Serial ATA Bios Setting Utility Introduction

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4-1-4 Serial ATA BIOS Setting Utility Introduction

RAID Levels

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a method of combining two hard disk drives into one logical unit. The advantage of an Array is to provide better performance or data fault tolerance. Fault tolerance is achieved through data redundant operation, where if one drives fails, a mirrored copy of the data can be found on another drive. This can prevent data loss if the operating system fails or hangs. The individual disk drives in an array are called members. The configuration information of each member is recorded in the reserved sector that identifies the drive as a member. All disk members in a formed disk array are recognized as a single physical drive to the operating system.

Hard disk drives can be combined together through a few different methods. The different methods are referred to as different RAID levels. Different RAID levels represent different performance levels, security levels and implementation costs. The RAID levels which the nVIDIA® nForce4 chipset supports are RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+RAID 1 and JBOD.

RAID 0 (Striping)

RAID 0 reads and writes sectors of data interleaved between multiple drives. If any disk member fails, it affects the entire array. The disk array data capacity is equal to the number of drive members times the capacity of the smallest member. The striping block size can be set from 4KB to 128KB. RAID 0 does not support fault tolerance.

RAID 1 (Mirroring)

RAID 1 writes duplicate data onto a pair of drives and reads both sets of data in parallel. If one of the mirrored drives suffers a mechanical failure or does not respond, the remaining drive will continue to function. Due to redundancy, the drive capacity of the array is the capacity of the smallest drive. Under a RAID 1 setup, an extra drive called the spare drive can be attached. Such a drive will be activated to replace a failed drive that is part of a mirrored array. Due to the fault tolerance, if any RAID 1 drive fails, data access will not be affected as long as there are other working drives in the array.

RAID 0+1 (Striping + Mirroring)

RAID 0+1 combines the performance of data striping (RAID 0) and the fault tolerance of disk mirroring (RAID 1). Data is striped across multiple drives and duplicated on another set of drives.

JBOD (Spanning)

A spanning disk array is equal to the sum of the all drives when the drives used are having different capacities. Spanning stores data onto a drive until it is full, then proceeds to store files onto the next drive in the array. When any disk member fails, the failure affects the entire array. JBOD is not really a RAID and does not support fault tolerance.

GA-K8NE-RH Motherboard

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GA-K8NE-RH specifications

The Gigabyte GA-K8NE-RH is a reliable motherboard designed for AMD processors, specifically catering to the Socket 754 form factor. Released during a time when AMD's Athlon 64 processors were gaining popularity, the GA-K8NE-RH stands out for its remarkable performance and a range of features that appealed to both gamers and general users alike.

One of the main highlights of the GA-K8NE-RH is its ability to support AMD’s 64-bit processing technology, allowing users to take full advantage of the enhanced performance capabilities of Athlon 64 CPUs. This motherboard supports memory configurations with up to 4GB of DDR memory, utilizing dual-channel architecture. This dual-channel setup not only boosts memory bandwidth but also improves overall system performance, making it ideal for multitasking and memory-intensive applications.

The GA-K8NE-RH is built on the nForce3 250 chipset, which features an integrated NVIDIA graphics processing unit. This allows for a more streamlined graphic performance, making it suitable for casual gaming and multimedia applications. Furthermore, the integrated Gigabit Ethernet ensures high-speed network connectivity, essential for online gaming and downloading large files.

This motherboard also includes multiple IDE and SATA connectors. With support for SATA II, users can benefit from faster data transfer rates compared to traditional IDE connections. Additionally, the inclusion of RAID support enables users to set up disk redundancy for improved data security or enhanced read/write speeds, depending on their setup.

In terms of audio capabilities, the GA-K8NE-RH features a built-in 6-channel audio codec, providing clear sound quality for an immersive multimedia experience. The onboard PCI Express and PCI slots offer ample expansion opportunities for graphics cards, sound cards, or additional peripherals, making it a flexible choice for various builds.

Moreover, Gigabyte's renowned durability features ensure that the GA-K8NE-RH remains a dependable choice for enthusiasts. The motherboard is equipped with a range of capacitors and solid-state components that contribute to its longevity and stability.

Overall, the Gigabyte GA-K8NE-RH is a well-rounded motherboard that provides excellent performance and versatility for users looking to build a capable AMD-based system. With a combination of stable performance, advanced features, and support for various technologies, it remains an appealing option for users seeking value and reliability in their computing experience.