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Precision M6400 Owner's Lounge *Part 2*

Discussion in 'Dell Latitude, Vostro, and Precision' started by BatBoy, Oct 14, 2009.

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  1. manicguitarist

    manicguitarist Notebook Consultant

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    Sorry. Don't agree.
    IMSM doesn't need the console or the drivers or anything - it is configured outside of the OS completely. I have this running on my M6400 and on a couple of servers. When it rebuilds a RAID5 system after a failed disk - no extra CPU usage is noted.
     
    manicguitarist, Dec 8, 2009
    #241
  2. Tanis64

    Tanis64 Notebook Geek

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    From the User Manual

    * also Windows Server 2008

    Using Linux you must use a software raid like mdadm to use this RAID 'Controller'

    Under Windows you will not see any CPU usage for that because it takes place on a lower layer which was started before OS was loaded.

    regards
    Christopher
     
    Tanis64, Dec 9, 2009
    #242
  3. manicguitarist

    manicguitarist Notebook Consultant

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    From which user manual?

    I have systems here running XP, Linux, Vista and Win7 with this series of RAID controller - and not once have I had to load a special raid driver.
     
    manicguitarist, Dec 9, 2009
    #243
  4. Tanis64

    Tanis64 Notebook Geek

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    Here is the link to the Intel® Matrix-Storage-Manager Usermanual

    http://download.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/8_x_raid_ahci_users_manual.pdf

    When i try to installl WinXP on my M6400 i have to install during the Setup of WinXp (F6) this matrix drivers when in AHCI or RAID Mode, otherwise i will get a Bleuscreen while booting XP.

    regards
    Christopher
     
    Tanis64, Dec 9, 2009
    #244
  5. manicguitarist

    manicguitarist Notebook Consultant

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    That is todo with AHCI mode rather than anything else.
    On a Dell Precision p380 I've installed XP, Linux and currently Vista all with no need for drivers.

    My M6400 has run Linux and Vista and Win 7 all with no issues or need for other drivers.

    Also - firmware / hardware. The difference being firmware is written to an EPROM, and hardware is writen to ROM
     
    manicguitarist, Dec 9, 2009
    #245
  6. Pirx

    Pirx Notebook Virtuoso

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    Correct. Like I said, you can install any OS you like, including simple MS-DOS, and it will recognize the volume as configured in the RAID BIOS as a single disk (or multiple disks, if you use the Matrix RAID capabilities). None of this requires any drivers whatsoever. All of the necessary software is contained in the controllers BIOS.
     
    Pirx, Dec 9, 2009
    #246
  7. Pirx

    Pirx Notebook Virtuoso

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    So that's a difference that makes no difference, to the end user, that is. As far as I can tell, to the user, the M6400's "firmware RAID" is exactly equivalent to hardware RAID, except, of course, for optional features that some/most desktop hardware RAID controllers have, such as a dedicated on-board cache, and a dedicated processor in order to speed things up even more.
     
    Pirx, Dec 9, 2009
    #247
  8. manicguitarist

    manicguitarist Notebook Consultant

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    Oh yes. The M6400's RAID controller isn't top of the line, like you might find in a server (it doesn't support RAID5 fr'instance) - but on a laptop - it is pretty darn good!
    :)
     
    manicguitarist, Dec 9, 2009
    #248
  9. rearkou

    rearkou Notebook Enthusiast

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    rearkou, Dec 10, 2009
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  10. Airborne83

    Airborne83 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Airborne83, Dec 11, 2009
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