RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

[Jofaba]

Hard drives and I don't get along very well. Hell, same deal with computers, but because of this, I'm considering running RAID 1 for my data volume. My typical setup has been 1) A 10K 74gb Raptor for OS and games, and 2) a large volume 7,200 drive for applications, files, media and page file.

My first drive to fail was the Raptor! One day I went to reformat (I do it often because I've been changing around a lot of stuff) and I could no longer get Windows to sucessfully format the drive. I returned it and now I'm on the replacement. Then, about a month ago, my data drive failed. This really sucked, because I had spent countless hours backing up my LEGAL movie collection. No, that's not a *wink wink, nudge nudge* statement. I just hate swaping discs and my ideal computer is a pure entertainment center in one place, media included. Anyway, that drive failed, possibly due to heat, because I stacked it with my Raptor when making room for a heatercore (not bought or installed yet).

So now I'm afraid to save data. But I realize that RAID 1 will only protect me from an actual hardware failure. Which is great, but the cost is significant and the likelyhood of data corruption in a form that will be transfered to both drives simultaniously is higher than an actual hardware failure. And from what I'm reading, read peformance will decrease while write will increase slightly.

I like the peace of mind that RAID 1 would offer. But I also don't know how to rebuild an array, and I don't know if it'd protect me against whatever problems I've experienced so far. Plus, the added power drain and heat, might cause damage to both drives. At least it seems that way. I've already been told that my PSU might be why I'm having SLi problems even though it's SLi ready and rated/reviewed with high marks.

I appreciate any help and I respect how willing people are here to help other people. Thank you in advance.

~ Jofaba

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

I don't think it's worth the cost. Unless you have absolutly irreplacable data. As for re-building an array it's a no-brainer. Take the failed drive out, put new one in, choose re-build array in the RAID BIOS and wait for it to finish.

[LoD]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

Id put my money on the PSU or someother component, having a raptor die is almost unheard of, and having 2 hard drive failures so close together is also equally strange.

Unless you have totally out of control temps its a system component.

That "hiper Type-R" whatever the heck it is does not sound like a name brand i would trust, I have never heard of them and I spend well beyond a healthy (read obsessive) amount of time researching hardware.


EDIT: At the original question, RAID 1 is a joke... heck RAID in general is (I am only running raid for fun until my next format when i will probably get rid of it)

Monthy backups are the best strategy, also having as many essential files on network or internet storage. For instance a gmail account or IMAP email keeps all the files on the server, and for media once you have an initial backup losing a couple DVD rips or a few dozen MP3's is nothing as long as you back up regularly.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

The hiper PSU "seems" to be good from everything I've read about it. I still don't personally trust it, I have nothing to back up my distrust though. I'll still stick with my OCZ.

[LoD]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

oo i just googled them and I take what i said back. i have seen these in reviews etc... the asthetics are kick ass BTW. I just wasnt familiar with the name, because its a european brand.

Either way even if it is a good brand its still possible you have a dud. Also could be the motherboard.

All i can think of is the mobo, PSU or overheating. 2 hard drives dieing so fast, and especially the 5 year warranty Raptor is very odd and something is definately wrong with your setup.

[Jofaba]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

The Raptor died on my old psu. The Maxtor Diamondmax died on this one. I had the Maxtor literally strapped to the Raptor because of space constraints making room for a heatercore.

Believe me, the psu was WELL thought out. I read several dozen reviews and it's registered with nVidia as being SLi certified. Like you said, it's very popular in Europe and is just starting to venture into North America.

The problem with monthly backups are... what do you backup to? CD-R's or DVD? And doing it monthly doesn't protect you from unexpected crashes. But yeah, maybe an external smaller and cheaper hard drive is the way to go. I've got a "thing" where I want everythign to be contained inside one device (ie, the computer case), so that's always irked me, but it's probably the best way to go. It's only powered when it's in use etc etc. Maybe I should look into a way of installing it inside the computer...

[LoD]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

I have an external USB2/Firewire 250GB hard drive. I dont always backup monthy, but i always have all my music and archived files residing there.

I had a hard drive die on my last year, damn World of Warcraft eating my 7200RPM laptop drive for breakfast.... lol the thing overheated. (dont ask why Dell shipped a 7200 RPM in a laptop)

Anways I had my external, but unfortunately had not done a backup in 4 months. I didnt lose a significant portion of my music but did lose all my term papers and school work. (thankfully I was not working on anything at the time)

Anyways for a strategy i would keep small essential files on the internet or a thumb drive, and all your music/pr0n/videos on an external hard drive.

[Painl3ss.NL]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

Agreed, an external drive is just much saver. The fact that it is not part of your box is a bonus. You can put it somewhere save, so in case of a power spike, flooding, spilling beer or any other calamity that may fry your complete box, you still have the backup.

When I go on holidays I ussually leave the external drive at a friends place. Just in case someone breaks in and steals my pc.

[BoloMarkXXX]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

A friend of mine just built a box and WAS run'n raid 1 on 2 36 gig raptors when his PSU had a melt down (smoke & the smell of burn'n plastic) we slaped another PSU in hope'n for the best. Windows was fok'd so he loaded windows on an old IDE drive but WE could NOT get any data off either drive tryd'd put'n drives in a couple of machines & Windows on all would just hangup & checkdisk on drives failed over & over.
So we gave up and he reformated 1 drive formated OK the other must of had physical damage & could not be repartitioned or formated so its go'n RMA back to Newegg.
So I would still recomend backups of all critical data because apparently RAID 1 is not foolproof.

[bitvomit]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

If you value your data like I do, the best and cheapest thing you can do is buy another HD, backup all of your stuff to it and take that HD out and put it in storage. The real killer of HD's is actual usage. I imagine that a HD kept in the proper environment can hold data for years and years. Or you can take the multi faceted approach and burn to DVDs as well. Tape drives are the creme de la creme of backups but companies are charging limbs for the hardware and media.

[CaptJordus]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

If you value your data like I do, the best and cheapest thing you can do is buy another HD, backup all of your stuff to it and take that HD out and put it in storage. The real killer of HD's is actual usage. I imagine that a HD kept in the proper environment can hold data for years and years. Or you can take the multi faceted approach and burn to DVDs as well. Tape drives are the creme de la creme of backups but companies are charging limbs for the hardware and media.

While tapes are still higher density, DVD's have a much longer shelf life. Also, with the new DVD technologies coming out.....it wont be a burden to back up to DVD when you have ~50GB of space on each disc.

[Jofaba]

Re: RAID 1: Is it worth the cost? And can it actually save me?

Thanks for the posts guys. I think I'm going to forgoe the RAID 1 and just back up important data either by an external hard drive (though possibly installed inside the case) or DVD... or both. I kinda like the idea of putting an external inside the case. It'd be a neat project.