RAID & Msata SSD?

Ok, immediately after buying my M17x R4 that came with a 500 Gig. HDD I dropped in a second 500 HHD drive that came from my old M15X Alienware and set them up in a RAID 1 configuration and all has been well. Cruising the web today and looking at some technical bulletins as I considered the best way to upgrade this awesome machine I came across instructions on how to use the Msata slot under the keyboard to install an msata SSD. I didn't realize I had an msata slot available over and above the 2 HDD trays and figured I'd need to remove one of them to insert an SSD. Now, it looks like I don't have to do that, is that right? Anyone else have 2 HDD's and an Msata card? Any issues I should be aware of in installing a 256 Gig Msata SSD and making it the boot drive and keeping my data safe on the RAID 1 hard drive array? I don't have an issue with pulling the computer apart, I feel comfortable with that having replaced the RAM under the keyboard. Just wondering anything I need to watch out for.

 

...for sure you can install boot ssd in there.

But i would suggest you not doing raid 0, just 2 separate 500GB drives.

...of course you can keep the raid if you want + boot ssd

 

No, no, not RAID -0-, RAID 1 - duplicating a drive, not striping them.

Any suggestions for the SSD? looks like some decent ones Newegg for about $2-300.00

 

Well, yes i was thinking about Raid 1, but writing Raid 0. Anyways it does not matter, whatever you want you can do

Going back to what SSD to choose
I think this one would be very nice and quick -Crucial M500 480GB mSATA Internal Solid State Drive CT480M500SSD3

Basically with $300 you can't go wrong, all manufacturers like Crucial, Plextor, Samsung will give you performance you need.

 

I have been booting my OS of a 240g Munshkin mSata III since July. Works great boots fast no problems. If you decide to install You Tube tear down video first as there is a lot of screws to remove it's under the keyboard. Just take your time not to bad a job but worth it in my book. Raid0 is faster but one drive fail oh well just have everything backed up. I put my best mmo game with the OS rest on the others.

 

If you have two of the same disks in your computer. In the same environment just cm apart. Isn't the cause of a fail on one disk often reason for fault on both disks? Raid 1 will not protect you either for virus, fire, theft etc. Both disks will encounter same crap at the same time. Raid 1 could also actually slow down your write speed on the computer. And it is also often a hassle getting back to your new Raid 1 image if a disk is broken.

If backup of data is very important, and you dont run a homeoffice and really really need every single data in your computer at all times, why not take full backup automated on a plugin big spindisk every 2 day, 3 day etc. and run while not using computer to protect your data from loss. Also making you able to have your data stored somewhere else if "Sith" hits the fan. (fire, theft, virus, etc etc. )

At least that has been my idea. Im running SSD in RAID0, and it is really fast.

BTW
I dont back up my computer at all. All my important documents pictures etc are always double saved on memory sticks, disks or and my girlfriends computer depending on what data it is. The rest is obtainable via the net.