Intel Rapid Storage Technology and Raid Setup for P9X79 Pro

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

I just flashed the BIOS for my P9X79 Pro motherboard and now I want to set up RAID so I can use Intel Rapid Storage Technology. Once the BIOS was updated, I switched the SATA configuration into RAID mode and then tried to set up a RAID volume. The problem is when I try to set up a RAID using the Intel Rapid Storage Technology tool, it does not give me any options to select disks for the RAID. Both disks are formatted and set as NON-RAID DISKS but it is still not letting me select them. I tried both RSTe and IRST settings in the BIOS and still no luck. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get this working?

alexoiu · Dec 8, 2014

These are the storage options for your board:
Intel® X79 chipset :
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), white
4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), blue,
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Marvell® PCIe 9128 controller :
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), white
ASMedia® ASM1061 controller :
2 x Power eSATA 6Gb/s port(s), green

Make sure firstly that both drives are connected either to white or blue Intel SATA ports.

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

alexoiu :

Yes both drives are connected to one white and one blue

reedo_43 · Dec 8, 2014

Put them on the same color.

alexoiu · Dec 8, 2014

Connect them both to the blue SATA ports and try again.

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

alexoiu :

I switched them both to blue and still no luck. I tried switching them both to white and it still did not let me select any disks for RAID. Any other things I can try?

alexoiu · Dec 8, 2014

Are you getting the Ctrl+I option at restart, after setting SATA to RAID in BIOS?

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

alexoiu :

Yes, ill post a picture of what I see

alexoiu · Dec 8, 2014

Then press Ctrl+I and configure the RAID.

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

alexoiu :

I'm in the RAID config and here is what I see.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hnoqluaiithvu07/IMG_0327.JPG?dl=0

and this is what I see what I create raid volume

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8tk3i7yerv3wvdb/IMG_0328.JPG?dl=0

I'm sorry if its hard to see but the select disks option is grey'd out and I cannot select any of the disks

alexoiu · Dec 8, 2014

You want to RAID a SSD with an HDD?
Or you're after Intel Smart Response (SSD as cache)?

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

alexoiu :

Yea I want to do the Smart Response. I had this set up before but I knew that I would need to set if up again when I flash the BIOS. Now that the BIOS is flashed I'm having trouble trying to set up the Smart Response Caching.

USAFRet · Dec 8, 2014

leaflet757 :

What size/make is the SSD?

alexoiu · Dec 8, 2014

leaflet757 :

With that SSD I suggest installing Windows on it and using the HDD for data. Better results than Smart Response.
ISRT is recommended for small sizes SSDs.

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

USAFRet :

It is this one

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-120GB-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-7TE120BW/dp/B00E3W15P0/ref=sr_1_5/186-3362364-2118639?ie=UTF8&qid=1418069979&sr=8-5&keywords=ssd+840+samsung

USAFRet · Dec 8, 2014

Oh. It's an 840 EVO 120GB.

Do not use that as the cache drive! You are throwing away a good bit of its functionality.
ISRT is limited to 64GB. So that's 1/2 right there.

Just use it as the OS and application drive. It is plenty big enough for a bunch of applications, apart from games.
My current C drive is a Kingston 120, with ~70GB used space.

alexoiu · Dec 8, 2014

If I'm not wrong, but you have to check the manual, Smart Response is not available on the board, but ASUS provides a solution with the Marvell ports. Check the manual

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

alexoiu :

leaflet757 :

With that SSD I suggest installing Windows on it and using the HDD for data. Better results than Smart Response.
ISRT is recommended for small sizes SSDs.

Sounds good! How would I go about setting that up? And thank you for helping out, I really appreciate it!

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

USAFRet :

Yea, I learned about the 64GB limit after I got the SSD. It made me sad :'(

Then if I were to install my OS on the SSD and use the other for data, would I just set the BIOS back to AHCI instead of RAID?

USAFRet · Dec 8, 2014

leaflet757 :

alexoiu :

Sounds good! How would I go about setting that up? And thank you for helping out, I really appreciate it!

Disconnect all drives but that SSD.
Install Windows
Let it run its updates
Install your applications
Reconnect the HDD

USAFRet · Dec 8, 2014

leaflet757 :

USAFRet :

Yea, I learned about the 64GB limit after I got the SSD. It made me sad :'(

Then if I were to install my OS on the SSD and use the other for data, would I just set the BIOS back to AHCI instead of RAID?

Yes.

alexoiu · Dec 8, 2014

leaflet757 :

alexoiu :

Sounds good! How would I go about setting that up? And thank you for helping out, I really appreciate it!

Set SATA to AHCI in BIOS. Is Windows installed on the SSD?

leaflet757 · Dec 8, 2014

alexoiu :

leaflet757 :

Set SATA to AHCI in BIOS. Is Windows installed on the SSD?

I set SATA back to AHCI and I do need to reinstall windows. I'll reinstall on the SSD and ill post back here when that is done, Thanks for helping out and giving me those tips!

alexoiu · Dec 8, 2014

No problem.

USAFRet · Dec 8, 2014

And for saving space on that SSD, see these-
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html

Intel Rapid Storage Technology and Raid Setup for P9X79 Pro

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Splendid

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Titan

Reputable

Reputable

Titan

Titan

Titan

Reputable

Titan

Titan

Share this page