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H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

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  • #1

    H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

    I am giving consideration to getting a smaller board, to go with a smaller (micro-ATX) case; namely, the H97M Pro4, along with a standard (non-OC) i7-4790, since I doubt that I will do any overclocking except maybe with my GPU (GeForce GTX 960).

    The problem is, I have 7 SATA devices (5 hard drives and 2 optical devices), and the H97 board has 6 SATA sockets (all SATA 3.0). I'm looking at a 2-port PCI card (supposedly non-RAID, according to the eBay seller), similar to this one...




    ...to hold one or 2 of my devices; most likely, my Blu-ray burner (which will be drive D) and my DVD burner (drive E), because the maximum SATA speed of this controller (which is 1.5Gb/s or SATA 1.0 speed) is irrelevant when it comes to optical drives.

    This device comes with a driver CD, but is such a device plug-and-play-ready when it comes to Win7/8/10 builds? Or should I be prepared to create a floppy (and use my USB floppy drive) to install the drivers when I get ready to install my 64-bit Win7? Again, I intend to use this controller for my optical drives.

    Do I go with this controller, or should I consider another one (maybe PCI-e) for my optical drives?
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

    PCI-e, definitely.

    I've always found cards using Silicon Image controllers to be 100% bulletproof.
    #1 - Please, when seeking help, enter the make and model of ALL parts that your system is comprised of in your Signature, or at least the model #'s in your System Specs, then "Save' it.
    ____If you are overclocking, underclocking, or undervolting any parts, informing us of this and their values would prove beneficial in helping you.


    #2 - Consider your PSU to be the foundation from which all else is built upon. Anything built upon a weak foundation is poorly built.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

      I just looked. If you live in the lower 48 States, I'll send you a new PCI(NOT PCI-E) card for only the cost of shipping.
      #1 - Please, when seeking help, enter the make and model of ALL parts that your system is comprised of in your Signature, or at least the model #'s in your System Specs, then "Save' it.
      ____If you are overclocking, underclocking, or undervolting any parts, informing us of this and their values would prove beneficial in helping you.


      #2 - Consider your PSU to be the foundation from which all else is built upon. Anything built upon a weak foundation is poorly built.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

        Originally posted by - wardog - View Post
        I just looked. If you live in the lower 48 States, I'll send you a new PCI(NOT PCI-E) card for only the cost of shipping.
        I assume it has 2 SATA sockets, yes? I don't need an eSATA port (unless I can think of a useful eSATA device to connect to it), because those are obsolete compared to USB 3.0/3.1/Thunderbolt.

        Do you have the driver CD? Assuming this card is not plug-and-play, I'll need the CD to install the driver before I install Win7.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

          4 ports actually. PCI, which I myself have no use for.

          Silicon Image SiL3114 controller.

          Sealed in the clamshell. You'll need a razor knife and bandaids getting it out.

          Windows will install the drivers.

          Syba SD-SATA-4P

          Syba Web

          Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more - Newegg.com
          #1 - Please, when seeking help, enter the make and model of ALL parts that your system is comprised of in your Signature, or at least the model #'s in your System Specs, then "Save' it.
          ____If you are overclocking, underclocking, or undervolting any parts, informing us of this and their values would prove beneficial in helping you.


          #2 - Consider your PSU to be the foundation from which all else is built upon. Anything built upon a weak foundation is poorly built.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

            Excellent. I sent you a private message. Hope it went through.

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

              My setup for this build (see the first post) has Win7 on my primary drive, which is a hybrid. My 2nd drive, which I have yet to decide, will either be a data drive or a RAID 1 drive (mirroring my Win7 hybrid). My 3rd and 4th drives will both be data drives. I have a Blu-ray burner and DVD burner. These will obviously use all 6 of my SATA sockets on my H97M Pro4 board.

              That leaves my Master Backup drive, which I have decided will go on a PCIe SATA controller card...

              ...But...

              If ever I should decide that I want to use Win10, but I want to keep my Win7, would this PCIe SATA controller work?



              The idea is to use a mSATA SSD card for Win10, and still have a SATA 3.0 socket available for my 7th SATA device. Will it work, and will access time be as fast as a standard SSD connected directly to a SATA socket?

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

                Another quick thought: I was under the impression that the OS drive (drive C:) could be RAIDed; but as I am scrounging around the Web, I am learning that you cannot mirror your OS drive using Windows hard drive mirroring (i.e., software RAID); and I assume that you cannot mirror your (intended) OS drive in the UEFI using whatever RAID apps are available from the motherboard's hardware driver DVD (i.e., hardware RAID). Is that correct?

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

                  Keep in mind the card you pic'd above appears to use the ASMedia 1061 SATA Controller... Being it's for a backup drive, and assuming correctly the ASM1061, for a backup drive it should be fine.

                  Also keep in mind, on a PCIe x1 controller, the writes to the drive will be limited to 250MB/s. PCIe's x1 throughput, 500MB/s, represents simultaneous two way communication, 250MB/s read and or 250MB/s write. Of which I'm assuming you'll be writing way way more than reading.
                  #1 - Please, when seeking help, enter the make and model of ALL parts that your system is comprised of in your Signature, or at least the model #'s in your System Specs, then "Save' it.
                  ____If you are overclocking, underclocking, or undervolting any parts, informing us of this and their values would prove beneficial in helping you.


