I read Gabriel Torres' good article with great interest: "How to Setup a RAID System" http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/393/4. This article addresses installing 2 hard disk drives (HDDs) on one of possibly two RAID controllers. This article did not address how to install HDDs and multiple RAID arrays on multiple RAID controllers.

Mr. Torres did write: "Since our motherboard has two RAID chips, two screens like this are shown, one for configuring the RAID provided by the Intel chipset and another for configuring the RAID provided by Marvell 88SE6145 chip."

Herein lies my problem. I have the RAID controller chips mentioned in the article, "Intel ICH7R" and "Marvell 88SE6145". The Intel Matrix Storage Manager (IMSM) loads fine following post (via "[Ctrl] [I]") -- it appears to be functioning. After IMSM runs, Windows Vista starts normally.

There is NO mention of nor report for the "Marvell RAID Console". No "Marvell RAID Console" appears. Pressing "[Ctrl] [M]" does one of two things. When pressing "[Ctrl] [M]" after Post, nothing happens, the IMSM screen flashes and Windows Vista continues to load normally. When pressing "[Ctrl] [M]" after the IMSM screen flashes, Windows Boot Manager launches. I am not able to view the "Marvell RAID Console" nor able to get it to launch. Additionally, I have not discovered a way to view the "Marvell RAID Console" from within Vista.

Windows Vista "Device Manager" reports 2 drivers as functioning correctly:
"Marvell 61XX Marvell RAID controller", v. 1.1.0.51, 11/14/06, and
"Marvell RAID Console", v. 1.1.0.51, 11/14/06.
These are the latest drivers I could identify for this MB.

For those interested, I wrote an additional post on another forum (http://www.motherboardpoint.com/t164725-p5w64-ws-professional.html). I mention it here as I had presented information differently in hope of being able to identify the problem and/or obtain a rememdy.

I am attempting to setup a RAID0 (stripped) array of 2 HDDS on the Marvell RAID controller; however, I do not see a way to do it, either pre or post Vista loading. (Additionally, I plan to set up a RAID1 (mirrored) array of 2 HDDS on the Intel RAID controller.)

My system:
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
MB: Asus P5W64 WS Professional
Northbridge: Intel 975X
Southbridge: Intel ICH7R
2nd RAID controller: Marvell 88SE6145
CPU: Inel Core 2 Duo, 2.4 GHz
RAM: Super Talent, 2 GB kit, cl 4
4 matched HDDs: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10, SATA II (3Gb/s), 500 GB
VC: PNY Quadro FX 1500, 250MB, PCIe
DVD writer: Plextor 18x (PX-760A)
PS: Antec NeoPower, ATX12V, 550w

Can anyone identify the problem or offer a solution?

Hi,

Thanks for posting this message.

I was researching this problem and found something strange about this motherboard. Even though on ASUS' website they post the Marvell chip being able to make RAID, on the manual there is no mention to RAID using the ports controlled by the Marvell chip.

At http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1341&l1=3&l2=11&l3=248&l4=0:

Intel ICH7R controller supports:
- 4 x SATA 3.0Gb/s (RAID 0,1,10,5)
- 1 x UltraDMA 133/100
Marvell 88SE6145 supports:
- 3 x SATA 3.0Gb/s (RAID 0,1,10)
- 1 x eSATA 3.0Gb/s

But on manual no RAID support is listed for Marvell chip (see picture below).

Also, I couldn't find on the manual any option to enable RAID for the ports controlled by the Marvell chip -- accordingly to the manual changing the SATA ports from "Standard IDE" to "RAID" only affects the ports controlled by the south bridge chip (page 4-16).

Were you able to configure RAID on your motherboard Marvell chip before?

Because for me based on its manual I'd conclude that your motherboard does not support RAID on the ports controlled by the Marvell chip, even though in theory this chip supports RAID.

Cheers,
Gabriel.

Gabriel, outstanding piece of work! TY very much! I have posted this problem on 4 forums and you are the only one who has come forward with a reasonable explanation. I think that speaks volumes.

I must have swallowed-whole the misrepresenting marketing and did not look close enough at the manual. Asus should be ashamed! I just assumed that two RAID controllers meant the option for two arrays, each on their own controller. Clearly, I needed another pair of eyes on the problem.

My system is a new, home-built one for video editing, et al. In answer to your question, I never configured RAID before on the Marvell chip. I first assembled a basic system for a burn-in test. I later migrated toward RAID with additional HDDs. I had assumed that two SATA arrays, each on their own hardware controller, would be a fairly robust platform.

Additional things contributed to my mistaken belief that I had two functioning RAID controllers. The previous driver for the Marvell chip released by ASUS was v. 1.1.0.51, 11/14/06. This included the "Marvell RAID Console", further underscoring that this was a functioning RAID controller for this MB.

Since writing my original post, Asus released new BIOS and a new Marvell driver:
AMI 0704, 06/14/07, &
"Marvell 61xx Marvell RAID Controller", v. 1.2.0.45, 05/22/07.
Both of these must be installed, they mutually require each other. The Asus update site had the BIOS, but not the driver. The following is a link to another forum which has multiple download links for these updates:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2256624

This morning, after installing this new BIOS and driver, I noticed that the "Marvell RAID Console" no longer appears in Vista's "Device Manager". So, this tends to underscore you conclusion. (However, I an not sure whether this is because it is no longer bundled, or because I somehow had removed it as a result of deleating the older-version driver files, post update.)

I have written Asus as well. I am going to accept your conclusion until I hear differently from them.

TY, again.

I wanted to ask another question.

Apparently, my choices are to build two RAID arrays on the primary controller (Intel ICH7R), or purchase a third-party RAID0 PCIe controller and put 2 HDDs there.

Can someone recommend a stable, rock-solid third-party RAID0 PCIe controller?

Hi Don,

You are welcome... ;) Just tell your friends to visit our website... ;)

Regarding RAID add-on cards, in the past I had one from High-Point and I've never had a problem with it:

http://www.highpoint-tech.com/

But there are a lot of other manufacturers around as well, of course.

Cheers,
Gabriel.

The Marvell chip does support RAID function. If you go to ASUS P5W64 product specification web page , it does state the Marvell 6145 is a RAID chip.

The problem is ASUS user manual does not tell users on how to enable Marvell RAID function. The function is controlled by the ASUS BIOS setup. The default setting is legacy mode , which make the Marvell chip a standard SATA controller (non RAID) only. If you change MB BIOS setting "SATA mode" to "Enhanced", that will change Marvell chip to a RAID Chip ( by changing the Marvell chip PCI device ID).

You will need to load Marvell Windows drivers to run the chip in RAID mode. Marvell BIOS Ctrl-M / Windows RAID console utility also only works if it detects Marvell chip PCI device ID in RAID mode.

Warning - if you're booting OS from Marvell controller in legacy mode, after you change the setting to enhance mode, your OS will probably not boot since the Marvell driver is not load. I'm not sure if boot from CD , do F6 and repair will work or not. Good chance you will probably need to reload your OS. This is only if you're booting from HDD connects to Marvell controller

Cheers