RAID config. is it too late?

Do you Have to start your computer with both HD's in RAID 0 config to get the boost and better performance. For example, rite now i have a 160gb 7200RPM HD only rite now. Can i put in another 160gb 7200rpm drive in at a later date, and then set my comp to RAID 0? or do i have to reformat and have the drives in RAID before i even setup my OS?

 

You will definitely have to reformat to change your RAID configuration. There is no way around it with any RAID controller AFAIK.

Note that this isn't true with certain RAID levels, but with RAID-0, it is a given.

 

Yes, for RAID-0 you must reformat, no way around it.

 

What is this "performance boost" of which you speak? You do know that in most cases, you'll see roughly 2-3% speedup by using RAID 0, right?

Unless you plan to copy very large files very often, you won't notice a difference.

But yes, you need to reformat to set up RAID.

 

Actually you don't have to reformat. You would need to enable the RAID controller, install the RAID drivers. Then get an application like Acronis True Image and back up your entire drive(s) to DVD or to another Drive. Low Level format your old 160, install your new 160, set up your array in the RAID BIOS format the array then using the Acronis disc reimage your back up to your array.

That's what I did on my desktop when I had to replace a drive in my RAID 0.

 

I personaly think RAID0 is kinda dangerous.. when one harddrive fails ... there goes your pc >.<

 

I agree, it's like having 1 HDD in a computer. If it fails, BAM your computer is dead. I mean in over 15 years of working with PC's I've had one HDD fail. To me it's just not worth that kind of risk.

 

im just curious then... why do many ppl seem to feel its SOOO much faster, if its rele not? I mean either way, by next year im popping in another 160gb... but i mean, you dont have to do RAID config rite? it'll just be another storage drive, as if external, only internal lol

 

Because listening to some people, or reading in this case, is not always a good idea. A lot of people don't know what they are talking about when they do talk.

Do your research. Don't just ask people on forums for advice.

Kind of funny because that's my advice.

With HDD tune 2.53 I'm seeing about a 10% increase in performance on the 7k200's. Comparing my RAID 5 scores vs what others have posted for a single drive solution.

You need to compare your RAID 0 to other peoples drives that are the exact same model.

And take what others say with the proverbial 'grain of salt'.

 

It is just a common misconception that RAID 0 is soooo much faster.

I have used RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 at different times, and I am sticking to RAID 1. I little performance boost is not as valuable as my data. That is why I stick to RAID 1, if I am going to RAID at all.

 

But other than that, you don't need to format!
Uh, that looks like formatting to me. Sure, you get to keep your data, but you still have to format.

Why do people feel better if you give them a glass of water and tell them it's medicine?
People see/hear/feel what they want/expect to see/hear feel.

Also, when people set up RAID 0, it tends to be on a new computer, with a newly installed OS. New computers with newly installed OS'es on newly formatted harddrives are always faster. But people often attribute to their new RAID.

 

Haha got me there. I guess what I meant to say is you don't have to lose your information. I don't know why when I read "You have to format" it means to me Waving bye bye to all your info and starting fresh.

While everyone is sharing their experience with RAID I'll share mine too. I used RAID 0 back when the Seagate 7200.7 was the fastest 7200RPM and first Native SATA drive out for me it was a night and day difference. If you're a normal computer user and game occasionally. Don't expect a huge boost.

I used my computer to DL torrents and deal with huge (>2gig) files like disk images and large PSDs. It kept the computer from stalling when opening these files. Good thing I had a back up drive that did a timed backup because one day both drives started to go after about 3 years(it was part of a bad batch of 7200.7s).

This is how I would describe RAID 0, it's like having dual core processors.

Unless your computing takes advantage of it, it won't do you any good. Like a core Solo 2.0ghz isn't any faster than a core duo 2.0ghz in a single threaded task.

If you have the money buy the drive and try it out if you don't like it just use it as a normal drive. Opinions are like belly buttons, everyone's got one.