caldonia

I haven't gotten any bites on my previous post about RAID 5, and the more I think about it, the less of a good idea it seems like for my applications (likely not even possible)

So here's my new question to the collective conscious:

What are your thoughts/experiences about incorporating a Windows XP RAID 0 into my system (see sig. for specs)?

My plan at the moment would be to set it up as follows:
IDE0 Master HD0: 200GB drive - C: (WinXP Pro)/ D: (Programs/Data)
IDE0 Slave DVD-RW

IDE1 Master HD1: 120GB Striped RAID 0
IDE1 Slave HD2: 120GB Striped RAID 0


Am I asking for trouble with this setup, or can I get a nice little performance boost from this RAID? I'm hoping for fast file transfers for large video and graphic files.

I assume that a WinXP Home system on the network will not be able to see the RAID stripe. If I upgrade the XP Home to XP Pro will it be able to access the stripe?

Has anyone done anything similar to this, and if so, is it worth it? Or should I just keep the drives as single drives? I don't really want to spend the cash on a hardware RAID controller if I can pull it off with this configuration.

Here's my inspiration:
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.c...eid=830&page=9

According to Sandra, it's a noticable improvement on sequential Read/write - even with a software RAID.

Thanks in advance...
-Chip

johnwill

Personally, I'd go with the RAID controller, and skip the software raid. The performance you gain will be partually offset by the added overhead of doing the RAID function in software.

My ABIT MB had dual RAID controllers onboard, and I use one of them with a pair of 250gig SATA drives. It's added about 50% over the speed of a single drive, and has been trouble-free. A PCI RAID controller can be had in the $35-40 range, why screw around with software RAID?

caldonia

Thanks John,

I didn't realize they were so cheap. I've got a couple of 64-bit PCI slots on my motherboard, and the raid controllers I searched for were 64-bit expensive! Do you think a regular 32-bit PCI card will work in a 64-bit slot?

Do you recommend any controller in particular?

-Chip

crazijoe

You can use a 32 bit PCI card in a 64 bit PCI slot. Stay away from software RAID. It will just leave you to problems in the future. Your best bet would be a RAID 0+1 with four drives. This way you get the performance of the striped array and the pertection of the mirror. I would be very leary of having any data you way to keep on a RAID 0 array.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...124-020&depa=1
Prices are pretty much evened out on SATA and PATA drives. I just picked up 8 new 80GB Hitachi 7200RPM SATA drives for $22.00 each.

Yes, 64 bit RAID controllers are pricey, but if money permits, a hardware RAID 5 of about 6 drives and a hotspare would be the best.

caldonia

Thanks Joe/John,

I just ordered a $35 Acard controller and an additional 120GB WD drive.

I had to read the fine print carefully because most of the inexpensive controller cards only supported a software Raid. This one claims to support a true hardware raid.

I'll put (2) of the 120's on it for now, eventually I'll put 4 on there for a 0+1.

I'd really like to be able to make a Raid 3 array, with 3 drives and one for parity - is that possible with a cheap card like this? http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...123-107&depa=0

johnwill

I think you'll be a lot happier with the result with a hardware card. I have a couple of RAID-0 systems, I always go hardware.

caldonia

John/Joe,

You guys were right about the hardware card. Best $35 I've spent all year. I had to be careful not to buy just an IDE controller that supports software RAID. It seems as though there's a distinction.

I did a quick performance test to compare standard non-raid IDE vs. XP software RAID vs. $35 Acard hardware RAID.

Here's what it shows:


Thanks,
-Chip