hard-drive, drives

dojharris · 04-13-2007, 04:47 PM

Looking to buy a bigger hard drive for my computer, I play games so would like a fast one and about 250Gb to 350Gb. I have Asus K8N-E Deluxe Motherboard Here -->>>http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1642 Think it will take Serial sata hard drive but i have seen somthing about having 2 hard drives to work as one for peformance but dont know anything about that. Any idias and links i would be greatful of. Thanks for your time and help ,,,, Doj ,,,,

**cjessee** · 04-13-2007, 04:57 PM

You are talking about a RAID 0 array - this will allow you to use two drives as one. There is considerable speed increase by using RAID, however, this is more of an "advanced" configuration. I use that term loosely, if you can read directions you can probably configure a RAID array...

Start out by googling "configuring a RAID 0 array"... let us know if you need any more help.

dojharris · 04-13-2007, 06:33 PM

ok thanks,,, i will look into it,,, I usually learn when somthings important and speed is important

**cjessee** · 04-13-2007, 06:37 PM

Let us know if you have any questions about it... it's the old: teach a man to fish.....

wait... you probably already know that..... anyway, we are here if you need us.

**justpassingby** · 04-14-2007, 03:46 PM

You won't gain any frame per second in your games by configuring your drives in a raid array. It can only speed up loading times between two levels, but your game experience will stay the same. If all that matters is speeding up your games, you'd be better buying a new video card, or upgrading your ram or processor.

If you can't afford more than 2 identical disks, you'll be limited to RAID 0 which speeds up the transfer speeds but doubles the risks for data loss. Should one disk come to fail, you'll loose all your data. If you intend to have valuable data on the raid array, you should go for a RAID 5 or RAID 0+1, which will need more than 2 drives.

**TheMatt** · 04-14-2007, 04:51 PM

Even RAID 1 gives a performance increase in read time (even though write time is not improved), and RAID 0 is generally a bad idea if you have valuable data on the array.

dojharris · 04-18-2007, 08:12 AM

I would like to improve load/read time. I do use my computer as a server just to upload files to 3 other computers, but i upload the files from my exetrnal hard drive,,, so i guess raid wouldnt help there! and its not like it takes long up upload 1GB anyway. I got nothing impotant to lose, just the bother of reinstalling windows and programs as all my the data i dont want to lose i back up, and its not saved on the computer either but on the external drive. RAID 5, RAID 0+1, RAID 1, RAID 0 which would be the fastest and which would be the safest, and would they improve the time for windows to load,, lol,,, thanks Doj Harris

**TheMatt** · 04-19-2007, 05:54 PM

RAID 1 would be your best option. Read performance is improved, and redundancy is maintained. Take a look at this: http://www.techsupportforum.com/827477-post46.html

Jrfan13815 · 05-14-2007, 02:30 PM

A little old, but...

Is the only reason for RAID 0 being more dangerous because of the higher risk of losing all your data due to a higher chance of your hard drive failing, just because you have 2 hd's instead of one?

Not because RAID 0 hurts your hd or because RAID 0 is less secure? RAID 0 is secure right? Is it just the fact that when in RAID 0, when one hd fails, you lose all your data?

**justpassingby** · 05-14-2007, 11:46 PM

Yes that's the main reason + the fact that nowadays drives are bigger but less safe than some years ago + the fact that it's harder to solve some problems if the drives are on a RAID 0. The safe rule is "you should never install your operating system on a RAID 0 array". As TheMatt said, RAID 1 is the best option.

As I already said, a RAID array won't speed up your in-game performances except maybe for some rare games where there are no loading screens and the areas are all "streamed". Even there, it won't add to the framerate but only prevent it from dropping a bit by loading the following area faster.

