Booting Win7 64 bit from 4Tb Raid 0 using x58A-UD3R Ver2 Mb

[glushing]

Can anyone confirm if it is possible with the latest bios (FH1) flashed , can my 2 x 2TB SATA3 (6gb/s) configured as a Raid 0 , boot from a single 4Tb partition using Win7 64 bit. I have configured the Marvel AHCI in the bios and the disk is recognised by the bios correctly, however I cannot get the disk partition to be greater than 2TB/ The disk appears as a 4 TB drive in the computer management section of windows, and shows the 2TB partition which I cannot extend to be larger although it shows the unallocated portion of the disk. Alternatively I cannot configure the unallocated space as a different drive.  Is ther a limit to using Raid 0 ?. I was hoping to use the 2 2 TB disks configured as Raid 0, so as to effectively boot from a single 4Tb partition. Any advice appreciated

Thanks
Glenn

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

I am not 100% sure but I will check into it and get back to you. I do know however that you will need to not only have the latest BIOS update but also to have selected EFI in the BIOS and formatted your disks using the GPT.

[glushing]

where in the Bios is the EFI option ?

[Aussie Allan]

 When/if you initialized the drives in windows, it would have asked you which file format to use....NTFS or GPT.....Only GPT drives/partitions will be recognised above 2TB

 Aussie Allan 

[Dark Mantis]

where in the Bios is the EFI option ?

In the BIOS under the Advanced BIOS Features as EFI CD/DVD Boot Option

[glushing]

Thanks for both replies. So assuming the disk has a GPT format and EFI is selected in the bios setup will win7 64 boot from the single 4tb Raid 0 partition ?  I am beginning to wonder if it was worth the effort going down the SATA3 option with bigger capacity iilo the 1TB raid on sata 2 which is what is in use , and adding an additional 2TB added to increase the capacity

[Aussie Allan]

Thanks for both replies. So assuming the disk has a GPT format and EFI is selected in the bios setup will win7 64 boot from the single 4tb Raid 0 partition ?  I am beginning to wonder if it was worth the effort going down the SATA3 option with bigger capacity iilo the 1TB raid on sata 2 which is what is in use , and adding an additional 2TB added to increase the capacity

  Now your starting to think with the head on top!....Having massive amounts of storage attached to the partition that carries your OS can be problematic.........it can work!....... but not as simple as a small fast, highly configurable drive for the OS and have separate drive/s for programs and storage.

 Programs can be stored and be accessible on other drives because it was loaded onto the system through the OS, the only difference is when it asks you where you want to install a given program, it defaults the location to drive "C".......this is where you change the location when installing to say drive "P" or "Z" what ever drive letter you allocated to the storage drive..........the program will still run as all the program load data is in the registry along with your OS

 I have 4x 502HJ SpinPoints for photo and program storage under raid 0 on the ICH10R and get 530Mb/s read and write........what more could you need

 Aussie Allan

[glushing]

Aussie A
How would you best configure the drives I have on this MB
2x sata3 2Tb
2x sata 2 1Tb

Also what about the XHD function the MB has ?

I basically ran out of space on the original raid 0 1 Tb setup, which is why i decided on the additional 2 x 2Tb sata3 drives. What about staying with the 2 x 1Tb as raid 0 with an additional 2TB , using the XHD feature offered with this Mb. On the horison I see a small ssd with the OS and all the other Hdd as storage. Starting to get bored now

[F5BJR]

*
I have not RAID > 2TO but you can find infos to microsoft site :

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463525.aspx

For me the solution with normal old BIOS not UEFI compatible is to use disk < 2TB for boot

Pierre

[Aussie Allan]

 Glushing......Hows it goin mate!

  With your current toy list.......I'm going to assume you have a desktop drive for backup/clone purposes, if you don't, buy one!......and two, you don't have a UPS!

 If I had this list I would put the 2x1TB drives on the ICH10R and raid1 them for the OS ..... using your OS is more reads then writes, so with raid1 reads are almost as fast as raid0.........this will also give you parity of your "C" drive in case of drive failure and or blackouts and brownouts.

  Put the other 2 drives also on the ICH10R and raid0..........this will give you 4TB of storage, fast reads and writes for accessing storage and even programs if you wish to install some there as well........optical on Marvell controller.........on this board forget about Marvell for storage at the moment........ICH10 will out perform it every time!

 In your situation I'd leave the XHD out of the equation.......once raid1 OS and 0 storage  has been loaded and tweaked .....set to ACHI in bios for best performance and enjoy

 Aussie Allan

[glushing]

One of the underlying reasons for the 2x2TB drives was to use the sata3 interface speed improvement.  Your suggestion does not take advantage of this......why ?
Everything takes so frigging long to configure so I really only want to do this only once........again. I do have a usb3 ext hdd for backup but it has turned out to be as useful as a choclate teapot using the WD backup supplied.

[F5BJR]

*
One of the underlying reasons for the 2x2TB drives was to use the sata3 interface speed improvement

Are you sure ?

Pierre

[Aussie Allan]

One of the underlying reasons for the 2x2TB drives was to use the sata3 interface speed improvement.  Your suggestion does not take advantage of this......why ?
Everything takes so frigging long to configure so I really only want to do this only once........again. I do have a usb3 ext hdd for backup but it has turned out to be as useful as a choclate teapot using the WD backup supplied.

 Sata III drives on this board are as useful as Connecting up an SSD to a IDE cable and wondering why it don't work, ...you, I and thousands of other are in the same boat because of the Marvell 88SE9128 controller chip, better known on this board as "SATA III Ports"

  If you don't believe me........make a "BIG" pot of coffee, put "Marvell 9128" into the search tab, and start reading........an hour spent here will save you 10 and possibly a smashed monitor.........this is also probably related to you Chocolate drives poor performance

  I got around this specific problem by buying a 2.5"/3.5" docking station that has firewire and Esata  for £20

 Aussie Allan

[glushing]

I feel like James and Rupert right now,  I just accepted that the Hardware and driver sw, were mature enough to be offered for sale. ( james & Rupert are being grilled and roasted  live on Sky) with the stock answer being " I didnt know or was unaware of this at the time ". Computer HW/SW has always being oversold in terms of performance and it looks like I am still being duped .  I assume the hw/driver combination will eventually be sorted, but by your comments have not at this moment in time.  After your comments I will just wait till I completely run outt of space before deciding what to do with the teo Seagate 2TB drives I have bought. Booting from a 4TB raid configuration seems a question asked a long time ago .

[Aussie Allan]

 All right ,...I'll bite!........what's the theory behind booting off a 4 TB drive ?

 Aussie Allan