4 IDE devices on 4 separate IDE channels

[Giobibo]

I have an A7V333 with two IDE controller on board (one normal and a one
PROMISE for RAID).

So, there are 4 independent IDE channels: is it possible to put 4 IDE
devices(HD1, HD2, DVD player, DVD-RW), each one on a separate channel?

Actually the HD1 and HD2 are on the primary IDE channel and the the DVDs
on the second IDE channel, while the PROMISE controller is disabled.

The idea is to put the 4 devices each one as master on each channel in
order to get the best performance.
But the Promise controller will work just as an additional IDE
controller or only as a RAID controller?

Thank you for replying.

 

[Eric P.]

According the A7V133 manual each IDE socket supports two IDE devices for
a total of eight IDE devices.

The regular IDE controller supports both harddisks and other (ATAPI)
devices while the Promise controller is designed to support harddisks only.

Depending on jumper/bios setting the Promise chip can provide normal
support for harddisks or support for RAID.

How come you don't have a manual?
You could download one in minutes.
http://www.asus.com.tw/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=A7V333&Type=All

 

[tomcas]

I have an A7V333 with two IDE controller on board (one normal and a one
PROMISE for RAID).

So, there are 4 independent IDE channels: is it possible to put 4 IDE
devices(HD1, HD2, DVD player, DVD-RW), each one on a separate channel?

Actually the HD1 and HD2 are on the primary IDE channel and the the DVDs
on the second IDE channel, while the PROMISE controller is disabled.

The idea is to put the 4 devices each one as master on each channel in
order to get the best performance.
But the Promise controller will work just as an additional IDE
controller or only as a RAID controller?

Thank you for replying.

I have my A7V333 setup like this. The hard drives are on the non-RAID
controller because as I recall the performance was supposedly better
this way. To put the DVD drives on the RAID controller I had to flash
the bios with a hacked bios from Lumberjacker and install the hacked
driver. The Lumberjacker hack effectively converts the Lite version
promise controller to a Full UDMA controller (not fast boot) so that I
can boot to any of the drives if needed. You can get the latest bios here-
http://web21.p15131386.pureserver.info/?url=&cid=2
and the latest drivers here-
http://web21.p15131386.pureserver.info/?url=&cid=12
As I recall I once tried several combinations of the UDMA version bios
1017 and 1018 with many different drivers but was unable to get them to
work. I have seen many people report that the latest revision bios work
fine for them, maybe my mobo is an older revision. I'm am currently
running an older bios rev 1008.004 and UI276 Win drv B29 driver without
any problems. The basic setup I am using is Win 2K, SP4, all Windows
updates applied, 160 and 250 GB maxtors, Liteon DVD burner LDW-411S and
plain DVD LTD163D. If you also have problems with the newer bios and
drivers just post back and I can send the files of the old version
because they are no longer available from Lumberjacker.

 

[John]

Been there done that with Asus P4B533-E. You may find that your CD/DVD
drives only work 100% properly on the main motherboard controller. Had
various issues with various apps with CD/DVD drives on my inbuilt promise
raid/ide controller

 

[tomcas]

Been there done that with Asus P4B533-E. You may find that your CD/DVD
drives only work 100% properly on the main motherboard controller. Had
various issues with various apps with CD/DVD drives on my inbuilt promise
raid/ide controller

Have you tried the lumberjacker hacked bios that converts your lite
version promise controller to a full one? You can find them here-
http://web21.p15131386.pureserver.info/?url=&cid=2

 

[David G]

I have an A7V333 with two IDE controller on board (one normal and a one
PROMISE for RAID).

So, there are 4 independent IDE channels: is it possible to put 4 IDE
devices(HD1, HD2, DVD player, DVD-RW), each one on a separate channel?

Actually the HD1 and HD2 are on the primary IDE channel and the the DVDs
on the second IDE channel, while the PROMISE controller is disabled.

The idea is to put the 4 devices each one as master on each channel in
order to get the best performance.
But the Promise controller will work just as an additional IDE
controller or only as a RAID controller?

Thank you for replying.

I have this board and it is not possible with the standard BIOS, unless
they changed it in later BIOS versions. If you are prepared to modify
this then you can put anything anywhere. I find that it is better if you
keep the hard drives to the top channels. You need to go to Lumberjacker
and then d/l the modified BIOS. You can find more details here and how
to install it.
http://tinyurl.com/5nhtn
I am using ver 1016 and have no problems with it.


