Getting RAID to work on the ASUS Maximus SE

[Talonman]

On my system I have built a 5-disc RAID-0 array using:

5x Seagate 320G, 16 MB cache, 7200 RPM drive
Asus Maximus Formula motherboard
128 KB stripe size
64-bit OS for enhanced memery addressing in RAID calculations

Below are the results with this configuration.

Impressive scores...

I can't wait to see what my 220 GB (200 GB Formatted) 4 disk Raptor array will look like. I will be sure to back it up to my Caviar.

Glad to hear your info on using onboard RAID too.

[Buckeye]

It's really important to do your homework before creating a raid array - especially if you are using it as your primary OS volume.

Raid is essentially using 2+ data channels to access your data instead of 1, which you can expect to at least double your data access time. This is something that can be noticed in everyday computing immediately.

Instead of accessing your data at the typical ~60-75 MB/s - you can expect 120-450+ MB/s depending on the number of drives you are using.

Be very wary of RAID-0 arrays though. I'm sure all of us have suffered a hard drive failure at some point and if ANY drive in a RAID-0 array fails - your data is gone forever - end of story. You can get around this with a RAID-1 or RAID-5 array, but you simply lose out on performance with a parity array.

A good rule of thumb is to never put anything that cannot be replaced on a RAID-0 array. A good way to get around this is to either using another hard drive for automated backups or anther RAID-5 array as a backup volume.

Another thing to watch out for are PCI raid cards which I have been using up until 2 months ago. The maximum data transfer speed of the PCI interface is a major bottleneck - although you may have a 10 disc RAID-0 array on it, the maximum transfer rate of standard PCI interface is 133 MB/s which with RAID overhead even on 2 drives is less than 100 MB/s.

The workaround is to build a RAID-0 volume using onboard RAID conrollers that allow that dedicate 1 SATA channel per drive.

On my system I have built a 5-disc RAID-0 array using:

5x Seagate 320G, 16 MB cache, 7200 RPM drive
Asus Maximus Formula motherboard
128 KB stripe size
64-bit OS for enhanced memery addressing in RAID calculations

Its important to use matched HDD's here. I have tried dissimilar drives in this configuration with lesser results. My advice is to use regular HDD's - I have used Raptors before and the performance/cost ratio simply isn't worth it unless you have waay to much money kicking around - besides the max size of these raptors is like 150G which doesn't give you a very big volume when you are all done (600-750GB vs. 1.5 TB+ ?? with a typical 6 channel onboard controller).

Below are the results with this configuration.

Most of my major computing is repairing/extracting large .rar archives that I download from newsgroups and also video processing movies using DVDShrink and Nero and the performance is simply staggering. I can rip through any movie using DVDShrink in under a minute which would take any single drive volume 5-30 minutes depending on drive and bus speeds.

All good advice, Thanks !

My Raptors in Raid 0 have been running nice for many months <knock on wood> but it's backed up with my WHS so I am not to worried LOL !

I have had my Buffalo TeraStation with 4x 250gb drives in Raid 5 lose a drive and it was real nice to be able to install another drive and be back to normal without to much fuss.

My SSD Raid will go to a Raid 5 setup after I get cooling all installed. It's not that I am worried about the drives, it's just the number of drives I am using which increases the chance of failure. So it will still be very fast even in Raid 5. But really I am just not that worried about it so who knows.

If this was a big business I would take different steps, but for my little home based business <Ha ! it's hardly little anymore> and gaming, WHS backups seemed to work very well. I can get by with my laptop or other machines and interent until a replacement drive came in without to much of a problem.

[Talonman]

I can only get 1 of my 2 new Raptors to format. Going from my 2 disk array to a 4 disk array is on hold.

[Buckeye]

<scratches head>

Ok it has been awhile that I setup Raid 0 on my Max...

Don't you just go to the Raid Manager by hitting F6 and selecting the drives you want in the Raid and format there ?

Why are you trying to format 1 drive ?

[Talonman]

Good Call!!

I went right into the Control-I screen, it would see my all 4 of my Raptors just fine. I selected the 2 new ones to see how it would go before killing my current system, it did successfully make a 2 disk array. I booted into Vista and currently have the Disk Manager formatting a new 2 disk raid 0 array. 59&#37; complete.

If this goes well, and get convinced the drives are working properly, I will go back in, delete both my arrays, and make my new 4 disker RAID 0!
I am going to select 220MB for OS and games, the rest for pictures and stuff!
I still am shooting for 200 GB free on the C drive after formatting.

Raptor x 4 speed will be online soon!

I had heard that Windows like Raptors to be formatted first... Not sure?
All I do know is the drive is functiong now.

[Buckeye]

I had heard that Windows like Raptors to be formatted first... Not sure?
All I do know is the drive is functiong now.

Great to hear Talon !

I did not format first, just created the Raid, inserted Vista Installer DVD and loaded the drivers and away it went.

