GA-Z68X-UD5-B3 - new build, what's best?

[kampa532]

Hi to all,

I am building a new rig with the GA-Z68X-UD5-B3 & i7 2600K unlocked. 4x4 Corsair Vengeance, DDR3-1600, CL9@1.5V.

Heavy multitasking and image processing with Abode Lightroom and other applications.

I have the following SDDs and HDDs:

1x OCZ Agility-EX 60 GB (SATA 2)
1x Crucial 300 real ssd 128GB (SATA 3)
2x Western Digital Caviar Green, 64MB, 2TB, SATA-3


Sorry for the n00b questions... but what should I do to optimize my system?

I was thinking enabling AHCI pre-install in bios and use the Crucial SSD for boot, plugged into the SATA 3 port. The Sata 2 sdds and HDDs for data storage.

Maybe there is a better setup? Raid 0 with the 2 sdds?

I am also confused about whether I should use the SATA 2 or SATA 3 ports... because of Marvel controllers etc...

I would greatly appreciate your inputs & thanks in advance!

[Aussie Allan]

  kampa532 .....and a big welcome

  I have to be honest and ruthless at the same time because you want to do editing in the equation.......the greens are the week link .......they don't Raid well as the on-board Firmware constantly tries to spool down to 5900rpm or lower..... even off.....extra consideration must be applied to configuration so you don't get into trouble......if it were me......I'd relegate them back to singular clone and backup storage.....internal of course.....and replace them with something a little more robust/Raid orientated.......anyway, food for thought I hope!

  So if this list is locked in concrete........I would be using the 128Gb SSD for OS and Programs.......

 The second smaller SSD for a dedicated scratch disc (Lightroom/Photoshop) ...... and place cache files (Temp)  Firefox,IE,TEMP and TMP on it..... this would improve performance no end.

 If you use the two greens.......I would use Raid1 ...... which will give you some redundancy (Dual copy) .....write speeds will be around the 90-110MB/S but your read speeds should be a fair bit higher.....maybe 150-180 Mb/s.......even though there Sata3......there still a plattered drive and there lays the limitation.........7200rpm platters max out at about 120Mb/s tops......Sata2 or Sata3 .

 If you had better a better pair of drives.......and a good backup/clone practice..........I'd recommend Raid0 for the pair ........ this would give a snappy, solid 200Mb/s+ for your storage drive/partition read and write

  Ideally you really do need a drive for clone / backup storage for the SSD and the Mass storage up and above the storage Array

  Re best solution for which ports to use....... all the drives listed are not going to saturate the controllers so where you put them is a personal thing.

  On the Z68 board I would put OS with Intel .....storage with Intel.......and scratch and optical with Marvell......hope this helps.

  Aussie Allan

[kampa532]

It does help a lot! Many thanks for your detailed answer!

I was thinking of using the greens for backup storage.

So I will OS the Crutial in AHCI.

I'm also confused about the drivers: Which of the following do I need and which ones do I NOT need for an AHCI install?

1. Intel SATA Preinstall driver (For AHCI / RAID Mode)
2. Intel® Rapid Storage Technology
3. Marvell Console Driver (SATA3)
4. Marvell RAID Utility (SATA3)

[Aussie Allan]

It does help a lot! Many thanks for your detailed answer!

I was thinking of using the greens for backup storage...........Good plan Batman!

So I will OS the Crutial in AHCI.............Yes!  Make sure you load OS under ACHI.....saves a lot of hassle turning it on later!

I'm also confused about the drivers: Which of the following do I need and which ones do I NOT need for an AHCI install?

1. Intel SATA Preinstall driver (For AHCI / RAID Mode)
2. Intel® Rapid Storage Technology
3. Marvell Console Driver (SATA3)
4. Marvell RAID Utility (SATA3)

 My philosophy is to "Wack em all in!".......future proofs the install if you decide to swap things around later!....it's unlikly you will get a driver conflict with this list........If you're going down the Windows 7 path........the Intel drivers are already on the install disc........But for the exercise of doing a Driver pre install.....again it can't hurt for the experience.........From memory the Marvell console driver needs to go in during the install with the Raid utility after through windows as a generic installer........again if you read the install doc in the Giga support page.....it should give you the answers you're asking

  Just ask if I have not been clear enough or you need anymore help.......like most things....when you do it once.....it all falls into place

 Read above........Aussie Allan

  Update:......Forgot to add this.....bookmark it.......it'll keep you busy for at least a month....   the whole lot is GEM!.......... Enjoy!

   http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?63273-*-Windows-7-Ultimate-Tweaks-Utilities-*&p=442159&viewfull=1#post442159

[kampa532]

Thank you very much Aussie Alan!

[kampa532]

Well... I'm having a lot of trouble during installation of win7 64b.

First, my USB logitech keyboard was not recognised, so switched to ps2.

Updated bios to f8 from f3, switched to ahci for both PCH and eSATA3 controller. SSD installed  on sata 3. But windows freezes each time around 64 percent while "expanding files".

Install on ide works fine.

Any idea why I cannot install ahci???

Also, there is a red led under the pci slot (s4-s5) when the pc is shut off. Turns green when powered... Is this normal?

[Dark Mantis]

The LED you are concerned about is just to show the state of the PCI bus. You can see it in the manual on page 7  here:

http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-z68x-ud5-b3_e.pdf

As for the unable to install in AHCI mode try disabling the USB3.0 and ESATA in the BIOS first and then try.

[Aussie Allan]

 Do as DM said.......If you still have problems......install under IDE and use the workaround to turn on ACHI..... sometimes you have to be versatile.

  Aussie Allan

[kampa532]

Thank you very much Dark Mantis!! It worked by doing what you said!

[Dark Mantis]

Well that is good and I know it is only a workaround but at least it gets you where you want to go.

[kampa532]

Well it seems that I am not out of the woods yet...

AHCI OS install on SDD. Installed all the drivers.

When I formated my two backup Western Digital Caviar Green, 64MB, 2TB, SATA-3 (hooked on Sata_2 and Sata_3) in Win Disk Managment I got a BSOD.

Comp seems to be runing fine but each time I open Disk Managment in Administrative Tools, I get lags and eventually a BSOD.

The HDDs seems to affect stability somehow.. I suspect I have to tweek bios but I can't figure out what... Any ideas?

[Aussie Allan]

  What we discussed earlier..... the greens are (internal firmware) are trying to power down (lower the RPM to run cooler/less power draw)..... Windows/controllers do not like fluctuating spindle speeds!

  "Data-Lifeguard" Utility WDs own Diagnostic utility..... if it's like Other makers may allow you to turn off the acoustic management which I suspect is causing the issue...... if not.......can you send them back and replace with something more conducive to a Raid array

  This is just my opinion........What do you reckon DM, Absic, Other!

  Aussie Allan

[kampa532]

<i see... thanks. I have removed them to see if I still get the BSOD... will report back. Many thanks.

[Dark Mantis]

With the lack of any further information I would go along with what Allan has said. It is most likely due to the "Greens".

[kampa532]

I removed the greens but I still do get the occasional BSOD (RAM in auto - CAS correct in bios; and when setting the RAM to XMP profile, the BSODs are almost immediate).

For information: 4x4 Corsair Vengeance, DDR3-1600, CL9@1.5V. Power supply: Corsair HX 1000w.

I am posting screen shots of bios bellow. I would appreciate your help!! Grateful thanks in advance...