Raid Help

Discussion in 'Storage Devices' started by PTP89, May 11, 2006.

  1. PTP89

    PTP89 Geek Trainee

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    hey guys..im building a new computer and i was thinking of getting 2x 74gb raptors to run with raid-somthing problem is i dont really know what raid does and what raid i should use...could someone please explain this to me..is it worth the money...and what raid card do u suggest getting?
     
  2. Karanislove

    Karanislove It's D Grav80 Of Luv

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    Very Easy, [link=http://www.hardwareforums.com/storage-info-sticky-11391/]Check Which One you Want[/link] and thanks to BIG B
     
  3. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    RAID stands for Redundat Array of Inexpensive Disks. It's a way of keeping your data in tact if a hard drive fails. However, RAID IS NOT backup. Mechanical disks are in use, and mechanical devices do eventually break down.

    The most common RAID levels are 0, 1, and 5. RAID 0 does not have the redundant part and is purely for speed. RAID 0 makes one big hard drive to the tune of (number of disks in array) x (size of smallest disk in the array). Do not use RAID 0 for valueable data. If one drive goes, you've just lost part of the bits of data for everything.

    RAID 1: It writes data to both drives in the array. If one drive goes, you've got another hard drive right where you left off. The main issue is the lack of speed.

    RAID 5: This requires at least 3 hard drives. Data is written across the 3 disks, sorta like RAID 0, but there is also a parity bit that's written across the disks as well. This requires a dedicated hardware function for best performance.

    Most SATA controllers on motherboards use the CPU to do the RAID calculations. Cards from the likes of 3Ware and Mylex can have a dedicated processor and sometimes a slot for RAM to aid in buffering and are much faster. Of course, these are the $25 cards either. Realistically, you'd be looking at a $300-500 piece of hardware. From what I hear, 3Ware is about the best choice, although I would also see what Tekram has. Adaptec may be a 'standard', but they tend to cost more and aren't necessarily the best in performance.
     
  4. PTP89

    PTP89 Geek Trainee

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    thank u that explained what i needed to know..so would it be worth for me to but forth the $160 extra for the other raptor if i just wanted to get like a $25 raid card?

    or will the mother board im getting support raid by itself?
    ABIT AW8 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail at Newegg.com

    if i do need to buy a raid card-what would you suggest getting for 2x 74gb raptors for cheep as possible
     
  5. Anti-Trend

    Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek

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    Just an FYI, any RAID card under $200 is just an IDE controller. The RAID part happens at the driver level (aka in Windows) on cheap adapters like that.
     
  6. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    It has the ability to create a RAID array, but, like AT said, it's going to be run by a driver under Windows, and suck up CPU cycles.

    True hardware RAID ain't cheap, but something like this 3ware 80062LPKIT is probably your best bet. I don't think you're going to find something cheaper that's true hardware RAID. It only does RAID 0 and 1, however, but more will cost you.
     
  7. PTP89

    PTP89 Geek Trainee

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  8. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    The necessary driver should be avaliable with the motherboard. If you're installing Windows on the array, you must provide the driver. This should come on a floppy disk with the motherboard.
     

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