Asus M4N98TD EVO User Manual - Page 102

4-12

Chapter 4: Software support

Chapter 4

4.4

RAID configurations

The motherboard comes with the NVIDIA nForce

®

980a SLI

®

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.

•

You must install Windows

®

XP Service Pack 2 or later versions before using Serial

ATA hard disk drives. The Serial ATA RAID feature is available only if you are using

Windows

®

XP SP2 or later versions.

•

Due to Windows

®

XP / Vista limitation, a RAID array with the total capacity over 2TB

cannot be set as a boot disk. A RAID array over 2TB can only be set as a data disk only.

•

If you want to install a Windows

®

operating system to a hard disk drive included in a

RAID set, you have to create a RAID driver disk and load the RAID driver during OS

installation. Refer to section

4.5 Creating a RAID driver disk

for details.

4.4.1

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.

4.4.2

Installing Serial ATA hard disks

The motherboard supports Serial ATA hard disk drives. For optimal performance, install

identical drives of the same model and capacity when creating a disk array.

To install the SATA hard disks for a RAID configuration:

1.

Install the SATA hard disks into the drive bays.

2.

Connect the SATA signal cables.

3.

Connect a SATA power cable to the power connector on each drive.

Section	Page
Contents	3
Notices	7
Safety information	8
About this guide	9
M4N98TD EVO specifications summary	11
Chapter 1: Product introduction	15
1.1 Welcome!	15
1.2 Package contents	15
1.3 Special features	16
1.3.1 Product highlights	16
1.3.2 ASUS unique features	17
Chapter 2: Hardware information	19
2.1 Before you proceed	19
2.2 Motherboard overview	20
2.2.1 Motherboard layout	20
2.2.2 Layout contents	21
2.2.3 Placement direction	22
2.2.4 Screw holes	22
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)	23
2.3.1 Installing the CPU	23
2.3.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan	25
2.4 System memory	28
2.4.1 Overview	28
2.4.2 Memory configurations	29
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM	32
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM	32
2.5 Expansion slots	33
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card	33
2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card	33
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments	34
2.5.4 PCI slots	35
2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slots	35
2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots	35
2.6 Jumpers	36
2.7 Onboard switches	38
2.8 Connectors	40
2.8.1 Rear panel connectors	40
2.8.2 Audio I/O connections	41
2.8.3 Internal connectors	44
2.8.4. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel)	52
2.9 Onboard LEDs	53
2.10 Starting up for the first time	55
2.11 Turning off the computer	55
Chapter 3: BIOS setup	57
3.1 Knowing BIOS	57
3.2 Updating BIOS	57
3.2.1 ASUS Update utility	58
3.2.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility	60
3.2.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility	61
3.3 BIOS setup program	62
3.3.1 BIOS menu screen	62
3.3.2 Menu bar	62
3.3.3 Navigation keys	63
3.3.4 Menu items	63
3.3.5 Submenu items	63
3.3.6 Configuration fields	63
3.3.7 Pop-up window	63
3.3.8 Scroll bar	63
3.3.9 General help	63
3.4 Main menu	64
3.4.1 Primary IDE Master/Slave; SATA 1–4	64
3.4.2 Storage Configuration	66
3.4.3 System Information	66
3.5 Ai Tweaker menu	67
3.5.1 Ai Overclock Tuner [Auto]	67
3.5.6 DRAM Timing Configuration	68
3.5.2 CPU Ratio [Auto]	68
3.5.3 DRAM Frequency [Auto]	68
3.5.4 CPU/NB Frequency [Auto]	68
3.5.5 HT Link Speed [Auto]	68
3.5.7 DRAM Driving Configuration	69
3.5.8 Processor Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.9 CPU/NB Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.10 CPU VDDA Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.11 DRAM Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.12 HT Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.13 NB Voltage [Auto]	70
3.5.14 nForce200 Voltage [Auto]	71
3.5.15 CPU/LDT Spread Spectrum [Disabled]	71
3.5.16 PCIE Spread Spectrum [Disabled]	71
3.5.17 SATA Spread Spectrum [Disabled]	71
3.5.18 PCI Spread Spectrum [Disabled]	71
3.6 Advanced menu	72
3.6.1 CPU Configuration	72
3.6.2 Chipset	74
3.6.3 Onboard Devices Configuration	76
3.6.4 PCIPnP	77
3.6.5 USB Configuration	77
3.7 Power menu	78
3.7.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]	78
3.7.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled]	78
3.7.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]	78
3.7.4 APM Configuration	79
3.7.5 Hardware Monitor	80
3.8 Boot menu	82
3.8.1 Boot Device Priority	82
3.8.2 Boot Settings Configuration	83
3.8.3 Security	84
3.9 Tools menu	86
3.9.1 ASUS EZ Flash 2	86
3.9.2 Express Gate [Auto]	86
3.9.3 ASUS O.C. Profile	87
3.9.4 AI NET 2	88
3.10 Exit menu	89
Chapter 4: Software support	91
4.1 Installing an operating system	91
4.2 Support DVD information	91
4.2.1 Running the support DVD	91
4.2.2 Obtaining the software manuals	92
4.3 Software information	93
4.3.1 ASUS PC Probe II	93
4.3.2 ASUS AI Suite	94
4.3.3 ASUS Fan Xpert	95
4.3.4 ASUS EPU	96
4.3.6 ASUS Express Gate	97
4.3.6 Audio configurations	98
4.3.7 ASUS AI Nap	99
4.3.8 ASUS TurboV	100
4.3.9 ASUS Turbo Key	101
4.4 RAID configurations	102
4.4.1 RAID definitions	102
4.4.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks	102
4.4.3 Setting the RAID item in BIOS	103
4.4.4 NVIDIA® MediaShield BIOS RAID configurations	103
4.5 Creating a RAID driver disk	107
4.5.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS	107
4.5.2 Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows®	107
4.5.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows® OS installation	108
4.5.4 Using a USB floppy disk drive	108
Chapter 5: NVIDIA® SLI™ technology support	111
5.1 NVIDIA® SLI™ technology	111
5.1.1 Requirements	111
5.1.2 Installing two SLI-ready graphics cards	111
5.1.3 Installing the device drivers	112
5.1.4 Enabling the NVIDIA® SLI™ technology	112

Asus M4N98TD EVO User Manual - Page 102

RAID conﬁgurations - nvidia nforce 980a

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