Sony Z (VPCZ21TGX/X) Can I cancel the RAIO 0 ?

Hi,

I want to buy the new Sony Z Series which comes with 256GB SSD. This model comes with 256 GB SSD but it's actually 128gb X 2 in RAID 0. The thing is I don't want the RAID 0 (Yes I know RAID is better), but due to other issues I do NOT want the RAID 0. I'd rather have one big 256GB SSD or at least two 128gb SSD (Drive C and D) NOT in RAID 0.

Does anyone know if that's possible?

Thanks guys!

 

You wont be able to do it in Z1. I doubt you can do it in Z2

 

1. Make backup of your data
2. Go to BIOS setup, activate RAID configuration (set BIOS switch to enabled)
3. Reboot and enter RAID setup utility when prompted (press Ctrl+I)
4. Delete RAID array in the RAID utility, after completion you should have two disks as 'non-member drives'
5. Install windows or desired OS and partition each drive as desired

Good luck!

You are. The instructions posted above do work with a Z1 as well.

 

Do all Z2 models have a sandwiched RAIDed SSD? So if I choose the standard 128GB (or the 128GB Gen 3), is this actually 2x64GB drives sandwiched together? I'm not sure I want RAID0 as it increases the failure rate.

 

Yes. All the Zs use RAIDed SSDs. If that doesn't suit your needs, follow pyr0's instructions.

 

All RAID 0 come with 2 disks, so yes.

 

OH. Cool I didnt know that.

 

Some Z1s came with with four SSDs in Raid 0 although the basic point that all Zs came with multi-SSDs in RAID 0 is correct.

 

^Yeah but the statement is true for Z2's - they come with 2 SSDs in each configuration.

 

You're right. I should have noted that fact.

 

We went through the whole RAID/TRIM/Failure issue last year for weeks on end prior to anyone actually getting a Z1 in their hands. There was a degree of hysteria generated to the point where people were making a priori decisions to swap out the SSD's with HDD's, break the arrays, etc. No data, just the opinion that "Sony couldn't possibly have gotten this right!".

As far as I can tell from these forums, the failure rate has been miniscule. I myself ran a Z1 without incident for about 18 months. No failure. No slowdown. However, I don't have any hard data other than my own opinion.

Before we go through the whole exercise again, it might be useful to get a thread going to find out from data (even anecdotally!) what the failure rates have been for the Z SSD's.

 

^ Yes we sure did

I'm aware of three people with failed SSD's.

Z2 uses the same configuration of SSD sandwiches as in the Z1, albeit faster and with SATA III. If one goes, you have to replace both drives.

Nothing is better for preserving you data than backups.

EDIT:

Some threads that may help...

Changing volume types - http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/467519-how-configure-raid-jbod-new-vpcz1-series-ssd.html

Long term SSD performance - http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...g-term-ssd-performance-post-your-results.html

 

Good points. And thinking about it, the failure rate for 2x64GB worth of flash memory is probably the same as for 1x128GB worth, so whether they're separate and sandwiched or not probably doesn't make a difference.

I have another related question that's been doing my head in: the sandwiched Gen3 SSD that ships can reach sequential reads of around 1000MB/s, but SATA 3 tops out at around 600MB/s. Does this mean that it's a pair of SSDs sandwiched into one, but each connected to their own SATA 3 port?

 

It is per port.

 

Excellent! Thanks a lot for the reply! I appreciate it!

 

You're welcome, please report back how it went. Should be an easy straight forward procedure. It takes 5 Minutes to do.