Yes, you can add any brand 500GB hard drive to your system.  Your owners manual discusses how to setup RAID. I have never setup a RAID 0 using the ROM utility or the Intel Matrix Storage Console. I have setup a RAID 1 many times using the Intel Matrix Storage Console and you will not lose any data. Within the Console, choose "Create RAID Volume from existing hard drive" and  your existing drive will be mirrored onto your new drive. You cannot "Create RAID Volume from existing hard drive" within the ROM utility.

 

 

 

Configuring Your Computer for RAID

Your computer can be configured for RAID, even if you did not select a RAID configuration when the computer was purchased. You must have at least two hard drives installed in your computer to set up a RAID configuration. For an explanation of RAID levels, see "About Your RAID Configuration" on page 37. For instructions on how to install a hard drive, see "Installing a Hard Drive" on page 106. You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. The first method uses the Intel ® RAID Option ROM utility and is performed before you install the operating system onto the hard drive. The second method uses the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, or Intel Matrix Storage Console, and is performed after you have installed the operating system and the Intel Matrix Storage Console. Both methods require that you set your computer to RAID-enabled mode before beginning any of the RAID configuration procedures in this document.

Why would you want to make your system RAID anything?  Just look in this forum and almost all the postings on on problems, questions, etc. on RAID,  Save your self a big headache and avoid RAID anything.  Make life simple and make the second HD another drive letter.