Your motherbard has 2 different HDD controllers. If you want to setup a RAID array, don't forget to set your 2 identical drives on the same controller. Here are your complete motherboard's specs :
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...32&modelmenu=2

04-13-2007, 04:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
dojharris Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk Posts: 282 OS: xp pro My System	hard-drive, drives Looking to buy a bigger hard drive for my computer, I play games so would like a fast one and about 250Gb to 350Gb. I have Asus K8N-E Deluxe Motherboard Here -->>>http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1642 Think it will take Serial sata hard drive but i have seen somthing about having 2 hard drives to work as one for peformance but dont know anything about that. Any idias and links i would be greatful of. Thanks for your time and help ,,,, Doj ,,,,

04-13-2007, 04:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
cjessee Uh oh. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 794 OS: Windows NT/2000/XP, Dictaphone, Windows 2003 Server	Re: hard-drive, drives You are talking about a RAID 0 array - this will allow you to use two drives as one. There is considerable speed increase by using RAID, however, this is more of an "advanced" configuration. I use that term loosely, if you can read directions you can probably configure a RAID array... Start out by googling "configuring a RAID 0 array"... let us know if you need any more help.

04-13-2007, 06:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
dojharris Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk Posts: 282 OS: xp pro My System	Re: hard-drive, drives ok thanks,,, i will look into it,,, I usually learn when somthings important and speed is important

04-13-2007, 06:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
cjessee Uh oh. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 794 OS: Windows NT/2000/XP, Dictaphone, Windows 2003 Server	Re: hard-drive, drives Let us know if you have any questions about it... it's the old: teach a man to fish..... wait... you probably already know that..... anyway, we are here if you need us.

04-14-2007, 03:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
justpassingby Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,219 OS: XP Home SP3 / Ubuntu My System	Re: hard-drive, drives You won't gain any frame per second in your games by configuring your drives in a raid array. It can only speed up loading times between two levels, but your game experience will stay the same. If all that matters is speeding up your games, you'd be better buying a new video card, or upgrading your ram or processor. If you can't afford more than 2 identical disks, you'll be limited to RAID 0 which speeds up the transfer speeds but doubles the risks for data loss. Should one disk come to fail, you'll loose all your data. If you intend to have valuable data on the raid array, you should go for a RAID 5 or RAID 0+1, which will need more than 2 drives.

04-14-2007, 04:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: hard-drive, drives Even RAID 1 gives a performance increase in read time (even though write time is not improved), and RAID 0 is generally a bad idea if you have valuable data on the array. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

04-18-2007, 08:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
dojharris Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk Posts: 282 OS: xp pro My System	Re: hard-drive, drives I would like to improve load/read time. I do use my computer as a server just to upload files to 3 other computers, but i upload the files from my exetrnal hard drive,,, so i guess raid wouldnt help there! and its not like it takes long up upload 1GB anyway. I got nothing impotant to lose, just the bother of reinstalling windows and programs as all my the data i dont want to lose i back up, and its not saved on the computer either but on the external drive. RAID 5, RAID 0+1, RAID 1, RAID 0 which would be the fastest and which would be the safest, and would they improve the time for windows to load,, lol,,, thanks Doj Harris

04-19-2007, 05:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: hard-drive, drives RAID 1 would be your best option. Read performance is improved, and redundancy is maintained. Take a look at this: http://www.techsupportforum.com/827477-post46.html __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

05-14-2007, 02:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jrfan13815 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8 OS: XP Home	Re: hard-drive, drives A little old, but... Is the only reason for RAID 0 being more dangerous because of the higher risk of losing all your data due to a higher chance of your hard drive failing, just because you have 2 hd's instead of one? Not because RAID 0 hurts your hd or because RAID 0 is less secure? RAID 0 is secure right? Is it just the fact that when in RAID 0, when one hd fails, you lose all your data? Last edited by Jrfan13815; 05-14-2007 at 02:33 PM.

05-14-2007, 11:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
justpassingby Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,219 OS: XP Home SP3 / Ubuntu My System	Re: hard-drive, drives Yes that's the main reason + the fact that nowadays drives are bigger but less safe than some years ago + the fact that it's harder to solve some problems if the drives are on a RAID 0. The safe rule is "you should never install your operating system on a RAID 0 array". As TheMatt said, RAID 1 is the best option. As I already said, a RAID array won't speed up your in-game performances except maybe for some rare games where there are no loading screens and the areas are all "streamed". Even there, it won't add to the framerate but only prevent it from dropping a bit by loading the following area faster. Your motherbard has 2 different HDD controllers. If you want to setup a RAID array, don't forget to set your 2 identical drives on the same controller. Here are your complete motherboard's specs : http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...32&modelmenu=2 __________________ Malware removal steps. Post your logs there and not here ! Posting system specs