Intel RAID

Introduction

The mainboard comes with the Intel RAID controller that allows you to configure SATA hard drives as RAID sets.

SATA hard drives deliver blistering transfer speeds up to 6 Gb/s. Serial ATA uses long, thin cables, making it easier to connect your drive and improving the airflow inside your PC. The most outstanding features are:

1.Supports 3 Gb/s or 6 Gb/s transfers with CRC error checking.

2.Supports Hot-plug-n-play feature.

3.Data handling optimizations including tagged command queuing, elevator seek and packet chain command.

Intel® RAID controller offers RAID level 0 (Striping), RAID level 1 (Mirroring and Duplex- ing), RAID level 5 (Block Interleaved Distributed Parity), RAID level 10 (A Stripe of Mir- rors) , Intel® Rapid Storage Technology.

RAID 0 breaks the data into blocks which are written to separate hard drives. Spread- ing the hard drive I/O load across independent channels greatly improves I/O perfor- mance.

RAID 1 provides data redundancy by mirroring data between the hard drives and pro- vides enhanced read performance.

RAID 5 Provides data striping at the byte level and also stripe error correction informa- tion. This results in excellent performance and good fault tolerance. Level 5 is one of the most popular implementations of RAID.

RAID 10 Not one of the original RAID levels, multiple RAID 1 mirrors are created, and a RAID 0 stripe is created over these.

Intel® Rapid Storage Technology is the advanced ability for two RAID volumes to share the combined space of two hard drives being used in unison.

Intel® Rapid Storage Technology utilizes RAID 1 functionality to copy data from a des- ignated Master drive to a designated Recovery drive. The size of the Master drive must be less than or equal to the size of the Recovery drive. When a Recovery volume is created, complete capacity of the Master drive will be used as the Master volume. Only one Recovery Volume can exist on a system. There are 2 methods of updating the data on the Master to the Recovery drive. They are Continuous Update Policy and On Request Update Policy.

Important

The least number of hard drives for RAID 0, RAID 1, Recovery or Matrix mode is 2. The least number of hard drives for RAID 10 mode is 4. And the least number of hard drives for RAID 5 mode is 3.

All the information/ volumes/ pictures listed in your system might differ from the illustra- tions in this appendix.

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MSI H67A-G43 (B3) manual Introduction
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H67A-G43 (B3) specifications

The MSI H67A-G43 (B3) motherboard is a solid choice for users seeking a reliable platform for Intel’s 2nd generation Core processors (Sandy Bridge). As part of MSI's H67 chipset series, this motherboard is designed to deliver a balance of performance, functionality, and value, making it suitable for both mainstream computing and entry-level gaming setups.

One of the standout features of the H67A-G43 is its support for Intel's Quick Sync Video technology, which allows for hardware-accelerated video encoding and decoding. This can significantly enhance the efficiency of video processing tasks, making it an appealing option for content creators and multimedia enthusiasts. The board supports a range of Intel processors, including Core i3, i5, and i7 models, ensuring compatibility with various performance levels.

The H67A-G43 features four DDR3 DIMM slots that can accommodate up to 32GB of dual-channel memory, allowing for smooth multitasking and improved system responsiveness. The supported memory speeds reach up to 1333/1600 MHz, providing users the flexibility to choose their preferred performance levels.

In terms of connectivity, the H67A-G43 comes equipped with multiple USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports, ensuring fast data transfer rates for connected devices. The inclusion of SATA III (6Gb/s) connections enhances storage performance, making it compatible with the latest SSDs that offer quicker read and write speeds.

The motherboard also boasts a range of video outputs, including HDMI and DVI, which leverage the integrated graphics capabilities of Intel processors. Users can enjoy high-definition video playback and the ability to connect to multiple displays, making it an excellent option for media consumption.

For those interested in gaming, the H67A-G43 supports PCI Express 2.0 slots, allowing for the installation of dedicated graphics cards to elevate gaming performance. The board's Multi-GPU capability, combined with crossfire support, enables users to enhance their graphics performance by pairing multiple GPUs.

On the durability front, the MSI H67A-G43 is equipped with military-class components, ensuring longevity and reliability under varied operating conditions. The motherboard features an easy-to-use BIOS interface, making system tuning and configuration accessible even for those less experienced with hardware.

Overall, the MSI H67A-G43 (B3) delivers a well-rounded set of features and technologies suitable for a wide range of users, from casual web browsing to more demanding creative tasks and gaming applications. Its blend of performance, connectivity, and durability makes it a noteworthy option in the entry-level motherboard market.
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