Asus P7P55D Deluxe User Manual - Page 115

ASUS P7P55D Deluxe

4-13

Chapter 4

4.5

RAID configurations

The motherboard comes with the Intel

®

P55 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 10 and RAID 5.

•

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

4.6 Creating a RAID driver disk

for details.

4.5.1

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 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.

RAID 10

is data striping and data mirroring combined without parity (redundancy data) having

to be calculated and written. With the RAID 10* 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.

Intel

®

Matrix Storage

. The Intel

®

Matrix Storage technology supported by the ICH10R chip

allows you to create a RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10* function to improve both

system performance and data safety. You can also combine two RAID sets to get higher

performance, capacity, or fault tolerance provided by the difference RAID function. For

example, RAID 0 and RAID 1 set can be created by using only two identical hard disk drives.

Section	Page
P7P55D Deluxe specifications summary	12
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 Xtreme Design—Hybrid Processor	17
1.3.3 ASUS Xtreme Design—Hybrid Phase	17
1.3.4 ASUS Xtreme Design—Hybrid OS	17
1.3.5 ASUS Exclusive Features	18
Chapter 2: Hardware information	21
2.1 Before you proceed	21
2.2 Motherboard overview	22
2.2.1 Motherboard layout	22
2.2.2 Layout contents	23
2.2.3 Placement direction	24
2.2.4 Screw holes	24
2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU)	25
2.3.1 Installing the CPU	25
2.3.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan	28
2.3.3 Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan	29
2.4 System memory	30
2.4.1 Overview	30
2.4.2 Memory configurations	31
2.4.3 Installing a DIMM	39
2.4.4 Removing a DIMM	39
2.5 Expansion slots	40
2.5.1 Installing an expansion card	40
2.5.2 Configuring an expansion card	40
2.5.3 Interrupt assignments	41
2.5.4 PCI slots	42
2.5.5 PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots (2.5GT/s)	42
2.5.6 PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots	42
2.6 Onboard switches	44
2.7 Connectors	47
2.7.1 Rear panel connectors	47
2.7.2 Audio I/O connections	48
2.7.3 Internal connectors	51
2.7.4. ASUS Q-Connector (system panel)	61
2.8 Onboard LEDs	62
2.9 Starting up for the first time	63
2.10 Turning off the computer	63
Chapter 3: BIOS setup	65
3.1 Knowing BIOS	65
3.2 Updating BIOS	65
3.2.1 ASUS Update utility	66
3.2.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility	68
3.2.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 utility	69
3.3 BIOS setup program	70
3.3.1 BIOS menu screen	70
3.3.2 Menu bar	70
3.3.3 Navigation keys	71
3.3.4 Menu items	71
3.3.5 Submenu items	71
3.3.6 Configuration fields	71
3.3.7 Pop-up window	71
3.3.8 Scroll bar	71
3.3.9 General help	71
3.4 Main menu	72
3.4.1 SATA 1-6	72
3.4.2 Storage Configuration	74
3.4.3 AHCI Configuration	74
3.4.4 System Information	75
3.5 Ai Tweaker menu	76
3.5.1 OC Tuner Utility	76
3.5.2 OC Tuner limit Value [Good Performance]	76
3.5.3 Ai Overclock Tuner [Auto]	77
3.5.4 CPU Ratio Setting [Auto]	77
3.5.5 Intel(R) SpeedStep(TM) Tech [Enabled]	78
3.5.6 Intel(R) TurboMode Tech [Enabled]	78
3.5.7 Xtreme Phase Full Power Mode [Auto]	78
3.5.8 DRAM Frequency [Auto]	78
3.5.9. DRAM Timing Control [Auto]	78
3.5.10 CPU Differential Amplitude [Auto]	80
3.5.11 CPU Clock Skew [Auto]	80
3.5.12 CPU Voltage Mode [Offset]	80
3.5.13 IMC Voltage [Auto]	81
3.5.14 DRAM Voltage [Auto]	81
3.5.15 CPU PLL Voltage [Auto]	81
3.5.16 PCH Voltage [Auto]	82
3.5.17 DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA/B [Auto]	82
3.5.18 DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHA/B [Auto]	82
3.5.19 Load-Line Calibration [Auto]	82
3.5.20 CPU Spread Spectrum [Auto]	82
3.5.21 PCIE Spread Spectrum [Auto]	82
3.6 Advanced menu	83
3.6.1 CPU Configuration	83
3.6.2 North Bridge Configuration	85
3.6.3 Onboard Devices Configuration	86
3.6.4 USB Configuration	87
3.6.5 PCIPnP	88
3.6.6 Intel VT-d [Disabled]	88
3.7 Power menu	89
3.7.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]	89
3.7.2 Repost Video on S3 Resume [No]	89
3.7.3 ACPI 2.0 Support [Disabled]	89
3.7.4 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]	89
3.7.5 EuP Ready [Disabled]	89
3.7.6 APM Configuration	90
3.7.7 Hardware Monitor	91
3.8 Boot menu	93
3.8.1 Boot Device Priority	93
3.8.2 Boot Settings Configuration	94
3.8.3 Security	95
3.9 Tools menu	97
3.9.1 ASUS O.C. Profile	97
3.9.2 Drive Xpert Configuration	98
3.9.3 AI NET 2	100
3.9.4 ASUS EZ Flash 2	100
3.9.5 Express Gate [Auto]	100
3.9.6 ID LED [Enabled]	100
3.10 Exit menu	101
Chapter 4: Software support	103
4.1 Installing an operating system	103
4.2 Support DVD information	103
4.2.1 Running the support DVD	103
4.2.2 Obtaining the software manuals	104
4.3 Software information	105
4.3.1 ASUS PC Probe II	105
4.3.2 ASUS AI Suite	106
4.3.3 ASUS Fan Xpert	107
4.3.4 ASUS EPU-6 Engine	108
4.3.5 ASUS Express Gate	109
4.3.6 VIA® High Definition Audio utility	110
4.3.7 ASUS Drive Xpert	111
4.4 ASUS Unique Overclocking Utility— TurboV EVO	112
4.4.1 Using ASUS TurboV	112
4.4.2 Using ASUS TurboV Auto Tuning Mode	113
4.4.3 Using ASUS Turbo Key	114
4.5 RAID configurations	115
4.5.1 RAID definitions	115
4.5.2 Installing Serial ATA hard disks	116
4.5.3 Setting the RAID item in BIOS	116
4.5.4 Intel® Matrix Storage Manager option ROM utility	116
4.6 Creating a RAID driver disk	120
4.6.1 Creating a RAID driver disk without entering the OS	120
4.6.2 Creating a RAID driver disk in Windows®	120
4.6.3 Installing the RAID driver during Windows® OS installation	121
4.6.4 Using a USB floppy disk drive	121
Chapter 5: Multiple GPU technology support	125
5.1 ATI® CrossFireX™ technology	125
5.1.1 Requirements	125
5.1.2 Before you begin	125
5.1.3 Installing two CrossFireX™ graphics cards	126
5.1.4 Installing three CrossFireX™ graphics cards	127
5.1.5 Installing the device drivers	128
5.1.6 Enabling the ATI® CrossFireX™ technology	128
5.2 NVIDIA® SLI™ technology	130
5.2.1 Requirements	130
5.2.2 Installing two SLI-ready graphics cards	130
5.2.3 Installing the device drivers	131

Asus P7P55D Deluxe User Manual - Page 115

RAID conﬁgurations - p55

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