MoBo RAID or Linux RAID ?

B

BassKozz

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 10, 2005
Messages
311
I am building a new rig, here are the spec's I've come up with so far:
Case: Antec P180
CPU: Q6600 (OC'ed to 3ghz using Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme)
MoBo: Still undecided (will probably go with P35 chipset to save $$$)
Ram: 2x G.SKILL DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) 4GB kit (2x2GB) [8GB total]
HDs... OS: WD Raptor 150GB / Storage: 3x WD Caviar 750GB (RAID5) [1.5TB of storage]

I will Dual Boot this rig with WinXP 32-bit, and Ubuntu 64-bit OS's (I am trying to phase out M$ completely, so it will mainly be used for Ubuntu), I am using the 64-bit version of Ubuntu so that I can use >4GB of ram. I will mainly be using Ubuntu to Virtualize other OS's (i.e. XP, Vista). This will mainly be a workstation and won't be used for gaming.

Anyways, I want to run the 3x750GB HD's in a RAID 5 array for Storage, and I was wondering if I should run this Array from the MoBo's BIOS (meaning I would purchase a Mobo with RAID 5 support and setup the array via the MoBo's Bios). Or if I should run a software "mdadm" array in Ubuntu.

Obviously one of the downsides to creating the array in Ubuntu would be that I couldn't use it when I booted to WinXP, but leaving that issue aside (for the purposes of this thread):
  1. Which would give me better performance?
    I realize that both of these options are "software" raid, but which one will work better (less cpu useage, and better I/O)?
  2. Also would it be possible to expand the array using the Mobo's bios (because I know I can do this in Ubuntu)?
    For example if I wanted to add a 4th 750GB drive thus bumping my total storage to 2.25TB.

Also am I forgetting anything else, any other issues that may arise using either scenario?
REMEMBER the 150GB Raptor will NOT be in an array, so there won't be an issue their.

Thanks in advance for any/all comments,
-BassKozz
 
Linux/UNIX software RAID or Add-on card imho.

The only time I would use motherboard RAID is if it has a real hardware chip, like a real server motherboard. That intel matrix stuff is trash, and I feel the nvidia stuff is as well.

I have yet to see a motherboard with integrated RAID with OCE, but I'm sure somewhere there is a high-end server class board with a trustworthy RAID chip with this feature.
 
MrMike said:
Linux/UNIX software RAID or Add-on card imho.

The only time I would use motherboard RAID is if it has a real hardware chip, like a real server motherboard. That intel matrix stuff is trash, and I feel the nvidia stuff is as well.

I have yet to see a motherboard with integrated RAID with OCE, but I'm sure somewhere there is a high-end server class board with a trustworthy RAID chip with this feature.
Click to expand...

Even server boards are fakeraid. I haven't seen one with hardware RAID yet and I work with Supermicro/Tyan/Intel server boards on a daily basis.

+1 for nix software RAID
 
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