Official GIGABYTE Forum

Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with Intel processors => Topic started by: andyc34 on November 22, 2015, 07:41:46 pm

Title: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: andyc34 on November 22, 2015, 07:41:46 pm
I have Windows installed on a SSD SATA drive. BIOS SATA option is set to ACHI mode.

I now have 2 SATA hard drives to create a rais1 array to keep all my data on.

I wish to keep the SSD drive with windows on it's own, and have a RAID1 array for data on the same system.

I used Ctrl+I, created a raid array, changed the SATA bios option to RAID, but then my system refuses to boot.
My SATA SSD drive is not in the boot drive options list.

I have reverted to BIOS Setting ACHI so I can boot up again.

What do I need to do to get the SSD and a Raid array working please..
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on November 22, 2015, 11:23:05 pm
The AHCI & Raid are basically the same controller but they are different. What you have to do is install windows using the raid controller. You could PM shadowsports and he would know what to do. http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=132428
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: shadowsports on November 23, 2015, 05:50:39 am
Hey Guys,

Andyc34
Implementation on this board.
Z170x controller supports AHCI or RAID.  It does not support "mixed" mode at BIOS level which means you cannot switch the operate mode of the controller and boot normally.  Since windows vista, drivers other than the controllers active operate mode set at install are automatically disabled.  In vista, the fix was to reinstall.  When 7 was released, MS addressed the issue allowing users to switch from IDE to AHCI to support native SATA which was becoming mainstream.  I've read that the change can be made in windows 8 and 10 using msconfig and enabling Safe Boot (checkbox) on Boot tab.  Restart, enter BIOS, change operate mode to RAID, save.  The driver is changed when you boot into SAFE mode.  Confirming this, you then, uncheck the SAFE boot box and restart.  I strongly recommend making a back up of your system before attempting this. 

In RAID mode, only the disks connected to SATA3_1~4 and marked as RAID members in the RAID Configuration Utility (CTRL+I) will operate as RAID.  Single disks will operate in AHCI mode as standalones since they are not array members.  Hope this helps with your issue.     
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 13, 2015, 03:28:11 pm
did this work for you Andyc34?
i am asking, because i have the same problem/situation...
how can i boot in safe mode, if my bios doesn't see my SSD when switching to RAID mode?
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on December 13, 2015, 03:43:26 pm
did this work for you Andyc34?
i am asking, because i have the same problem/situation...
how can i boot in safe mode, if my bios doesn't see my SSD when switching to RAID mode?

Sorry you can't run both at the same time. If you make it Raid you will still get the performance out of your SSD as if you were running AHCI. Even if you run two different OS like I do you have to run either AHCI or Raid. I run mine in Raid.
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 13, 2015, 04:54:45 pm
thx for your answer, but that wasn`t my question...
currently, i can only use my nvme-SSD with Windows on it in AHCI-Mode, when i switch SATA-Mode in BIOS
i cannot select the SSD for booting. shadowsports pointed to a possible solution to this:
set windows to boot in safe mode while switching in bios to RAID-mode.
My question: How does the Bios know, that Windows is set to "Safe-mode" in order to make my SSD
available to boot using RAID-mode.

edit: tried it few minutes ago.
in the moment i change SATA-mode in BIOS, my nvme-ssd (Samsung 950pro) isn't visible anymore (thus i cannot boot from it), is that a Gigabyte-problem? I heard of people using 2 nvme SSDs in RAID, so i think this should be possible. what am i doing wrong?
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: shadowsports on December 14, 2015, 02:39:05 am
Greetings,
Chris, I received your PM.  Your situation is a little different than andyc34's.  He was running 2 SATA disks connected to standard SATA ports.  Yours is a 950.  I'm fairly confident now after working with several different m.2 drives on various boards/chipsets from different manufactures that implementation of nvme isn't the same as standard SATA.  This is likely why (and I haven't tested this yet) switching the operate mode doesn't work for these drives.  You'd think it would work since its the same bus, but many of them won't detect unless you install as UEFI.  You then have the option of MBR or GPT, but still need the UEFI option for windows to "see" the thing connected to the controller.  I'm waiting on a HP Zbook that I plan to put a m.2 in.  One of my colleagues hasn't been able to get it to POST with the m.2 attached.  I think we got a Samsung 951 for it.  He was going to update the BIOS this weekend and tell me what happens.  My Z97 is only x2 and my RAID is 850 Pro's.  I don't have a system to test this theory with I'm afraid.  Your attempt was helpful however.  :)   I don't think this is Gigabyte specific.  I've seen this on z97 and X99's on Asus as well. 
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Effetredici on December 14, 2015, 12:16:34 pm
thx for your answer, but that wasn`t my question...
currently, i can only use my nvme-SSD with Windows on it in AHCI-Mode, when i switch SATA-Mode in BIOS
i cannot select the SSD for booting. shadowsports pointed to a possible solution to this:
set windows to boot in safe mode while switching in bios to RAID-mode.
My question: How does the Bios know, that Windows is set to "Safe-mode" in order to make my SSD
available to boot using RAID-mode.

