About Serial ATA Drives, RAID Level 0 Configuration | Dell XPS 600

About Serial ATA Drives

Your computer supports up to three serial ATA hard drives. Serial ATA drives provide the following benefits by transferring data using serial technology and flexible cables that are thinner and longer than IDE cables:

•Improved cable routing facilitates more efficient airflow inside the chassis.

•Compact cable connectors save space on the system board and on the hard drive. Combined with the improved cable routing, this allows a more efficient utilization of space inside the chassis.

See "Hard Drive" on page 97 for information on serial ATA drive connections.

About Your RAID Configuration

NOTICE: If you might ever decide to migrate to a RAID array, before loading the operating system onto a hard drive, set up that drive as a single drive RAID 0 array. See "Creating an Array using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility" on page 23 for instructions.

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration that you might have selected when you purchased your computer. Dell offers either a RAID level 0 configuration or a RAID level 1 configuration on your Dell™ XPS computer. A RAID level 0 configuration is recommended for high-performance gaming, and a RAID level 1 configuration is recommended for the data integrity requirements of digital photography and audio.

NOTE: RAID levels do not represent a hierarchy. A RAID level 1 configuration is not inherently better or worse than a RAID level 0 configuration.

The drives in an array should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.

RAID Level 0 Configuration

A RAID level 0 configuration uses a storage technique known as "data striping" to provide a high data access rate. Data striping is a method of writing consecutive segments, or stripes, of data sequentially across the physical drives to create a large virtual drive. Data striping allows one of the drives to read data while the other drive is searching for and reading the next block.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer

21

Image 21

Dell XPS 600 owner manual About Serial ATA Drives, About Your RAID Configuration, RAID Level 0 Configuration

