R4 incorrectly arrived w/out RAID0-can I install it? [pic]

I ordered an M17x R4 with two 500GB hard drives in RAID0 (which is clearly listed on the invoice), but it instead came with them as individual non-RAID drives, as evidenced by the screenshot below taken during boot. I'm concerned because with current ThinkPads, for example, a laptop has to come from the factory with RAID already set up or else you'll never be able to use a hardware RAID in that machine (which is enforced by the ThinkPad's Options ROM, AFAIK).

So my question is whether I can take out the two hard drives from the M17x that I received, replace them with two matched SSDs, then configure those SSDs as a hardware (not software) RAID0 within the M17x? I'm not concerned about the hard drives themselves -- I'm just concerned about the RAID capability. It looks like I can do this, but I'd like to verify it before proceeding.

 

Have you checked the BIOS settings? I'm pretty sure they are unlocked so you can change HD type when you want.

 

Yes you can.

 

Yes, DDDenniZZZ, in fact under the "Advanced" tab in the BIOS, "SATA operation" is already factory-set to RAID, instead of ATA or AHCI. That's the only RAID-related setting/option that I see in the BIOS.

And if I hit ctrl-I during boot to enter Intel's Rapid Storage Technology Configuration Utility, then I can use the arrow keys to cycle through the menu options to create a RAID (didn't actually try executing it on the hard drives, as that would wipe them clean if it worked, and I'd like to keep the current system around for reference when I do a clean install on the SSDs).

So it seems doable, just wanted to verify, since I've seen so many users burned by this issue on the ThinkPad side.

Thx, ratchetnclank, that's good to hear.

 

if your upgrading to SSD's I would just wait and not mess with it. Not worth the effort imo.

 

Not to go off topic or something. But putting 2 SSD's in raid 0 is quiet useless. You will not notice a thing. In my opinion it's better to invest in 1 large ssd if you care about speed.
and 1 normal hdd or hybrid for other files that wont fit the SSD.

or I am not understanding what you are trying to do here xD.

 

This.

Plus, once your SSDs are in raid, you are losing your TRIM support. You'd be better off going with a bigger SSD, or getting a smaller SSD w/ storage drive.

I'd make them refund one of those 500gb HDDs - or both, if you can swing it, since you want SSDs anyway.

 

With intel RST 11 you have trim support.

 

From what I've read, RAID and TRIM work with 7 series desktop chipsets, but Intel has not said if it works on mobile or not. I haven't found someone that actually has that setup and has confirmed it.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/664114-intel-rapid-storage-technology-11-1-0-1006-ssd-raid0-trim-support.html

That is an old version of RST but I've been using it and newer versions for 6 months. It works perfectly on the M18x, should work on the M17x as well.