edit: tried it few minutes ago.
in the moment i change SATA-mode in BIOS, my nvme-ssd (Samsung 950pro) isn't visible anymore (thus i cannot boot from it), is that a Gigabyte-problem? I heard of people using 2 nvme SSDs in RAID, so i think this should be possible. what am i doing wrong?

Hi, i have the same problem in my system (GA-Z170X-UD3 firmware F4 + Samsung SSD 950PRO). When I change the SATA mode in BIOS I can not find the SSD.
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 14, 2015, 12:29:01 pm
So, we are two now...
I will try to have SATA-Mode in "RAID" mode, and do a fresh UEFI Win10 install
on the nvme-ssd. I think our problem has sth. to do with MBR vs GPT and UEFI vs. non-UEFI...
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 14, 2015, 04:48:27 pm
little Update:
I tried to do a fresh install of Win10 (SATA-Mode set to RAID), and what a surprise,
the 950Pro NVM SSD wasn't found in Windows Setup...
So, NVMe only in AHCI mode? Are these Gigabyte-guys kidding?
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: shadowsports on December 14, 2015, 09:50:52 pm
Chris,
Was your boot (install) media designated as UEFI?  Either as UEFI:USB Win10xxx or UEFI:DVDxxx (just examples)?   
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 15, 2015, 06:27:41 am
Yep, it was... UEFI USB Stick...
Still, Windows Setup didn't see the NVMe SSD, even after giving Setup the
Samsung NVMe driver seperately...
Made the cross-check and switched to AHCI-Mode, no problems...could have installed to NVMe SSD.
Today I gonna try changing MBR to GPT partition schema on the NVMe SSD, maybe this will change anything.

Otherwise I'm lost, I tried all possible BIOS-changes (CSM enabled/disabled, several UEFI settings etc.).
Changing SATA-Mode to RAID, and NVMe SSD is gone...
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on December 15, 2015, 05:53:55 pm
Have been do some reading on this. Plus I don't know if you tried this or it will help. I found this in one of the forums.

If CSM is enabled, you must set Launch Storage OpROM Policy to UEFI Only to allow booting from a PCIe M.2 drive, or RAID array. (Storage Boot Option Control)
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 15, 2015, 07:19:21 pm
Thx, but I finally worked it out...Whootwhoot... :)
so, SATA-Mode = RAID, CSM disabled (all "legacy" options disappear).
Boot with UEFI-USB-Stick, and in Windows Setup:
Load Intel RST 14.7 x64 RAID Drivers via USB-Stick. Finally NVMe SSD appears, and your are able to
install to it.
I don't think it will work for people, who don't want to re-install Windows.
So, I don't think there is any SW out there, which can clone an old
install of windows on a NVMe SSD in GPT and with creating the necessary UEFI Boot-Code.

Having these settings set in BIOS/UEFI, I could then build my HDD-RAID Volume using
the section "Intel RAPID STORAGE RAID" which only appears, when having OS-Type set to Windows8/10 and
CSM disabled.

Many things i learned, coming from an "easy" Z77X Board...
will have a beer now, cheers and best regards
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Effetredici on December 16, 2015, 08:29:47 am
Thx, but I finally worked it out...Whootwhoot... :)
so, SATA-Mode = RAID, CSM disabled (all "legacy" options disappear).
Boot with UEFI-USB-Stick, and in Windows Setup:
Load Intel RST 14.7 x64 RAID Drivers via USB-Stick. Finally NVMe SSD appears, and your are able to
install to it.
I don't think it will work for people, who don't want to re-install Windows.
So, I don't think there is any SW out there, which can clone an old
install of windows on a NVMe SSD in GPT and with creating the necessary UEFI Boot-Code.

Having these settings set in BIOS/UEFI, I could then build my HDD-RAID Volume using
the section "Intel RAPID STORAGE RAID" which only appears, when having OS-Type set to Windows8/10 and
CSM disabled.

