This is only the second time posting into this forum & so far I have already learned several different thing & still learning! Anyways here is what I want to do! I have two systems side by side so this is going to be MUCH EASIER this time around PLUS I get to make some modifications & IMRPOVE it. I started out last year building this system with Windows 7 Home Pre. & installed it in a RAID0 & it has been pretty sweet but I feel it could do more & be more. The ASUS MAXIMUS V EXTREME 1155 - Z77 is a BEAST of a motherboard but their support is lacking in that they really don’t have forums that are as sweet as this one, FACT! Anyway not to board you to death with all my issues but I wish to learn more about setting up the OS in regard to the RAID for maximum performance. I’ve read tons of post about which people think is the best way to do it yet they fail to go the extra length & explain to others how step by step they achieved the speeds. Here is my situation, I have UPDATED the firmware on my OCZ VERTEX 4 SSD’s to the latest firmware which is v1.5.1 & I have some things I have to do before I go further. The Power Supply I have is a 1200W Cooler Master Gold which of recently I have discovered it has a failing rail so I decided this was the best time to complete the Windows 8.1 Pro up-grade. I ordered a EVGA SuperNOVA 1300W G2 so I can run my 3-way SLI with the EVGA GTX670 4GB Graphics cards. My questionjs are all based off of setting the system up for gaming as well as some additional work. Here is what I have in the way of spec’s so you won’t have to constantly look down to see them in my signature.
CoolerMaster HAFX 942 Red, CUSTOMIZED
ASUS MAXIMUS V EXTREME 1155-Z77,
Intel i7-3770K, Not Overclocked!
Windows 7 Home Premium, <---------------------- UPGRADING NOW TO WINDOWS 8.1 Pro 64bit
Corsair Dominator Platinum-16GB-1866,
( X 2 ) - EVGA GTX670 4GB SuperClocked, <----- UPGRADING TO 3 - WAY SLI Adding a 3rd EVGA GTX670 4GB Graphics Card
Swiftech H20-320 ELITE Water Cooling,
( X2 ) - OCZ Vertex 4-256GB SSD, Set in RAID 0
WD 500GB VelociRaptor,
WD 1TB -7200RPM Black,
Cooler Master 1200W Silent Pro Gold , <------- UPGRADING NOW To: EVGA SuperNova 1300W G2 Single Rail
Creative Sound Blaster Recon Fatility Champion,
Aerocool Touch 2100 Fan Controller,
ASTRO A40 Gaming Headset,
As you can see I have a considerable amount of $$$$$$ put into this build, the only thing I haven’t done is water cooled the Graphics Cards. The reason for this is actually I have ran out of money right now to do so but I feel it will run cool enough to have issues of NOT burning up. The good this about the ASUS MAXIMUS EXTREME is one can place the GPU’s into any slot & still get air enough to them to keep them cool. The HAFX 942 Full Tower is a BEAST of a case for those whom like lot’s of room. Now back to the main subject, I want to make this thing as fast as possible yet I also want it to be 100% stable & so far that has not really been the case as I do think I have installed the previous drivers in a INCORRECT order causing various small issues but also slowing it down. When I purchased the OCZ VERTEX 4 SSD’s, they were at the time some of the fastest SSD’s on the market. Now I see that Samsung has a 840 Pro that is just a bit faster which I can’t cry over spilt milk yet wished I had 2 of those in a 256GB to set into a RAID0 just so others could look at the speeds & say “WOW”! Overall I’m satisfied with the current selection of components I’ve installed into this system but realize at the same time I NEED TO LEARN some/more/all of the software installation side of building a system. I guess what I’m asking is a little weird but In what order should I install the software from scratch & what drivers work the best to achieve what I want to achieve? Remember I have a ASUS Z68 DELUXE GEN3 I build ( running system ) siting right next to this one so reading & working on this one at the same time makes it SOO MUCH EAISER simply because I can read the forums & work on this system at the same time as well as download software easialy. If you don’t mind helping me I would find it GREATLY APPRECIATED! I haven’t told you the full story but I have trouble comprehending some things but at least I try & sometimes I make HUGE mistakes but at least I’m not afraid to try! If you are afraid to fail then your afraid to live & be human! Like I said, your help is GREATLY APPRECIATED!
I know how all the components fit together but where do I start to make this simple, like do I install all three cards before the installation of the Win 8.1 or put it all together & then start or what? I felt putting in the Power Supply then installing all three of the cards would be best but if you have suggestions I’m open to listen to them & apply them to the success of this build. One thing I forgot to mention is all three of the cards have been installed into the system previously to make sure they run & have no issues. I ran each card with Windows 7 & have tested them via gaming to stress them to make sure they will perform & so far it has been a success. So, What do you think/suggest & in what order do I install the drivers when I go to fire the system up for the first time? p.s. I had forgot to meantion, I Do NOT overclock as I haven’t learned nor had the MB into such a stability to do so & actually I don’t intend to do so as of right now.
If I’m right, the Chipset driver from Intel’s website is: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_…%09%09%09%09%09
File name: infinst_autol.exe Version: 9.4.0.1026
Date: 08/08/2013 Status: Latest Size: 5.88 MB Language: English
Operating Systems:
Windows 2000 , Windows 7 , Windows 7 (64-bit), Windows 8, Windows 8, 64-bit*, Windows 8.1*, Windows 8.1, 64-bit*, Windows Server 2008 R2*, Windows Server 2012 R2*, Windows Server 2012*, Windows Vista , Windows Vista 64, Windows XP , Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
What are the correct drivers & in what order should I install them & if the listed driver isn’t going to give maximum Performance then what should I install & in what order?
Here is a Link to Intel : http://www.official-drivers.com/installe…CFWxo7Aod8RIACg
Here IS the Link To ASUS : http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/MAXIMUS_V_EXTREME/#support
Here is the Link To GeForce : http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverRes…spx/68799/en-us
GeForce 331.65 Driver
Version: 331.65 WHQL
Release Date: 2013.11.7
Operating System: Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 8.1 64-bit, Windows 8 64-bit, Windows Vista 64-bit
Language: English (US)
File Size: 210.00 MB
TOTALLY CONFUSED 
AGAIN!
PLEASE HELP