Gigabyte Sniper 5 Manual

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Chapter 3 Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)
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
Please prepare:
 •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 8/7 setup disk.
 •Motherboard driver disk.
 •A USB thumb drivev
RAID Levels
(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.
3-1 Configuring Intel® Z87 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. If there is more than one SATA controller on your motherboard, refer to "Chapter 1," 
"Hardware Installation," to identify the SATA controller for the SATA port. (For example, on this motherboard, 
the SATA3 0/1/2/3/4/5 ports are supported by the Intel® Z87 Chipset.) Then connect the power connector from 
your power supply to the hard drive.
RAID 0RAID 1RAID 5RAID 10Minimum Number of Hard Drives≥22≥3≥4
Array CapacityNumber 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 ToleranceNoYe sYe sYe s
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The BIOS Setup menus described in this section may differ from the exact settings for your motherboard. 
The actual BIOS Setup menu options you will see shall depend on the motherboard you have and 
the BIOS version.
B. Configuring SATA controller mode in BIOS Setup
Make sure to configure the SATA controller mode correctly in system BIOS Setup.
Step 1: 
Turn on your computer and press  to enter BIOS Setup during the POST (Power-On Self-Test). Go to 
Peripherals\SATA Configuration, make sure SATA Controllers is enabled. To create RAID, set SATA Mode 
Selection to RAID (Figure 1). If you do not want to create RAID, set this item to IDE or AHCI.
Step 2: 
If you want to configure UEFI RAID, follow the steps in "C-1." To enter the legacy RAID ROM, save the settings 
and exit BIOS Setup. Refer to "C-2" for more information. 
Figure 1
Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)  
						

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C-1. UEFI RAID Configuration
This mode supports Windows 8 64-bit installation only.
Step 1:
In BIOS Setup, go to BIOS Features and set OS Type to Windows 8 and CSM Support to Never. (Figure 2)
Save the changes and exit BIOS Setup.
Step 2:
After the system reboot, enter BIOS Setup again. Then enter the Peripherals\Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology 
sub-menu (Figure 3). 
Figure 2
Figure 3
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Step 3:
On the Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology menu, press  on Create RAID Volume to enter the Create 
RAID Volume screen. Enter a volume name with 1~16 letters (letters cannot be special characters) under the 
Name item and press . Then, select a RAID level (Figure 4). RAID levels supported include RAID 0, 
RAID 1, RAID 10, and RAID 5 (the selections available depend on the number of the hard drives being installed). 
Next, use the down arrow key to move to Select Disks.
Step 4:
Under Select Disks item, select the hard drives to be included in the RAID array. Press the  key on 
the hard drives to be selected (selected hard drives are marked with "X"). Then set the stripe block size (Figure 
5). The stripe block size can be set from 4 KB to 128 KB. Once you have selected the stripe block size, set 
the volume capacity.
Figure 4
Figure 5
Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)  
						

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Step 5:
After setting the capacity, move to Create Volume and press  to begin. (Figure 6)
After completing, you'll be brought back to the Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology screen. Under RAID Volumes 
you can see the new RAID volume. To see more detailed information, press  on the volume  to check 
for information on RAID level, stripe block size, array name, and array capacity, etc. (Figure 7)
Figure 6
Figure 7
Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)  
						

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Delete RAID Volume
To delete a RAID array, press  on the volume to be deleted on the Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology 
screen. After entering the RAID VOLUME INFO screen, press  on Delete to enter the Delete screen. 
Press  on Yes (Figure 8). 
Figure 8
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C-2. Configuring Legacy RAID ROM
Enter the Intel® legacy RAID BIOS setup utility to configure a RAID array. Skip this step and proceed with the 
installation of Windows operating system for a non-RAID configuration.
Step 1:
After the POST memory test begins and before the operating system boot begins, look for a message which says 
"Press  to enter Configuration Utility" (Figure 9). Press  +  to enter the RAID Configuration Utility.
Figure 9
Step 2:
After you press  + , the MAIN MENU screen will appear (Figure 10).
Create RAID Volume
If you want to create a RAID array, select Create RAID Volume in MAIN MENU and press .
Figure 10
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 12.0.0.1783Copyright(C) 2003-13 Intel Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.
RAID Volumes :None defined.
Physical Devices :ID   Device Model  Serial #     Size Type/Status(Vol ID)0   ST3120026AS  3JT354CP   111.7GB  Non-RAID Disk1   ST3120026AS  3JT329JX   111.7GB  Non-RAID Disk
Press    to enter Configuration Utility..
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 12.0.0.1783Copyright(C) 2003-13 Intel Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.
4. Recovery Volume Options5. Acceleration Options6. Exit
RAID Volumes :None defined.
Physical Deivces :ID    Device Model    Serial #   Size Type/Status(Vol ID)0   ST3120026AS  3JT354CP   111.7GB Non-RAID Disk1   ST3120026AS  3JT329JX  111.7GB Non-RAID Disk
   [hi]-Select   [ESC]-Exit [ENTER]-Select  Menu
[ DISK/VOLUME INFORMATION ]
[ MAIN MENU ]1. Create RAID Volume2. Delete RAID Volume3. Reset Disks to Non-RAID
Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)  
						