Many things i learned, coming from an "easy" Z77X Board...
will have a beer now, cheers and best regards

Thank you !! Be careful, you can not install the samsung' driver. Even the magician software ver. 4.9 does not see the hard disk.
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on December 16, 2015, 01:29:31 pm
I just order one of these boards GA-Z170X-Gaming 3. If I want to help people I should Have for a little bit. I think it has a lot to do with Drive more then the board.
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on December 16, 2015, 08:00:46 pm
I just setup my board and had no problems at all. The drive doesn't show up in boot option, but it does in the list of sata drive. I have mine set to raid too. I have the Z170x gaming 3.

Boot from the UEFI DVD, Set it windows 8/10, didn't touch the CSM, set the storage to UEFI, & set the Sata controller to Raid. I'm still say it has to do with the NVMe dirve. I'm using a Crucial MX200 M.2 Type 2280SS (Single Sided) 250GB SATA.
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 16, 2015, 08:43:47 pm
Thank you !! Be careful, you can not install the samsung' driver. Even the magician software ver. 4.9 does not see the hard disk.

You mean in Windows? Why not? Just the Intel RST driver?
What exactly happens when you install the samsung driver?
I thought best performance is only possible with Samsung's NVMe driver?
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 16, 2015, 08:51:04 pm
I just setup my board and had no problems at all. The drive doesn't show up in boot option, but it does in the list of sata drive. I have mine set to raid too. I have the Z170x gaming 3.

Boot from the UEFI DVD, Set it windows 8/10, didn't touch the CSM, set the storage to UEFI, & set the Sata controller to Raid. I'm still say it has to do with the NVMe dirve. I'm using a Crucial MX200 M.2 Type 2280SS (Single Sided) 250GB SATA.

Interesting...
Mine didn't show up anywhere...until I loaded Intel RST drivers in Windows Setup...
After installing Windows, it showed "Windows Boot Manager - Samsung 950Pro" in UEFI as Boot Option...
(basically it showed the UEFI Boot Header)
Still, CSM had to be deactivated for mine to work...
So, you're right with "different drive, different problems/settings"...
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: shadowsports on December 16, 2015, 11:00:07 pm
This is good news.  So you disabled Legacy boot support (CSM), but had to provide the iRST driver (Formerly F6 option) for set up to see the NVMe, using UEFI.  Good work gentleman! Friggin' star for each of you...  you earned it :)
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Effetredici on December 17, 2015, 07:08:38 am
Thank you !! Be careful, you can not install the samsung' driver. Even the magician software ver. 4.9 does not see the hard disk.

You mean in Windows? Why not? Just the Intel RST driver?
What exactly happens when you install the samsung driver?
I thought best performance is only possible with Samsung's NVMe driver?

The Samsung NVMe Driver Installer http://ssd.samsungsemi.com/ecomobile/ssd/update15.do?fname=/Samsung_NVMExpress_Driver_rev10.zip (http://ssd.samsungsemi.com/ecomobile/ssd/update15.do?fname=/Samsung_NVMExpress_Driver_rev10.zip) say: "Samsung NVM Express Device is not connected. Connect the Device and try again."
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 17, 2015, 07:41:06 am
This is good news.  So you disabled Legacy boot support (CSM), but had to provide the iRST driver (Formerly F6 option) for set up to see the NVMe, using UEFI.  Good work gentleman! Friggin' star for each of you...  you earned it :)
Exactly...For me, this is the way to get it working in RAID-mode.

Quote
The Samsung NVMe Driver Installer http://ssd.samsungsemi.com/ecomobile/ssd/update15.do?fname=/Samsung_NVMExpress_Driver_rev10.zip say: "Samsung NVM Express Device is not connected. Connect the Device and try again."
Interesting, will try that this weekend, maybe that's because of the Intel Rapid Storage RAID controller which is managing the Samsung 950pro... How is your performance without the dedicated Samsung driver?

Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Effetredici on December 17, 2015, 09:50:54 am
This is good news.  So you disabled Legacy boot support (CSM), but had to provide the iRST driver (Formerly F6 option) for set up to see the NVMe, using UEFI.  Good work gentleman! Friggin' star for each of you...  you earned it :)
Exactly...For me, this is the way to get it working in RAID-mode.

