Matrix Storage continued
I covered the beginnings of Intel's Matrix Storage technology in the ICH6R southbridge on page 5. The ability to create separate RAID volumes with differing types, on a single RAID array, is a decent step forward in the flexibility of consumer RAID hardware.Maxtor MaxLine III 16MB cache, 250GB SATA drive with Native Command Queueing
Maxtor are Intel press partners with the LGA775 hardware bundle, supplying journalists with a pair of pre-release Maxtor MaxLine III disks. The disks are 250GB in size and feature 16MB of cache, double that found on any consumer SATA or ATA hard disk, native command queueing and the obligatory SATA interface. There's no legacy power connector either, it's SATA power or nothing, break out those power adaptors if you don't have a suitable PSU.
The drives use a single 16MB Hynix HY57V281620HCT-6 DRAM, clocked at 166MHz, for its buffer memory, interfacing with an Agere Oscar E5-D4 controller.
Intel Application Accelerator supporting Matrix Storage
Application Accelerator is Intel's driver and software control package for its drive controllers. The version for the ICH6R fully supports the Matrix Storage technology. The software mimics the functionality of the controller's BIOS, allowing you to setup, create and administer any and all RAID arrays and volumes created on disks attached to the ICH6. Using the software to create arrays is simple.First fire up the Create RAID Volume Wizard.
Use it to choose the disks you'd like the volume to reside on. Then give the volume a name and choose the RAID level you'd like to apply.
Before finally choosing a volume size.
That's it, you're then free to format and use the volume as you see fit.
Application Accelerator then lets you view your array topology in an Manangement Console-esque fashion.
You'll notice the support for native command queueing enabled in the Application Accelerator GUI.