When I asked Windows if it prefered that I format first, windows said that i't didn't mind either way

[Talonman]

Man-O!!

I tried to run HD Tune Pro to check my new array's speed, and it aborted. Read test failed.

Now the Matrix Storage Console is reporting a failure too...

Trying to format it one more time to see if it will hold data...

At least I know what Exact drive it is. hmmmm

The deal was if I had this drive plugged in, Vista's desktop would never show up. Only the scan bar just scanning forever...
This is the first time my system will boot with the drive plugged in, using the RAID it up before Vista sniffs it method.
If you just leave this Raptor in standard drive mode, Vista won't boot to it's desktop.

I am suprised I am able to successfully format it error free. You would think the OS would have an issue with a bad drive...
Trivia: On my first RMA Raptor, they sent me an ADFS back, not an ADFD. Does anybody know the difference?

[Buckeye]

Sounds like you might have a bad disk.

Boot into your normal setup. Have the drive that seems to be givining you problems outside of the Raid and all by itself plugged into a SATA port.

Can you see the drive on the desktop ?
If so can you format it ?

If it does not work there chances are its a bad drive.


Did you just get this drive, or is it an older one ?

[Talonman]

Brand new drive 2 days old...

with the drive plugged in normal mode, outside of RAID, it prevents Vista desktop from showing up. The scan bar scans forever...

No format is possible.

RAIDED up is the only way my system boots with the drive plugged in.

It successfully completed the format:

[Talonman]

HD Tune Pro would still not read the array. It still gives me 'Read Error', and aborts.

I re-booted, and the system post messages displayed error code 1 on the drive in red.
Then the system would not boot.

I unplugged the drive, and Matrix Storage Console is yelling 1 drive is missing in an array.

I guess I need to un-define that array at the Control-I screen.

Final conclusion: Bad Drive...

[Buckeye]

So just a single drive in windows it cannot be formated.

In a Raid with another drive it can be formated.
I assume that when you do this the Raid acts funny, as you posted before ?

It sounds like a funky drive to me.

Edit:
oh ok you posted before me

Are you creating the Raid on the desktop ?
Sorry for the dumb question. I have always created my Raids in the BIOS.

[Talonman]

I am creating RAID at the Control-I screen during post.
Only formatting the drive from the desktop. (From the disk manager initially, then from the desktop if wanted, once the array is useable.)

I deleted the NewRaptor array. Now the new bad drive is out, and my 1 good new Raptor is operating in standard disk mode, and being formatted as such.

That drive is way to funky for RAID 0!! RMA baby...
It's a show stopper 4 sure!

[Talonman]

I am now officially in the RAID 0 Club, with my two 150GB Raptors!

I now have 'Hard Drive Write Cache Enabled' set to Yes on both of my Raptors.

When I created my 2 Disk 10K RPM 150GB Raptor array, I never took a speed reading on the performance of a single Raptor for contrast. I have now and thought we might want the info for reference:


Two things suprise me.

The large performance spike downward, near the beginning of the test. I restarted the test 5 times, and the drop was there every time.

The other supriseing thing to me is my single Caviar, beats a single 10K RPM Raptor in max transfer and burst rate.
The average is real close though...

[Buckeye]

Very interesting, I do not know what the spikes are from.

Access times are much better with the Raptors tho.

[Buckeye]

This gives about the best explaination that I have seen about all this stuff.

From this link...
http://www.nextlevelhardware.com/storage/battleship/


I have always liked analogies relating cars to computers because drag racing happens to be a huge interest of my own outside of the technology and hardware world. Application loading and boot performance for the most part received the greatest benefit from the single Mtron, just as I predicted. You will notice the largest benefit will be swapping out your single mechanical rotating HDD for an SSD when initiating random file reads and app loading. But, when raiding SSD's you are only adding horsepower, not torque if you can understand the logic. Here it comes: Horsepower is the speed at what you hit the wall, torque is how far you blast through the wall and how much damage you inflict in it. In drag racing torque is what gets you off the starting line and through the first 60 feet of the race, horsepower is what wins the race up top. Now place that analogy into computers. Imagine torque = access time/latency and horsepower = sustained read. One single SSD will give you below .1ms access time, so your torque is going to create the snappy feeling and instantaneous file loads. Now, even though you are adding additional horsepower (more drives in raid 0) your torque remains the same. So, unless you are loading apps/games that have a few heavier duty file loads. ie: larger chunks of files being loaded, not small little chunks. The games/apps will benefit from more horsepower during the load operation only in that instance. So, for the most part the Raid 0 array scaled incredibly and windows feels much nicer as a total package. But specific game/app loads are not something you should be jumping for joy about in a Raid 0 array and definitely not why you should be adding that second Mtron to your arsenal. However, as discussed previously a single Mtron 16GB SSD will increase OS boot time by up to 130% in some cases when using Vista.

[Talonman]

Thanks for the info...

