98 Windows

SETUP S/W .5

5.SOFTWARE SETUP

5.4Using the Promise Chip for RAID 0

The optional Promise® chip, PDC20265, onboard the A7V133, offers a high performance Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) configuration that supports UltraATA/100/66/33, EIDE or FastATA-2 hard disks. After connecting two hard disks to the motherboard, activating the RAID 0 function is easily configured through the FastTrack100™ Speed firmware BIOS. In addition, the support CD provided allows you to reconfigure system drivers according to the Operating System (OS) unique to your computer.

RAID 0 is also known as “ data striping.” Striping optimizes two identical disk drives to read and write data in parallel and allows two hard disks to perform the same work as a single drive, and at a sustained data transfer rate double that of a single disk alone. The RAID 0 array significantly improves the performance of data access and storage. The chip and system software fully support Ultra ATA/100 specifications of up to 100 MB/sec per disk, with or without multiple disk arrays, according to individual hard disk specifications. With FAT32 and NTFS partitioning, the array will be addressed as one large volume.

5.4.1 Setting Up the RAID 0 Array

This section explains how to set up two hard disks in a RAID 0 configuration. Two basic steps must be followed:

1. Connecting the hard disks and adjusting the ATA/100 / RAID 0 jumpers.

2. Configuring the RAID 0 with FastTrack100™ Speed BIOS and the FastBuild™ Utility BIOS.

IMPORTANT! It is only possible to use a pre-existing hard disk if the data is backed-up before configuring the RAID 0 as all data will be lost during the set up. All hard disks must be UltraATA/100, UltraATA/66, UltraATA/33, EIDE or Fast ATA-2 compatible in order to operate with the RAID 0 configuration. For optimal performance, install only identical hard disks of the same model and capacity. Use only Ultra ATA/100/66 compatible IDE cables and connectors.

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ASUS A7V133 User’s Manual