Controller Cards

You might need to upgrade a computer to support storage such as redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) or eSATA (External SATA) where these storage methods are not natively supported by the motherboard. Both of these storage types require that you install adapter cards containing the proper drive controllers. The installation of these cards should be the same basic process as installing any PCI or PCIe expansion card.

Installing a RAID Controller Card

To enable a computer to support RAID levels 0, 1, or 10, you must install a RAID controller card in the computer. The controller provides an additional drive interface to support the number of drives necessary for the level of RAID you want to enable. Installing the card is not complicated, if you’ve installed expansion cards before. Once the card is installed in an available PCI or PCIe expansion slot, attach the drives you will use for your RAID configuration and close the case.