Gigabyte GA-H77M-HD3 - Chapter 5 Appendix; Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)

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Appendix
Chapter 5 Appendix
(Note 1) Skip this step if you do not want to create RAID array on the SATA controller.
(Note 2) Required when the SATA controller is set to AHCI or RAID mode.
(Note 3) When a RAID set is built across the SATA 6Gb/s and SATA 3Gb/s channels, the system performance
of the RAID set may vary depending on the devices being connected.
5-1 ConguringSATAHardDrive(s)
RAID Levels
RAID 0 RAID 1 RAID 5 RAID 10
Minimum
Number of Hard
Drives
≥2 2 ≥3 ≥4
Array Capacity Number of hard
drives * Size of the
smallest drive
Size of the smallest
drive
(Number of hard
drives -1) * Size of
the smallest drive
(Number of hard
drives/2) * Size of the
smallest drive
Fault Tolerance No Yes Yes Yes
To configure SATA hard drive(s), follow the steps below:
A. Install SATA hard drive(s) in your computer.
B. Configure SATA controller mode in BIOS Setup.
C. Configure a RAID array in RAID BIOS
(Note 1)
D. Install the SATA RAID/AHCI driver and operating system
(Note 2)
Before you begin
• At least two SATA hard drives (to ensure optimal performance, it is recommended that you use two hard drives
with identical model and capacity). If you do not want to create RAID, you may prepare only one hard drive.
• Windows 7/XP setup disk.
• Motherboard driver disk.
• A USB floppy disk drive (needed during Windows XP installation)
• An empty formatted floppy disk (needed during Windows XP installation)
5-1-1 ConguringSATAControllers
A. Installing SATA hard drive(s) in your computer
Attach one end of the SATA signal cable to the rear of the SATA hard drive and the other end to available SATA
port on the motherboard.
(Note 3)
Then connect the power connector from your power supply to the hard drive.