Yes.. Access time is their strength.

I just reformatted the drive again, just for fun.

The spike is still in the same spot, and just as big.
Good thing when you RAID them up and turn the memory cash on, it fixes the spike right up I guess?

[Buckeye]

Thanks for the info...

Yes.. Access time is their strength.

I just reformatted the drive again, just for fun.

The spike is still in the same spot, and just as big.
Good thing when you RAID them up and turn the memory cash on, it fixes the spike right up I guess?

It's also one of the strength's of the Raptors

[Talonman]

More disturbing info about the spike.

If I let HD Tune Pro check my drive out after a clean format, the quick scan will pass all green:

This is the info that displayes:


If I take Quick Scan off, the program locks up right about where my spike would be:
I had to reboot, restarted HD Tune, and error check locked up in the same spot again (3 times). 21 sec in the Elapsed Time stops, and the program becomes unresponsive.
When I reboot my PC, I now get 2 new audible disk drive head vibrations that I never had. RRRRRHHHhh RRRRRHhhh
Right before this test locks up, I also hear 4 head grinds, the scanning slows, then the program locks up.


Chkdsk's report:


I am thinking now I just received 2 Raptors, one caused the system not to boot when plugged in, and the other has some funky physical damage in it, that causes a bad performance spike, and failes an error check.

[Buckeye]

Good Grief !

Man nothing is ever simple is it. Very sorry to hear that you are having so many problems Talon

But the main Raid that you run your OS on is working fine right ?

[Talonman]

Thank God, yes. My OS/Game C: array is strong, and even passes the harsh error test like it's free...
The solo working Raptor has flat out locked up HD Tune Pro 4 times now doing the same test. (Still giving 2 loud head vibrations on each boot.)
If I were to add it into my array, I could kiss this test ever passing again goodbye.


I am a drive checker by nature..

I can't get the OS to give me an error on my solo funky Raptor.
I think I would feel better if it would agree with HD Tune, that there is indeed an issue.

I just drug and dropped 125GB of data onto the drive, and to took it fine.


I need help deciding... Good drive, or bad drive??

Self Lesson: Microsoft drive format program, ain't too pickey on drive errors!

It this going to make it rough to RMA? A 1/2 working drive, that passes a quick scan, and formats and copies fine...
I have to tell them that they will need to run HD Tune Pro 3.0, and make sure to uncheck the quick scan option so the program will then lock up, to prove the drive is bad... My gosh. I would have loved for these drives to just work.

I can't get passed that the bad spike is right about where the error check locks up. That can't be just coincidence... (And that I have 2 new loud abnormal head vibrations on every system boot, and 4 right before the error check program locks up.)

That SOB spike would be right on the performance end of the disk too!
I no longer buy into that solo Raptors normally have that vishous 'performance drop' spike.
This is unique to this drive, no matter how many times I format it.

3 out of my 4 150's have been bad now... RATS!!!

[afireinside]

I didn't read the thread but... whats the deal? Does RAID not work on this board for people? I've had two of them and they worked fine when I ran RAID 0 raptors in vista x64 just like any other board. The RAID controller does out pitifully early when ramping up the PCIE freq, though.

[Talonman]

RAID is working fine, the drives are bad.

Setting up my 2 disk array was easy, but I wanted a 4 disk array for added speed, and to fill my 6 SATA ports.

FYI - Western Digital makes a neet Disk Utility Program that can check your drive for errors.
I just found it myself...
http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...&sid=3&lang=en

I used the Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows program on my Raptor with the spike, and guess what...
It agrees with HD Tune Pro! Good program, and gives me further conformation that this drive also needs to go back.

Note: I was able to successfully write 0's to the entire drive error free using Data Lifeguard.

The Quick Test however had issues.

[moonlightcheese]

hello guys,
im a new user of Maximus Formula motherboard, and i'm from Italy
I really like this forum.
So i decided to try to get help here.
Searching on google about my problem didnt help.
So, here's my problem:
i've two maxtor sata (old sata, not SATAII) 120gb hard drives, that i configured in bios in RAID mode, i created raid with ctrl-i option in "0" mode (striping).
But everytime I start the system, after ram test, it freeze for 20-30sec on DET IDE status (this is what i read on lcd poster).
When it freeze my hdd activity led its turned on for about 10sec, then turn off and finally it comes turned on for further 10 sec...
After that my system goes out from "freezing" status and boot normally.
I had this problem with 902 and 903 bios.
What's wrong?
Thanks in advance

i'm having this same problem. updated to 1201 bios and still get hung on det ide. it won't boot at all. everything was working fine till i got a raid0 error in vista 32bits and after rebuilding the raid, everytime i reboot the mobo hangs on det ide, but only when raid is turned on. if i reset the cmos and raid is off, everything is normal and i can install windows on a single drive. it only hangs on det ide with raid turned on... but i want to build a raid10!! wtf... i really don't want to rma.