Promise FastTrak TX2650

[grom358]

Is this card good? I am wanting to have RAID 0 of two identical drives and install Windows 7 onto it.

 

[whp7]

Is this card good? I am wanting to have RAID 0 of two identical drives and install Windows 7 onto it.

grom358:

I've been using the Promise TX2650 in RAI0 0 on a dual-boot 32-bit XP and Vista system since the end of March 2008. I had just Googled "Windows 7 TX2650" and saw your post. Microsoft indicates that both 32- and 64-bit Windows 7 are "Compatible" with the Promise TX2650 controller. Here's the link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/co...ds & Components&sc=Other Components&os=64-bit

I have two Seagate Cheetah ST3146855SS 15k SAS drives in RAID 0. Until the latest BIOS release v2.8.0045 (9/2009), I could not install Vista or run Window PE included with Storagecraft's ShadowProtect disk imaging software.

As a workaround, I had to boot into safe mode to run the imaging software. If I wanted to do a fresh install of Vista, I had to roll the BIOS back to v2.8.0024. The latest BIOS v2.8.0045 fixed that problem. When I move to Windows 7, it will be the 64-bit version.

Now that Promise has addressed the above problem, I'm pleased with the TX2650. For a software RAID solution, I don't think you'll find a better alternative. Hardware RAID cards that incorporate a processor and memory are BIG BUCKS, and I don't think one is available for PCI-e x1! I'm running my TX2650 in my home/office.

If you have any other questions, please let me know.

whp7

 

[elbuitre]

How you can update the fastTrak TX2650 BIOS?
Can you upload a video with the steps?