The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Raid 0 HDD to SSD Help

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by jawsrectitud, Jun 22, 2012.

  1. jawsrectitud

    jawsrectitud Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi there, :eek:

    I'm new to this community as well as to the act of changing Hard Drives but I have been lurking around the forums for about a week now seeking answers, however I know that there are many existing knowledge resources all over the forums, I thought I would ask more specifically, thank you in advance in reading my question.

    I currently have an Alienware 17x R4 with a Raid 0 Setup (2x 500GB 7200RPM drives) and I would like to change at least one of the drives into a 512GB 2.5" SSD.

    Since I am not that knowledgable about modding or playing with components (however I'm always curious and willing to learn) I've got couple of questions:

    1.)Say I have changed one drive and the set-up is now (1x 500GB 7200RPM + 1 512 2.5" SSD) would my set up then be a RAID 0 consisting of (1x 500GB 7200RPM + 1 512 2.5" SSD)?

    OR is it that I will have 2 drives that are different (one being HDD and one being SSD) where I can pick where to install programs? If so, what kind of programs should I be putting on the SDD and HDD?

    2.) I have no problem installing the hardware but when it comes to copying all I have in my current HDD RAID and porting them to the new SSD, is it a good idea to get the Crucials with the Transfer Kit? is it a good idea to transer split written RAID 0 Data to the new single SSD?

    OR is it better if I do a new system refresh set up? (My laptop is 1 week old and I have no problem reinstalling the OS, the only thing important I have in it is Diablo 3)

    Last, would you recomment that I DIY this myself or should I pay technicians to set it up for me?

    Thanks so much again for your help community
     
    jawsrectitud, Jun 22, 2012
    #1
  2. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    If you're running RAID0, i would backup all my data and do a clean install of windows on the SSD, reinstall some of your programs on the SSD, make sure you really have all your personal data backed up, format the 500GB HDD, put all your personal files on that, music, docs, videos, etc.

    I'm not sure if you can clone from a RAID array, but my guess would be nope. Also, your SSD non RAID will destroy that RAID array in terms of speed. IF you want to retain RAID, i'd RAID two 512GB SSDs, but man that's gonna be expensive.

    Finally, i'd get an enclosure for the other 500GB and use it as an external drive for backups.
     
    tijo, Jun 23, 2012
    #2