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Step 3: 
After entering the CREATE VOLUME MENU screen, enter a volume name with 1~16 letters (letters cannot be 
special characters) under the Name item and press . Then, select a RAID level (Figure 11). RAID levels 
supported include RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, and RAID 5 (the selections available depend on the number of the 
hard drives being installed). Press  to proceed.
Step 4:
Under Disks item, select the hard drives to be included in the RAID array. If only two hard drives are installed, 
they will be automatically assigned to the array. Set the stripe block size (Figure 12) if necessary. The stripe block 
size can be set from 4 KB to 128 KB. Once you have selected the stripe block size, press .
Figure 11
Figure 12
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 12.0.0.1783Copyright(C) 2003-13 Intel Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.
RAID0: Stripes data (performance).
  [hi]-Change  [TAB]-Next  [ESC]-Previous Menu  [ENTER]-Select
[ HELP ]
  Name : Volume0  RAID Level : RAID0(Stripe)  Disks : Select Disks Strip Size :   128KB  Capacity : 111.7 GB  Sync : N/A   Create Volume
[ CREATE VOLUME MENU ]
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 12.0.0.1783Copyright(C) 2003-13 Intel Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.
           The following are typical values:           RAID0 - 128KB           RAID10 - 64KB           RAID5 - 64KB
  [hi]-Change  [TAB]-Next  [ESC]-Previous Menu  [ENTER]-Select
[ HELP ]
[ CREATE VOLUME MENU ]  Name : Volume0  RAID Level : RAID0(Stripe)  Disks : Select Disks Strip Size :   128KB  Capacity : 111.7 GB  Sync : N/A   Create Volume
Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)  
						

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Step 5:
Enter the array capacity and press . Finally press  on the Create Volume item to begin creating 
the  RAID  array.  When  prompted  to  confirm  whether  to  create  this  volume,  press    to  confirm  or    to 
cancel (Figure 13).
When completed, you can see detailed information about the RAID array in the DISK/VOLUME INFORMATION 
section, including the RAID level, stripe block size, array name, and array capacity, etc. (Figure 14)
To exit the RAID BIOS utility, press  or select 6. Exit in MAIN MENU.
Now, you can proceed to install the SATA RAID/AHCI driver and operating system.
Figure 13
Figure 14
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 12.0.0.1783Copyright(C) 2003-13 Intel Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.
Press ENTER to create the specified volume.
  [hi]-Change  [TAB]-Next  [ESC]-Previous Menu  [ENTER]-Select
[ HELP ]
  Name : Volume0  RAID Level : RAID0(Stripe)  Disks : Select Disks Strip Size : 128 MB  Capacity : 111.7 GB  Sync : N/A   Create Volume
[ CREATE VOLUME MENU ]
WARNING : ALL DATA ON SELECTED DISKS WILL BE LOST.
Are you sure you want to create this volume? (Y/N) :
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 12.0.0.1783Copyright(C) 2003-13 Intel Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.
RAID Volumes :ID    Name     Level    Strip Size Status Bootable0  Volume0    RAID0(Stripe)  128KB 223.6GB Normal Ye s
Physical Devices :ID   Device Model    Serial #   Size Type/Status(Vol ID)0   ST3120026AS  3JT354CP   111.7GB Member Disk(0)1   ST3120026AS  3JT329JX  111.7GB Member Disk(0)
   [hi]-Select   [ESC]-Exit [ENTER]-Select  Menu
[ DISK/VOLUME INFORMATION ]
[ MAIN MENU ]4. Recovery Volume Options5. Acceleration Options6. Exit
1. Create RAID Volume2. Delete RAID Volume3. Reset Disks to Non-RAID
Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)  
						

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Recovery Volume Options
Intel® Rapid Recover Technology provides data protection by allowing users to easily restore data and system 
operation  using  a  designated  recovery  drive.  With  the  Rapid  Recovery  Technology,  which  employs  RAID  1 
functionality, users can copy the data from the master drive to the recovery drive; if needed, the data on the 
recovery drive can be restored back to the master drive.
Before you begin: •The recovery drive must have equal or greater capacity than the master drive. •A recovery volume can be created with two hard drives only. A recovery volume and a RAID array cannot co-exist  in  the  system  at  the  same  time,  that  is,  if  you  have  already  created  a  recovery  volume,  you  are unable to create a RAID array.  •By default, only the master drive can be viewed in the operating system; the recovery drive is hidden.
Step 1:
Select Create RAID Volume in MAIN MENU and press  (Figure 15).
Figure 15
Figure 16
Step 2:
After entering the volume name, select Recovery under the RAID Level item and press  (Figure 16).
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 12.0.0.1783Copyright(C) 2003-13 Intel Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.
Recovery: Copies data between a master and a recovery disk.
  [hi]-Change  [TAB]-Next  [ESC]-Previous Menu  [ENTER]-Select
[ HELP ]
  Name : Volume0  RAID Level : Recovery   Disks : Select Disks Strip Size : N/A  Capacity : 111.7 GB  Sync : Continuous   Create Volume
[ CREATE VOLUME MENU ]
Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 12.0.0.1783Copyright(C) 2003-13 Intel Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.
RAID Volumes :None defined.
Physical Disks :IE    Drive Model    Serial #   Size Type/Status(Vol ID)0   ST3120026AS  3JT354CP   111.7GB Non-RAID Disk1   ST3120026AS  3JT329JX  111.7GB Non-RAID Disk
   [hi]-Select   [ESC]-Exit [ENTER]-Select  Menu
[ DISK/VOLUME INFORMATION ]
[ MAIN MENU ]4. Recovery Volume Options5. Acceleration Options6. Exit
1. Create RAID Volume2. Delete RAID Volume3. Reset Disks to Non-RAID
Configuring SATA Hard Drive(s)