Quote
The Samsung NVMe Driver Installer http://ssd.samsungsemi.com/ecomobile/ssd/update15.do?fname=/Samsung_NVMExpress_Driver_rev10.zip say: "Samsung NVM Express Device is not connected. Connect the Device and try again."
Interesting, will try that this weekend, maybe that's because of the Intel Rapid Storage RAID controller which is managing the Samsung 950pro... How is your performance without the dedicated Samsung driver?

CristalDiskInfo and Samsung Magician 4.9 not detect the hard disk...

(http://s12.postimg.org/iwfhz5yp5/Atto.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/iwfhz5yp5/)

Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 17, 2015, 12:15:39 pm
Quote
CristalDiskInfo and Samsung Magician 4.9 not detect the hard disk...

(http://s12.postimg.org/iwfhz5yp5/Atto.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/iwfhz5yp5/)

Thx a lot, looks to me that performance is normal, even without the Samsung drivers...
Any other "restrictions"?
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Effetredici on December 17, 2015, 12:37:19 pm
Quote
CristalDiskInfo and Samsung Magician 4.9 not detect the hard disk...

(http://s12.postimg.org/iwfhz5yp5/Atto.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/iwfhz5yp5/)

Thx a lot, looks to me that performance is normal, even without the Samsung drivers...
Any other "restrictions"?

If the samsung's software does not work you can not set the space for over-provisioning (or you must do it manually) but most important you can't apply a new firmware !
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Effetredici on December 17, 2015, 12:49:30 pm
I'm thinking if keep the system in RAID mode or go back to AHCI and buy a controller raid PCI-E  :o
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on December 17, 2015, 01:52:28 pm
This is the bench marking tool I use. AS SSD Benchmark http://www.techspot.com/downloads/6014-as-ssd-benchmark.html

There other tools on the site too. http://www.techspot.com/downloads/
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Effetredici on December 17, 2015, 02:38:39 pm
This is the bench marking tool I use. AS SSD Benchmark http://www.techspot.com/downloads/6014-as-ssd-benchmark.html

There other tools on the site too. http://www.techspot.com/downloads/

something wrong...

(http://s22.postimg.org/i7iptabxp/as_ssd_bench_NVMe_Samsung_SSD_17_12_2015_15_35_3.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/i7iptabxp/)
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on December 17, 2015, 02:59:37 pm
I'm thinking if keep the system in RAID mode or go back to AHCI and buy a controller raid PCI-E  :o

Why you really not going to see much of a performance boost. AHCI & Raid are about the same. Like I have said in the past that it is all in what a person wants to do.

But if you do it benchmark both of them, before you put the card in and after. Then post what you come up with. That way people have a choose on another option.
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on December 17, 2015, 03:06:10 pm
Here is a review on those drives: http://www.thessdreview.com/daily-news/latest-buzz/understanding-m2-3xraid0-nvme-boot-performance/
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on December 17, 2015, 03:28:03 pm
I just did mine and I know I'm using a different drive too.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq161/dmdilks/as-ssd-bench%20Crucial_CT250MX2%2012.18.2015%202-17-45%20AM_zpstbh0chg4.png)
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Effetredici on December 17, 2015, 03:43:30 pm
I'm thinking if keep the system in RAID mode or go back to AHCI and buy a controller raid PCI-E  :o

Why you really not going to see much of a performance boost. AHCI & Raid are about the same. Like I have said in the past that it is all in what a person wants to do.

But if you do it benchmark both of them, before you put the card in and after. Then post what you come up with. That way people have a choose on another option.

I'm not looking for performance gains but only for a durable system configuration...
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: Reservoirdog on December 17, 2015, 06:29:39 pm
Quote

I'm not looking for performance gains but only for a durable system configuration...

So, why not having a separate Sata-SSD like me with a windows loaded
(or a Windows To go on a stick), then go AHCI and boot from one of these.
Then you can upgrade your Firmware or adjust your OP...
when everything is fine, you switch back to RAID-mode and boot normally via UEFI to your NVMe SSD...

Giving you this hint, as I did it that way today :)
Title: Re: SSD plus RAID1 Gigabyte Z170XP Help please
Post by: dmdilks on December 17, 2015, 08:35:43 pm
I hate F-ing windows. I set it up at first with just the M2 & DVD. Then I setup the array. Formatted in windows and then did some wire management. I had one of the sata cables not plug all the way in. When the computer booted no Boot Manager.

Now let see here I did it that way where I wouldn't have that on any other drive. But good old windows some how put the boot manager on the array. Plus it is windows 10 too. Why do people like this piece crap OS. Windows 7 wouldn't have done that.