Cabling my new system. + A8N SLi question.

[RDL]

Firstly, any general tips? I'm cabling my new system (see sig) and have this cable wrap. Any advice? I also noticed that this kit doesn't have a slot down the side, which means it appears to have to be put on at the end of the cables, is this right?

Also, I have a question about my Asus A8N SLi Deluxe edition motherboard. The SATA ports, there are 8, and two different kinds, am I right in thinking the black ones (on the motherboard) are for RAID drives, and the red ones are for non RAID drives (unless you edit this in the BIOS?)

Basically I have the one Raptor, which I want as my boot drive, and then two Segate Barracuda 7200.7 200gb models, which I want in RAID 0. So do I put these in the black, and the Raptor in the red?

Thanks,

Ross

[Steve]

Hide as much cabling as you can - despite the lovely brightness. Route things cleverly, even if the route taken is longer, but neater.

Black SATA is the nVRAID which is SATA 2, red is the Silicon Image RAID, which supports RAID5 through a non-WHQL driver but isn't SATA 2.

[RDL]

So I just want RAID 0, and am not planning any RAID 5 in the future for this machine. Where would be best to put the 3 HDDs? Or doesn't it matter either way (none are SATA 2 obviously, etc.)

Also, what is the best general order to do things in re cabling, and does heatshrink really make a difference?

[Knightcrawler]

If your Seagate's support NCQ and have native SATA support your going to want to make sure they go on the SATA 2 controller. I know the 7200.8 Seagates have these features not sure about the 7200.7 though.

[Steve]

7200.8 drives use the same platters as 7200.7 drives, but feature NCQ, so 7200.7 do not have NCQ.

[RDL]

I'm going to sit down now and see what I can do with this wiring, I'l try and make it look neat. We shall see.

[Steve]

I'm going to sit down now and see what I can do with this wiring, I'l try and make it look neat. We shall see.

It'll take aaaages to get it perfect, but it's worth it. The real PITA is when you need to remove something and create a flippin' mess again!

[RDL]

Well I'm having the problem now. I wired it all very neatly, but I boot it to find all the fans spinning (including GPU) but the top DVD R (master) doesn't open, it has no light. The second DVD RW (slave) has its light on and won't open. I tried switching the jumpers, but no luck. I don't know, anyone else had this problem? What's up.

Also, the EZ plug on the Asus A8N SLi Deluxe edition. Do I need to put a molex in it, I'm just running one 6800gt?

Cheers,
Ross

[Olly1234]

Seems a bit odd with your DVD's, have you tried just conencting the top one on it's own power and IDE cable and seeing if it works? As your runing a single card you shouldn;t need to but it won;t hurt if you plug a molex in anyhow..Did you check the EZ Selector card was in the correct sngle card direction? It's meant to come that way but my Asus SLi board had it set to Dual card mode when it arrived...

[RDL]

Yeah it is on single. I could try that. I'l go check now.

[RDL]

I don't think the system is posting either. Bugger.

I'm just experimenting with the IDE cables, but that one certainly doesn't work, it seems inverted, so I'l try the next one.

[Olly1234]

You've plugged in both the 20 pin ATX and the 12v 4 pin square power haven't you, had a few people have missed them previously? Thought had better check, if you can get it post then plug some speakers in and it'll tell you whats wrong

[RDL]

Do they both go into the same slot? I have plugged in the big ATX (the 20 pin, but is that including the 4 pin detachable one?) and the 12V 4 pin too, although does it matter which of the two connectors you use for that?

[Olly1234]

No....Not the same slot.....There is another 4 pin square connector behind the parelel port the square one goes into...Pray those protection circuits have done the job

[yamangman]

Just for clarity, he means 40 pin ATX.

[RDL]

So there are 2 connectors I need, right? The big 40 pin one (which has the detachable part, but keep it on) and the 4 pin?

If that's right I've plugged them in, but I still have a spare 4 pin.