                  #2 - Consider your PSU to be the foundation from which all else is built upon. Anything built upon a weak foundation is poorly built.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

                    Originally posted by CookyMonzta View Post
                    Another quick thought: I was under the impression that the OS drive (drive C:) could be RAIDed; but as I am scrounging around the Web, I am learning that you cannot mirror your OS drive using Windows hard drive mirroring (i.e., software RAID); and I assume that you cannot mirror your (intended) OS drive in the UEFI using whatever RAID apps are available from the motherboard's hardware driver DVD (i.e., hardware RAID). Is that correct?
                    IIRC, yes. Unfortunately.
                    #1 - Please, when seeking help, enter the make and model of ALL parts that your system is comprised of in your Signature, or at least the model #'s in your System Specs, then "Save' it.
                    ____If you are overclocking, underclocking, or undervolting any parts, informing us of this and their values would prove beneficial in helping you.


                    #2 - Consider your PSU to be the foundation from which all else is built upon. Anything built upon a weak foundation is poorly built.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

                      Originally posted by - wardog - View Post
                      IIRC, yes. Unfortunately.
                      Er,,, unless the OS was originally installed as/onto RAID that is. Then, yes, RAIDed OS would be allowed.
                      #1 - Please, when seeking help, enter the make and model of ALL parts that your system is comprised of in your Signature, or at least the model #'s in your System Specs, then "Save' it.
                      ____If you are overclocking, underclocking, or undervolting any parts, informing us of this and their values would prove beneficial in helping you.


                      #2 - Consider your PSU to be the foundation from which all else is built upon. Anything built upon a weak foundation is poorly built.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

                        Here is my setup, which I have not yet finished because I am trying to rearrange the cables to maximize airflow inside the case. Along with that, I have to make sure the PCIe card for my 7th SATA device will work with the setup I have.

                        Xigmatek Vanguard MicroATX Case

                        ASRock H97M Pro4

                        Intel Core i7-4790

                        Corsair H75 Cooler (mounted in rear fan bay, with 120mm fans in front of and behind radiator)

                        All 1TB laptop drives; Toshiba drives are SATA 2.0:
                        C: Seagate ST1000LM014 SSHD (SATA_0)
                        Hybrid drive for Windows 7 Pro x64

                        F: HGST H2T1000854S (SATA_1)
                        Either for Acronis Secure Zone (via Acronis True Image 2015/2016) or as a Win7 mirrored drive. I have not yet decided.

                        G: Toshiba MQ01ABD100 (SATA_2)
                        Data drive

                        H: Toshiba MQ01ABD100 (SATA_3)
                        Data drive

                        Optical drives:
                        D: Lite-on iHBS212 Blu-ray Burner (SATA_4)
                        E: Lite-On iHAS524 DVD Burner (SATA_5)

                        Connected to mSATA/SATA 3.0 PCIe card:
                        X: Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM001
                        Full-sized 2TB HD as Master Backup

                        My Master Backup drive will be connected to this:





                        This is available at eBay, but it is also available at the following sites:

                        SEDNA - PCI Express mSATA III (6G) SSD Adapter with 1 SATA III port

                        and

                        mSATA+SATA 3 HDD/SSD PCI-e express Controller adapter Card [PCIE020B] - $15.99 : sintech adapter shop



                        It comes with an installation CD with various software drivers, but I assume the ASM1061 folder is the one containing the proper driver for this card.

                        Now, given what I have read from the instructions (which are confusing), and assuming the motherboard is AHCI/NCQ-compliant, it suggests that you have to install this item after installing Windows...

                        ...But what I want to know is, does anyone else have this board? And if so, has anyone tried to install the hardware drivers as he or she was installing Win7? At the screen where it asks, "Where do you want to install Windows?", there is an option which reads "Load Driver".



                        Is it safe to load the hardware driver at this point, or should I remove the card before turning on the machine to install Win7, and install Win7 before inserting the card and installing the driver? I assume I should check my UEFI to see if the machine recognizes this card and the 2TB drive plugged into it; and if not, the driver must be installed.
                        Last edited by CookyMonzta; 11-26-2015, 12:12 AM.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

                          Only connect the HDD you want Win7 to install to, no others.

                          With two or more connected there is a chance Win7 will split itself across two disks.

                          After Win7 is installed, have at connecting the remainder.
                          #1 - Please, when seeking help, enter the make and model of ALL parts that your system is comprised of in your Signature, or at least the model #'s in your System Specs, then "Save' it.
                          ____If you are overclocking, underclocking, or undervolting any parts, informing us of this and their values would prove beneficial in helping you.


                          #2 - Consider your PSU to be the foundation from which all else is built upon. Anything built upon a weak foundation is poorly built.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

                            I noticed how Windows splits across hard drives when I tried installing WinXP a few years back. Same with one of my early Win7 installations. Obviously my hybrid drive will be the only one connected when I'm ready to install Win7.

                            Now, with regard to my PCIe mSATA/SATA 3.0 card, would I be better off inserting the card and checking my UEFI before I install Win7 and load the ASM1061 driver as I install Win7? Or should I leave the card out and install Win7 before I insert the card and install the driver?

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: H97M Pro4 - 6 SATA sockets, 7 SATA devices; which SATA controller?

                              No. Only that hybrid drive connected. Complete everything else after Windows installation is finished.

                              Also, if you're like me, right at the get go disable Windows Update from including hardware drivers.
                              #1 - Please, when seeking help, enter the make and model of ALL parts that your system is comprised of in your Signature, or at least the model #'s in your System Specs, then "Save' it.
                              ____If you are overclocking, underclocking, or undervolting any parts, informing us of this and their values would prove beneficial in helping you.


                              #2 - Consider your PSU to be the foundation from which all else is built upon. Anything built upon a weak foundation is poorly built.

                              Comment

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