setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

[zzDimaxx]

I'm about to format my PC (many viruses,spyware)
So i was thinking to setting up RAID to 0 what does it do?
Anyone do it?
If i change it now, can i lose all my data?
Thanks in advance for your answers:)

[caseman]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

well, do you have 2 harddrives? Raid 0 is when you combine 2 (or more) physical drives into a volume (ie C:\). The raid controller will stripe the data across both drives, giving you faster then normal access as you have 2 spindles reading a file since part of the file is on drive A, and part is on drive B.

It's nice for increasing load times and such, but the failure of either drive will cause you to lose everything so make sure you have some back-ups in place.

[2nd-Irish]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

Exactly.

But if you take the time to do it, and you don't have a lot of crap to store, it will speed up your read/write speeds nicely.

I have dual WD 320gb hard drives currently set to stripe (RAID 0), but since I hardly need 600+ GB of storage, I plan to buy a set of 72GB Raptors to replace for the stripe (OS and software only), and then use the current 320's for mirrored media storage only.

The best of both worlds.

[caseman]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

yeah, I have 2 72GB raptors in a raid-0 stripe, and I image everything to an external harddrive with Arcronis. Fast and easy.

[kulamonster3]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

1) you need at least 2 HDs to "Stripe" = RAID 0
2) you will lose everything on these disks when you reformat them for RAID0
3) Most mobos supply a CD with files that need to be loaded via floppy (RAID DRIVERS) after you boot and before you can enter the Format menu.
4) The disks are then formatted in RAID Array
5) You notice a drastic speed increase in your computer with RAID 0, because search and write times are spead up. Information is put on both disks (or more if you have 3 or 4 drives) simulataneously. I takes windows XP 39 minutes to load on the average PC....mine PC in RAID 0 took 17 minutes!!
6) Draw back if one disk in your array crashes you lose EVERYTHING!!!!!!
7) Re read #6 (I Mean EVERYTHING)
8) You really have to be good at backing up data if you run your hard drives in RAID 0.

Good luck in your decision to use RAID 0 it is really worth it for a gaming rig!!!

[Holle]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

Before you do it, you might want to read up on it.

http://www.devhardware.com/c/a/Storage-Devices/RAID-Not-Such-a-Clever-Idea-for-Your-Home-PC/

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2101&p=11

http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2004q2/chipset-raid/index.x?pg=27

http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200406/20040625TCQ_6.html

With raid 0 your chances of HD failure are doubled.*


*What I meant is anything happends to either one of the drives...you'll lose all your data.

[2nd-Irish]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

Or at least data loss (HD failure is still relatively rare).

But you just have to ask yourself first:

Are you building a gaming/play only platform, or trying to run a small business?



Kiddies should not be running Raid 0 on mommy and daddy's home computer, but if they are really just making an alternative to an x-box...

My home PC is just a toy for me to tinker with, so I accept the risk. If I had important data on it, it would certainly be different.

[Holle]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

Or at least data loss (HD failure is still relatively rare).

But you just have to ask yourself first:

Are you building a gaming/play only platform, or trying to run a small business?



Kiddies should not be running Raid 0 on mommy and daddy's home computer, but if they are really just making an alternative to an x-box...

My home PC is just a toy for me to tinker with, so I accept the risk. If I had important data on it, it would certainly be different.

You have a pretty good point. I try my hardest to keep my wife off of my PC (gaming pc) so nothing important will be lost when it get rebuilt/formated/upgraded.

When I built my current PC, I did a lot of research and just about every tech website and my favorit pc mag (Maximum PC) basiclly said it's not worth it. And the money on the extra drive could go towards better video card/memory/CPU.


*slow work internet causing double post.

[Heavy552 AWG]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

I have an older gaming computer that contains a precise copy of this computer. Also a external backup drive has a precise copy of this computer. Nothing but games run on my RAID 0. I only had to rebuild them once with the MBR's intact in the last 2 years.

DONT try this on your mommy's or daddy's machine. They may have important stuff like banking and finances on that machine.

To me the PC is really a toy. Nothing terribly important is on it. Nothing important at all.

[zzDimaxx]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

Hey guys thanks for your replys, i have 1 HDD 2 disks C: and E: 120GB the computer belong to me so i can play with it

kulamonster3 >> what do you mean by saying windows xp takes 17 min. to load?
Start up time?

Holle very interested info thanks!
But i'm not that good with english so if I set up Raid to 0 it is possible to lose data in the future? or while i setting it up?

[margav]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

He meant installing windows, you will lose data on setup and a possibility in the future.

[caseman]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

he means it takes him 17 min to install XP.

You will lose all your data when you first set up the raid (as you need to do a re-install). And you are more likely to lose data in the future since a failure in either of the 2 drives in your raid array will cause you to lose the volume. It's a relative thing. Chances are you won't lose anything.. but since now there are 2 drives that can fail instead of just one the percentage goes up.

[UltimateFX]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

Ok quick question. I have a 72 gig raptor and a 120 gig maxtor ide. I really dont care that I would loose the disk space since its just for games, but would it still be possible to do or would I need another raptor. Used to be up with the newest pc stuff but have lost my touch. Tnx.

[2nd-Irish]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

Your raptor is 10,000 rpm and the maxtor is 7200 right?

Besides the size difference, the speed difference would kill any chance.

You will want to get matching disk drives.

Plus, you could then run the two raptors in stripe, and then use your 120 maxtor conventionally for media storage. Nice and safe, and if the stripe fails, you just have to reinstall your OS and some software.

[zzDimaxx]

Re: setting RAID to 0.. what does it do?

caseman thanks! it was loud and clear!
too bad i cant go for raid 0
I have important data in my PC and if i lose it I will hung myself