Asus M3N78 PRO User Manual - Page 152

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Chapter 5: Software support

5.4

RAID configurations

The motherboard comes with the NVIDIA GeForce 8300 chipset that allows you to

configure Serial ATA hard disk drives as RAID sets. The motherboard supports the

following RAID configurations: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5 and JBOD.

5.4.1

RAID definitions

RAID 0

(Data striping)

optimizes two identical hard disk drives to read and write

data in parallel, interleaved stacks. Two hard disks perform the same work as a

single drive but at a sustained data transfer rate, double that of a single disk alone,

thus improving data access and storage. Use of two new identical hard disk drives

is required for this setup.

RAID 1

(Data mirroring)

copies and maintains an identical image of data from

one drive to a second drive. If one drive fails, the disk array management software

directs all applications to the surviving drive as it contains a complete copy of

the data in the other drive. This RAID configuration provides data protection and

increases fault tolerance to the entire system. Use two new drives or use an

existing drive and a new drive for this setup. The new drive must be of the same

size or larger than the existing drive.

RAID 0+1

is data striping and data mirroring combined without parity (redundancy

data) having to be calculated and written. With the RAID 0+1 configuration you get

all the benefits of both RAID 0 and RAID 1 configurations. Use four new hard disk

drives or use an existing drive and three new drives for this setup.

RAID 5

stripes both data and parity information across three or more hard

disk drives. Among the advantages of RAID 5 configuration include better

HDD performance, fault tolerance, and higher storage capacity. The RAID

5 configuration is best suited for transaction processing, relational database

applications, enterprise resource planning,

and other business systems. Use a

minimum of three identical hard disk drives for this setup.

JBOD

(Spanning)

stands for Just a Bunch of Disks and refers to hard disk drives

that are not yet configured as a RAID set. This configuration stores the same data

redundantly on multiple disks that appear as a single disk on the operating system.

Spanning does not deliver any advantage

over using separate disks independently

and does not provide fault tolerance or other RAID performance benefits.

For Windows XP, If you want to boot the system from a hard disk drive included

in a RAID set, first copy the RAID driver from the support DVD to a floppy disk

before you install an operating system to a selected hard disk drive. Refer to

section

5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk

for details.

Section	Page
Contents	3
Notices	7
Safety information	8
About this guide	9
M3N78 PRO specifications summary	11
Chapter 1: Product introduction	15
1.1 Welcome!	17
1.2 Package contents	17
1.3 Special features	18
1.3.1 Product highlights	18
1.3.2 ASUS unique features	20
1.3.3 ASUS intelligent performance and overclocking features	22
Chapter 2: Hardware information	23
2.1 Before you proceed	25
2.2 Motherboard overview	26
2.2.1 Placement direction	26
2.2.2 Screw holes	26
2.2.3 Motherboard layout	27
2.2.4 Layout contents	28
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)	30
2.3.1 Installing the CPU	30
2.3.2 Installing the heatsink and fan	32
2.4 System memory	35
2.4.1 Overview	35
2.4.2 Memory configurations	36
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM	44
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM	44
2.5 Expansion slots	45
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card	45
2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card	45
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments	46
2.5.4 PCI slots	46
2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slots	46
2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot	47
2.6 Jumper	48
2.7 Connectors	49
2.7.1 Rear panel connectors	49
2.7.2 Internal connectors	52
Chapter 3: Powering up	65
3.1 Starting up for the first time	67
3.2 Turning off the computer	68
3.2.1 Using the OS shut down function	68
3.2.2 Using the dual function power switch	68
Chapter 4: BIOS setup	69
4.1 Managing and updating your BIOS	71
4.1.1 ASUS Update utility	71
4.1.2 Creating a bootable floppy disk	74
4.1.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility	75
4.1.4 Updating the BIOS	76
4.1.5 Saving the current BIOS file	78
4.2 BIOS setup program	79
4.2.1 BIOS menu screen	80
4.2.2 Menu bar	80
4.2.3 Legend bar	81
4.2.4 Menu items	81
4.2.5 Sub-menu items	81
4.2.6 Configuration fields	81
4.2.7 Pop-up window	82
4.2.8 General help	82
4.3 Main menu	83
4.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx]	83
4.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]	83
4.3.3 Legacy Diskette A [1.44M, 3.5 in.]	83
4.3.4 Primary IDE Master/Slave	84
4.3.5 SATA1/2/3/4	86
4.3.6 HDD SMART Monitoring [Disabled]	87
4.3.7 Installed Memory [xxx MB]	87
4.3.8 Usable Memory [XXX MB]	87
4.4 Advanced menu	88
4.4.1 JumperFree Configuration	88
4.4.2 Ai Net 2	90
4.4.3 CPU Configuration	90
4.4.4 Chipset	91
4.4.5 PCIPnP	93
4.4.6 Onboard Device Configuration	94
4.4.7 USB Configuration	96
4.5 Power menu	97
4.5.1 ACPI Suspend Type [S1&S3]	97
4.5.2 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]	97
4.5.3 APM Configuration	97
4.5.4 Hardware Monitor	99
4.6 Boot menu	101
4.6.1 Boot Device Priority	101
4.6.2 Removable Drives	101
4.6.3 Boot Settings Configuration	102
4.6.4 Security	103
4.7 Tools menu	105
4.7.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2	105
4.7.2 Express Gate	106
4.8 Exit menu	107
Chapter 5: Software support	109
5.1 Installing an operating system	111
5.2 Support DVD information	111
5.2.1 Running the support DVD	111
5.2.2 Drivers menu	112
5.2.3 Utilities menu	113
5.2.4 Make Disk menu	115
5.2.5 Manual menu	116
5.2.6 ASUS Contact information	116
5.2.7 Other information	117
5.3 Software information	119
5.3.1 ASUS MyLogo2™	119
5.3.2 Cool ‘n’ Quiet!™ Technology	121
5.3.3 Audio configurations	124
5.3.4 ASUS PC Probe II	132
5.3.5 ASUS AI Suite	138
5.3.6 ASUS AI Gear 2	140
5.3.7 ASUS AI Nap	141
5.3.8 ASUS Q-Fan 2	142
5.3.9 ASUS AI Booster	143
5.3.10 ASUS Express Gate	144
5.4 RAID configurations	152
5.4.1 RAID definitions	152
5.4.2 NVIDIA® RAID configurations	153
5.5 Creating a RAID driver disk	160
5.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS	160
5.5.2 Creating a RAID/SATA driver disk in Windows®	160
Chapter 6: NVIDIA® Hybrid SLI™ technology support	163
6.1 NVIDIA® Hybrid SLI® Technology	165
6.1.1 System requirements	165

Asus M3N78 PRO User Manual - Page 152

RAID conﬁgurations - windows 7 drivers nvidia

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