Delete Raid Array Volume

ccm852
ccm852 Member Posts: 6

Tinkerer

edited March 2021 in Nitro Gaming
I recently bought a new nitro 5 that came with a 512 ssd. I bought a second 512 ssd and used the pre-installed software Intel Optane and memory storage to create a Raid 0 volume. I didn't see any difference in performance so we want to switch back....i dont have an option within the software to delete my raid volume,  I read online you can press control +I during boot up and delete the raid volume that way but ctrl +I does not show up as an option or when when I press it. Can anyone help me delete  my raid 0 array?

Tks

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Answers

  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    edited March 2021
    The easiest way is just removing one drive and re-installing windows. I dont think you can just remove a drive from the array for Raid0 so it would need a re-install anyway
  • ccm852
    ccm852 Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    I tried taking one drive out and doing a reinstall but the install does not find a drive. I go into the bios and it shows that I have a drive installed.  I put the other back in  and bios will show 2 drives and I am able to perform a reinstall
  • batmalin
    batmalin Member Posts: 4,231 Guru
    Answer ✓
    Ctrl+S on the main tab in BIOS and switch to AHCI. After that you will be able to install.
    Please click "Yes" if I have answered your question.
    Userbench: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/31177158

  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    edited March 2021
    Strange, it shouldnt need AHCI for windows, what ISO are you using, the system restore CD created by windows (it can auto inject the needed drivers), or a standard ISO? It could be fastboot playing up as well stopping the cntrl+i showing, head into windows, hold Shift+restart  (causes a full restart), then start spamming ctrl+i, 

    If that fails you could try injecting the raid driver into the installer by dropping the files onto the USB installer driver using the f6 key to load the driver in : https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005864/technologies.html

    You can also disable intel RST and install using AHCI but that would slow it down so its better to leave it on :)
  • batmalin
    batmalin Member Posts: 4,231 Guru
    @Leostat do you have real examples on a same HW what exactly will be slowed down? Why should he inject RAID drivers? If you are wondering why the SSD is not visible it is because it was part of RAID 0 array, which was not deleted properly e.g. it was broken by removing one of the SSDs. If the OP is so attached to RST he can switch it easy after the install.
    Please click "Yes" if I have answered your question.
    Userbench: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/31177158

  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    edited March 2021
    So by swapping to AHCI it will disable some of the M.2 "stuff". RST moves the control of the drive under purview of the CPU controller. Generally this means a bit lower latency, and lower power use. Anandtech did a write up here :):

    https://www.anandtech.com/show/7843/testing-sata-express-with-asus/4

    I dont have first hand benchmarks but others have:
    https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/ddkifn/rstraid_mode_vs_ahci_mode_single_nvme_drive/
    Intel RST
    https://i.imgur.com/65zxsFG.png
    AHCI
    https://i.imgur.com/Mm0kpNh.png

    Now its not much of a drop but im a child and like bigger numbers 😁 the thought of leaving over a Gigbyte of read on the table there! My understanding its as the CPU can directly access what it needs in a wider bus then if its using the AHCI protocol (which was what, 2004?) 

    Its not injecting the Raid driver, its injecting the Rapid Storage tech driver

    I know its attached to a raid but it should still have discovered it and marked it as degraded, i mainly do raid on servers so it could be its handled differntly 🤷‍♀️ Raid information is stored in the Header of a disk, it doesnt need to be "deleated" as to say, just over-written with a new GPT :)

  • batmalin
    batmalin Member Posts: 4,231 Guru
    I agree with all the tests and results, but how this is beneficial for a regular user or even gamer? Did windows loads even 1 milisecond faster? Or do you get more FPS? Besides AHCI is way more reliable than RST. Look how many issues are reported  here for example...
    Please click "Yes" if I have answered your question.
    Userbench: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/31177158

  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    edited March 2021
    Depends on the use, if you use battery then you will get a little bit more battery life, and if you load larger files in then you will see the benifit. Unsure what you mean by reliable , its more reliable  than RST, usaully its the linux kernel which is the problem or missing drivers? 

    Personally i would lean to trying to leave it on, of course its up to CCM , M2 is still really speedy even when using the outdated AHCI!
  • ccm852
    ccm852 Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    Thank you all for the help, the ctrl+s worked and I was able to switch my drives out of raid. The ACHI worked