Raid0 vs Raid5 Performance

[phokur]

I've been reading and can't seem to find a definite answer. I'm planning to build a gaming rig this winter, and I'm curious which will give the fastest read/write time RAID0 or RAID5? I want a single TB drive, so it will either be 2x 500gb at RAID0 or 4x 320gb at RAID5. I know Raptors would be the fastest option, but I really want the TB of storage and like I said I want it all under one drive letter. Any recommendations?

 

[thebeephaha]

Raid 0 no questions asked.

 

[The Null]

^ what that guy said ^

 

[Blazestorm]

Eh I have 6 drives with 5 letters... (1 raid-0 setup)

I don't put anything important on the Raid-0... Just OS and Programs... all the important files are on single 250 and 500 drives... 1.5 terabytes with 2 36.7's in raid 0

I'd re-think Raid-0 for holding anything important...

 

[Ockie]

Raid 0 will be faster than Raid 5 in your situation.

 

[axan]

yes raid 0 will be faster then raid 5 but i wouldn't make that the only drive in my system unless you do some frequent backups

 

[Rabidfox]

yeah, or just use LVM to span the drives across one partition.

 

[phokur]

Thanks all! I'll have to research LVM to see what it is, but I'm pretty sure I'll end up going RAID0. Could always do 2x250gb at RAID0 and a 500gb for extra storage/backup.

 

[phokur]

Which is faster, RAID0 or a Raptor?

 

[Ockie]

Which is faster, RAID0 or a Raptor?

Depends on your configuration, software, hardware, and the application used... also depends on the usage patterns and type of applications.


Right off the bat I'm assuming two lower end drives in a desktop machine vs raptor, I'd say the raptor will take the cake.

 

[phokur]

Will be a gaming system using Vista Ultimate on a Q6600 with 4gb of DDR2.

Found a chart that shows a test on raptors and older seagates. The newer seagates are faster. I'd be using Seagates newest 500s on RAID0 if I chose that direction... unless two 250s would be faster. I backup often, so I'm not worries about the one drive partition.

 

[Whatsisname]

RAID 5 is not for speed, its for reliability.

 

[Ockie]

Will be a gaming system using Vista Ultimate on a Q6600 with 4gb of DDR2.

Found a chart that shows a test on raptors and older seagates. The newer seagates are faster. I'd be using Seagates newest 500s on RAID0 if I chose that direction... unless two 250s would be faster. I backup often, so I'm not worries about the one drive partition.

That appears to be also the older raptors.