--
Regards


David G
(remove r u n)

 

[Giobibo]

I have my A7V333 setup like this. The hard drives are on the non-RAID
controller because as I recall the performance was supposedly better
this way. To put the DVD drives on the RAID controller I had to flash
the bios with a hacked bios from Lumberjacker and install the hacked
driver. The Lumberjacker hack effectively converts the Lite version
promise controller to a Full UDMA controller (not fast boot) so that I
can boot to any of the drives if needed. You can get the latest bios here-
http://web21.p15131386.pureserver.info/?url=&cid=2
and the latest drivers here-
http://web21.p15131386.pureserver.info/?url=&cid=12

Thank you for your reply.

Mhh I have the latest 1018-Beta001, but I prefer not updating anymore my
Bios.

The manual reports I can put ATAPI HDs to the promise controller, but
the only switch I found allows me to anable/disable it.
ANd also in the promise-lite BIOS I found only the way to create a raid
array.
The asus manual reports only how to create a raid system, but nothing
about a simple IDE controller.

I have put a third new HD on the channel 1 of promise controller, after
booting the promise bios asked me if I want to create a raid array.
This is not what I want to do: I fear to go on because I do not want to
overwrite the other two HDs with any raid configuration!

I will try to remove the old HD1 e HD2 o put alone the new HD3 on the
promise and check again what will happen.

My mobo is the old revision (I think 1.1, anyway not the 2.0)

 

[tomcas]

Thank you for your reply.

Mhh I have the latest 1018-Beta001, but I prefer not updating anymore my
Bios.

The manual reports I can put ATAPI HDs to the promise controller, but
the only switch I found allows me to anable/disable it.
ANd also in the promise-lite BIOS I found only the way to create a raid
array.
The asus manual reports only how to create a raid system, but nothing
about a simple IDE controller.

I have put a third new HD on the channel 1 of promise controller, after
booting the promise bios asked me if I want to create a raid array.
This is not what I want to do: I fear to go on because I do not want to
overwrite the other two HDs with any raid configuration!

I will try to remove the old HD1 e HD2 o put alone the new HD3 on the
promise and check again what will happen.

My mobo is the old revision (I think 1.1, anyway not the 2.0)

 

[tomcas]

Thank you for your reply.

Mhh I have the latest 1018-Beta001, but I prefer not updating anymore my
Bios.

To put the DVD drives on the raid controller you need to flash the
bios with a hacked driver which will convert from lite raid to full
raid or UDMA controller.

The manual reports I can put ATAPI HDs to the promise controller, but
the only switch I found allows me to anable/disable it.

Yes, you will need to enable it.

ANd also in the promise-lite BIOS I found only the way to create a raid
array.

Yes, unless you either convert it to a Full raid (unfamiliar to me) or a
UDMA controller(for HDs or CD drives) in either the full UDMA version
(recommended as it allows booting) or Quick boot (not recommended unless
you are sure you will never boot from it).

The asus manual reports only how to create a raid system, but nothing
about a simple IDE controller.

That's because without Lumberjacker's hack it can not function as
such- hence the name- Lite Raid. You will not find it mentioned in the
manual- it's a hack (thanks to Lumberjacker). If it was included as a
full feature controller Asus would have had to pay greater license fees
to Promise. Consider it a free bee.

I have put a third new HD on the channel 1 of promise controller, after
booting the promise bios asked me if I want to create a raid array.
This is not what I want to do: I fear to go on because I do not want to
overwrite the other two HDs with any raid configuration!

I am not totally familiar with using the raid controller for single and
separate drives, but others say it is possible. In any case you will not
overwrite the HDs on the other controller.

I will try to remove the old HD1 e HD2 o put alone the new HD3 on the
promise and check again what will happen.

I suggest you flash to the Lumberjacker full UDMA bios and load the
driver. This way you can put any drive, any place you want with out
restrictions.

My mobo is the old revision (I think 1.1, anyway not the 2.0)

If you have 1018 bios now it should work in the hacked version.
If you are having trouble understanding my explanation maybe this thread
will help-
http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=140027&page=1&pp=15

 

[Bill]

I have an A7V333 with two IDE controller on board (one normal and a one
PROMISE for RAID).

So, there are 4 independent IDE channels: is it possible to put 4 IDE
devices(HD1, HD2, DVD player, DVD-RW), each one on a separate channel?

Actually the HD1 and HD2 are on the primary IDE channel and the the DVDs
on the second IDE channel, while the PROMISE controller is disabled.

The idea is to put the 4 devices each one as master on each channel in
order to get the best performance.
But the Promise controller will work just as an additional IDE
controller or only as a RAID controller?

Thank you for replying.

I had that board with four hard drives on the promise controller and a
cd rom drive and cd writer on the IDE controller.
I believe that I formated each drive on the ide controller and then
moved them over to the promise controller, it all worked like I wanted,
four hard drive on the promise controller and the cd writer and cd rom
on the other controller.