GB 8MB cache IDE.
I'm trying to understand the documentation about setting-up a RAID0 array.

One guy at the shop said I cannot do it on the Promise controler with
TWO standatd IDE like I have.. He suggested I use One SATA and one ATA133.
That sounds wild.

Can I get a second identical Maxtor 6Y120PO ATA133 and setup a raid0 ?
While keeping my SONY DvD 16x working ?

Any ideas if Linux (Mandrake 10) would choke on this particular config.
I know it might be touchy to go Linux+SATA right now.
But I suspect a (ATA133+SATA) RAID0 setup is even more risky.

I'm using Win2k now and soon to dual boot Linux Mandrake10.

Tanks in advance,
Regards,
James