Setting up RAID array on Ports 5+6 Crosshair V Formula-Z

[hax0rmort]

Hi ladies and gents,

I'd like to document the steps needed to create an array on ports 5+6 so if anyone else stumbles along, they can see how it's done. I'm new to this, and have only setup an array once before tinkering around.

Here is what I have and what I want. I have two 1GB HDDs that I'd like in the best array type that will provide for redundancy. So I'm assuming this is RAID1? I store all my backups here for home pictures, video, important documents from the military and finances as well as music collection. I do not want to reinstall windows 8.1 as I won't be storing the OS on the disks. I know AMD has the RAIDXPeRT software I intended to install, is there anything else to be thinking of besides going into BIOS and setting up PORT 5+6 for RAID and making sure my two 1GB drives are empty and connected to those ports?

I'd like to streamline the process before I start because I don't want to hit any snafus and I'd like to know what I'm doing before I start. Can someone be so kind to read over and let me know what else I should be thinking of or if I'm good to start?

Thanks in advance 🙂

[hax0rmort]

Okay, well, I should just take this post down. You cannot setup ports 5+6 for RAID, IDE is the only other option. Lesson learned. That sucks, I'd like to utilize RAID but I cannot give up those two extra ports if I use 1-4 as RAID. 😞

[madcratebuilder]

You could use a RAID controller if you have a free pci slot.

[hax0rmort]

Hmm, hadn't considered that, sadly my 2nd pci-e port is being blocked (i think there's another) i should get rid of this soundcard, it's almost too late to return it, i notice no difference besides volume.... 😞 shame. Thanks for the tip mad!

[BrokenFang]

If you set your system up for raid, you can have a 'Single Disk array', that works just like any regular disk. You would have to re-install your OS, and you would not lose any ports.

Or... you could use Windows software Raid mode, which works with AHCI. In which case you need to go threw the Administrative Tools, Disk management, Storage (Win7) and select which disk and mode to software raid.

[TheNerdBench]

Hum...I thought you could setup RAID 0 or 1 on the ASMEDIA ports 5 & 6...I may be mistaken as it sounds like you gave this an attempt.

[BrokenFang]

TheNerdBench wrote:
Hum...I thought you could setup RAID 0 or 1 on the ASMEDIA ports 5 & 6...I may be mistaken as it sounds like you gave this an attempt.

You can, but ports 1-4 must first be set to raid in the bios. On a side note, if Ports 1-4 are raid, then 5-6 can be raid or IDE

[HiVizMan]

On the CHFz board there are six SATA ports that you can raid.

What you need to make sure of is that your SATA ports numbers are correct. I have had CHV boards in the past which did have messed up SATA numbering that did not match the user manual. I simply put one drive in at a time and saw which SATA port was populated and took it from there.

[Dr__Zchivago]

The ports are numbered on the board.

[hax0rmort]

ok, so from what I'm hearing, I can set 1-4 as RAID, put the two 1GB drives in RAID1 on port 3 and 4, and put my two ssd (non raid) as independent disks/arrays on port 1 and 2?