Contents

W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m Dell XPS November HC098 Contents Optimizing Performance Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating StateResolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities 101 Network Adapter and Sound Card Settings103 105 109 108110 112 142 Finding Information Dell Product Information Guide Setup Diagram When you use Use the Service Tag toService Code to direct Microsoft Windows License Label Updates Order status, warranty, and repair informationHow to use Windows XP What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Varies based on Operating system youOrdered Finding Information Opening the Drive Door Changing the Front-Panel Light Color Setting Up and Using Your Computer Badge Front-panel XD-Picture card Using a Media Card Reader OptionalMS/MS Pro SecureDigital card SD MultiMediaCard MMC Connecting Monitors Connecting Two MonitorsPrimary video card Follow the procedures in Before You Begin on Connecting Two Monitors Without an AdapterDVI white connector TV-OUT connector Adapter Connecting a TV Changing the Display Settings to Support Two MonitorsConnecting Two Monitors With the Use of an Adapter About Your RAID Configuration RAID Level 0 ConfigurationAbout Serial ATA Drives RAID Level 1 Configuration SegmentHard drive Creating an Array using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID Press Tab to navigate to the Free Disks field Using Nvidia MediaShield Setting Up and Using Your Computer Setting Up and Using Your Computer Transferring Information to a New Computer Mails Toolbar settings Window sizes Internet bookmarks Playing CDs and DVDs Playing a CD or DVDClick Finished and restart the new computer CD player includes the following basic buttons Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture How to Copy a CD or DVDCopying CDs and DVDs Media Type Read Write Rewritable Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips Network Setup Wizard Standby Mode Power ManagementHibernate Mode Overview Power Options Properties Place the power options icon Advanced TabHibernate Tab Setting Up and Using Your Computer Hyper-Threading PCI Express CardsOptimizing Performance Nvidia SLI Dual Graphics Technology Battery Problems Troubleshooting TipsDrive Problems Solving Problems E C K T H E C a B L E C O N N E C T I O N S CD and DVD drive problems Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Hard drive problemsProblems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive Error Messages Use these characters in filenames Ieee 1394 Device Problems Lockups and Software Problems Keyboard Problems Computer stops responding Computer does not start upProgram stops responding Program crashes repeatedly Other software problems Program is designed for an earlier Windows operating systemSolid blue screen appears Mouse Problems Memory Problems Network Problems Simultaneously press CtrlEsc to display the Start menuComputer Start the computer Power Problems Printer Problems Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker ProblemsNo sound from speakers N T H E S P E a K E R D I a G N O S T I C S No sound from headphones Video and Monitor Problems If the screen is blankIf the screen is difficult to read Graphics card is correctly attached to the card If 3-D image quality is poor Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution Diagnostic LightsIf the problem persists, contact Dell see Advanced Troubleshooting Modules without error Module see Installing Memory onInstalling Memory on Module/memory connector placement Express Cards on Computer see Removing PCI and PCIRepeat this process for each card. If Last card removed from the computer for When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Dell Diagnostics Tab Function Option Function What Is a Driver? DriversIdentifying Drivers Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback Reinstalling DriversUsing the ResourceCD Windows XP Click the Start button and click Control Panel At the Welcome Dell System Owner screen, click Next Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore Undoing the Last System Restore Creating a Restore PointRestoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Click the Start button and click Help and Support Ensure that Turn off System Restore is unchecked Reinstalling Microsoft Windows XPResolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Before You Begin Dell Operating System CD Dell ResourceCD Reinstalling Windows XP When the Welcome to Microsoft screen appears, click Next Advanced Troubleshooting Advanced Troubleshooting Before You Begin Removing and Installing PartsRecommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer Front View Front and Back View of the Computer Front View Doors Open Back View Cover latch releasePCI Express cards two x16 slots and one x1 slot Removing and Installing Parts Channel Occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras Opening the Computer Cover System board Power supply Removing and Installing Parts Processor fan Power supply fansInside View of Your Computer Floppy drive CD/DVD drive System Board Components Memory Installing Memory Addressing Memory Configurations Notch Memory module Cutouts Crossbar Securing clips Connector Removing Memory Cards PCI card PCI Express One PCI Express x1 card slotCard PCI Express Card slot Graphics card bridge Power connectors Securing tab PCI Express x16 card slot Removing and Installing Parts Securing tab PCI Express x16 card slot Fully seated card Slot Alignment guide Not fully seated card Removing PCI and PCI Express Cards PCI Express x16 card Retention arm Alignment bar Alignment guide Filler bracket Installing PCI and PCI Express Cards W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m Not fully seated card Connect any cables that should be attached to the card Network Adapter and Sound Card Settings Drives General Installation GuidelinesFloppy drive CD/DVD drive Media card reader optional Hard drives Drive Interface Connectors Connecting Drive CablesPower Cable Connector Power cable Removing and Installing Parts Removing a Hard Drive Hard Drive Installing a Hard Drive Hard-drive cable Tabs Power cable System board connector Removing and Installing PartsDrive Bracket rails Screws Removing and Installing Parts Floppy Drive Removing a Floppy Drive101 Data cable power cable Tabs Floppy drive 103 Installing a Floppy Drive Tabs Floppy drive 104 Media Card Reader Removing a Media Card Reader105 Installing a Media Card Reader Adapter rails Screws 107 108 CD/DVD Drive Power cable Tabs Data cable CD/DVD drive Removing a CD/DVD Drive109 Installing a CD/DVD Drive 111 Removing the Processor Airflow Shroud Processor Airflow Shroud112 Anchor tabs Shroud release levers Processor Installing the Processor Airflow ShroudRemoving the Processor 113 114 115 Remove the heat sink Push down and out on the socket release lever 116Heat sink Retention tab Retention base Open the processor cover Installing the Processor117 Processor cover Socket Release lever Align the pin-1 corner of the processor and socket Processor cover Socket Release lever Socket pin-1 indicator 119 Removing the Front Panel Front PanelReplacing the Front Panel 120 Removing the Drive Door Drive DoorOpen the drive door 121 Lift the bottom bracket hinge away from the computer Replacing the Drive Door122 Top bracket hinge Bottom bracket hinge 123 Hinge tab Door hinges Door bracketDoor Lower part Replacing the Battery Battery 125 Closing the Computer Cover Removing and Installing Parts 127 Specifications 128 Controls and Lights 129 130 PowerLocated in the Product Information At 50/60 Hz 180 to 265 V at 50/60 Hz 100 V at 50/60 Hz for System Setup Entering System Setup131 Or single, and type of memory installed System Setup OptionsDisplays current date and time settings 132 133 134 135 Boot Sequence Option SettingsChanging Boot Sequence for the Current Boot 137 Clearing Forgotten Passwords Clearing Cmos Settings Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor Cleaning Your ComputerMouse Floppy Drive Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only Definition of Dell-Installed Software and PeripheralsCDs and DVDs 140 Definition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals FCC Notices U.S. OnlyClass a 141 Contacting Dell Class BFCC Identification Information 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 Ireland Sales 150Sales dial within U.K. only Fax/Sales Fax 151 152 153 154 Switchboard Sales 155Countries Sales Penang, Malaysia Appendix 156 PowerConnect, and PowerVault Transaction Sales 157Trinidad/Tobago General Support Turks and Caicos Islands 158 159 Appendix Index 161 162 163 164 SLI 165 166