PDA

View Full Version : A8N-SLI and SATA

pibrahim
10-26-2005, 05:47 PM
Hi all,

Have done a quick search for this problem and most of what was discussed concerned RAID, which I won't be using, so I just thought I'd check...

I'm getting an A8N-SLI (regular) motherboard and a 200GB Maxtor SATA HD. I've read the sticky at the top of this forum, and have heard some conflicting things:

-If I'm installing just ONE drive, do I still need to install SATA drivers?
-What are the Silicon something and nVIDIA options that people have mentioned that the A8N-SLI has? Which do I plump for?
-Presumably my Asus motherboard and my Maxtor HD both have driver CDs. (If I need to install drivers): If I make floppy disks of these, which do I insert at the F6 stage of WinXP installation? The HD drivers or the mobo drivers?

From what I can gather, this will be the most complicated part of installation, so any straight-talking advice to a construction virgin would be much appreciated!
glc
10-27-2005, 03:56 AM
There are no such things as hard drive drivers. You need controller drivers, which are on the motherboard CD. If the hard drive comes with a floppy or CD, that's just setup software (which you don't need) and diagnostics.

If you use the Nvidia controller, you may not need drivers unless you set up RAID, but I'd have the driver floppy ready just in case. If you use the Silicon Image controller, you *will* need a driver, RAID or not.
pibrahim
10-27-2005, 08:14 AM
Many thanks for that. The Maxtor package bangs on about their MaxBlast (or something) software, but I won't bother installing it.

Regarding the choice between nVidia and Silicon Image - presumably these are two different physical connections on the motherboard, and I'm guessing there's also a corresponding BIOS entry - i.e. rather than just choosing 'enable' SATA in the BIOS, I have to actually specify nVidia or SI in the BIOS?
glc
10-27-2005, 10:47 AM
You can download the motherboard manual and do some studying, that should help. I think you have the basic concept correct but the manual should fill in details.
David M
10-27-2005, 11:01 AM
Most people go with the Nvidia over the Silicone Image