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Raptor vs. Raptor Raid 0

A

Ange062

2[H]4U
Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
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Im debating whether to get two WD Raptor 36GB sata drives and run them in Raid 0, or just get a 74GB Raptor. What do you guys think?
 
eh... when I got my two 36gb raptors, I got one a few days after the other so I had the chance to see what one drive vs. two in raid-0 was like. At that time, going to Raid-0 did indeed seem faster, and I was happy. Now, about a year later, I went back to using the drives by themselves. This time it seemed faster without the raid. I'm really not sure whats up.

From a technical standpoint, single drives should have faster access times than a raid-0 array, and since the lower access time is one of the main selling points of the raptor, it's nice to not have that cancelled out by the raid overhead. On the otherhand, when transferring files and stuff the raid array will win hands down almost every time.

So my advice would be that if you want your system to be as responsive and "snappy" as possible, just use one drive. If you want the fastest reads and writes (possibly faster when loading large maps in a game or something) then raid-0 is probably the way to go.

A nice compromise might be to get two drives and instead of using them in raid, have one as your boot and use the 2nd for nothing except games. That way you'll be using both drives at the same time in a way that doesn't compromise access time.

I'm interested to hear what others have to say on this issue.
 
I always have a "system drive" and "backup drive" in all of my computers. The system drive is smaller and faster, and the backup drive is just BIG to store music, videos, etc. It makes reformats easier that way, and keeps things more organized.

I think what I am looking for is the snappier system, i want programs to load fast etc. Sustained read/writes should hardly an issue for me, so I am thinkin it may be better just to go with the 74gb raptor, and a 320gb sata WD backup drive.
 
This might help you make your decision

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2101&p=1

If you do not want to read the article, this is taken at the end at the final words
Anandtech said:
If you haven't gotten the hint by now, we'll spell it out for you: there is no place, and no need for a RAID-0 array on a desktop computer. The real world performance increases are negligible at best and the reduction in reliability, thanks to a halving of the mean time between failure, makes RAID-0 far from worth it on the desktop.
Click to expand...
 
The price/perfomance ratio of raid-0 is even worse than SLI. SLI costs you double and gets you about 60% more speed. Raid-0 costs you double and gets you about 15% more speed. Go single 74GB.
 
cash aside, raid 0 does increase performance, but only in workstation/server environments.
gaming etc. = no differnece, and also, your data us far far less secure than in a single and back up drive formation, as if one dies, then you have to wipe them both...
f
 
UltimaParadox said:
This might help you make your decision

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2101&p=1

If you do not want to read the article, this is taken at the end at the final words
Click to expand...

That answers the question, and the info is from a reputable source. I am beginning to love anandtech more and more daily, there is a plethora of information on that site. Thanks for the link. 74GB raptor it is!
 
Ange062 said:
Im debating whether to get two WD Raptor 36GB sata drives and run them in Raid 0, or just get a 74GB Raptor. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I had a single raptor and it was visably faster than 7200 rpm drives. i then bought a second raptor and did raid 0,it is visably faster than a single raptor,especially loading the OS and games. Something you might consider is the Maxtor SATA 150 drives with 16mb cache,they are less than 2 raptors and you can get a 300gb drive for the price of 1 raptor. With the 16mb cache it is close to the raptor in speed.
 
Ange062 said:
I always have a "system drive" and "backup drive" in all of my computers. The system drive is smaller and faster, and the backup drive is just BIG to store music, videos, etc. It makes reformats easier that way, and keeps things more organized.
Click to expand...
....a little off topic, but QFT. I've been running a "system drive" and a "backup drive" now in my latest main system, and it's the best answer I've got. I wrote a batch file to "backup" the stuff on the main drive to the other drive and run it once a week or so; unless both drives crap out at exactly the same time, I'm pretty well covered.

One thought about RAID0 arrays; one poster some time ago suggested that you cut your reliability in HALF when you run RAID0 arrays, as you bet your data on both drives running flawlessly all the time. Not sure if I buy the "half as reliable" part, but it's for sure something to think about.

Regards - B.B.S.
 
In my experence... I have used recently 4 setups for my OS drive..

1 15,000rpm 18gb SCSI drive u320 but limited by a u160 controller..

1 raptor 10k 36gb drive

2 Raptor 36gb in RAID - (Current)

1 sata 200mb 7200rpm drive

And to be perfectly honst, I cant tell the diffrence between any of them. for shits and giggles, me a buddy too our raptorss (2 drives each) and made a 4 disk raid 0 array, and it seemed pretty fast, to load stuff and boot windows, but it really didnt seem to make a diffrence in game... or in a power hungry app...
 
LOL I tried 740GD Raid 0 not a real big difference. + that annoying icon asking me if I want to Safely remove my Disk Drive... :rolleyes: I just use One Raptor as a Primary Drive, and one as a storage drive.. :D
 
I(illa Bee said:
In my experence... I have used recently 4 setups for my OS drive..

1 15,000rpm 18gb SCSI drive u320 but limited by a u160 controller..

1 raptor 10k 36gb drive

2 Raptor 36gb in RAID - (Current)

1 sata 200mb 7200rpm drive

And to be perfectly honst, I cant tell the diffrence between any of them. for shits and giggles, me a buddy too our raptorss (2 drives each) and made a 4 disk raid 0 array, and it seemed pretty fast, to load stuff and boot windows, but it really didnt seem to make a diffrence in game... or in a power hungry app...
Click to expand...
There's a huge difference between a 15k disk and a 10k or 7200rpm ATA disk, access times are where it's at, especially over a network or using them in an environment where they're actually used...say an honest-to-god database and not a game or "Web Content Creation."

The 74GB Raptor is incredible however, I will give it that. In a RAID 1 array I can install Server 2003 in about 10 minutes (including reboots) versus the two 37GB Raptors taking 30+ using all the same hardware.

The hardware is a Supermicro X6DHE-G with dual Xeon 3.2's and 4GB of PC23200 DDR2.
 
feigned said:
There's a huge difference between a 15k disk and a 10k or 7200rpm ATA disk, access times are where it's at, especially over a network or using them in an environment where they're actually used...say an honest-to-god database and not a game or "Web Content Creation."

The 74GB Raptor is incredible however, I will give it that. In a RAID 1 array I can install Server 2003 in about 10 minutes (including reboots) versus the two 37GB Raptors taking 30+ using all the same hardware.

The hardware is a Supermicro X6DHE-G with dual Xeon 3.2's and 4GB of PC23200 DDR2.
Click to expand...

Yea the 15,000rpm SCSI drive kicks some ass, what i was getting at was, it wasnt worth it on a desktop gamming rig.. didnt do anyhtign on its own worth wild..

drool dual 3.2 Xeons.....
 
well, I jsut sold one of my Raptor drive (pending) now im trying to decide what to installwindows on. I have a 200Gb Maxtor 8mb cache PATA drive, A singal 36gb raptor (May or may not sell it) and a SATA hitchie 120gb drive???

What should I use for the OS?

LOL, I was reading this tread and trying to figure out how im gonna eat after i pay my Bills this mounth (damm tranny needed replacement so im broke for a wile) and i relized, I dont really need my raptors.....just like that, I got $$$ for food! and gas.. .lol
 
I(illa Bee said:
well, I jsut sold one of my Raptor drive (pending) now im trying to decide what to installwindows on. I have a 200Gb Maxtor 8mb cache PATA drive, A singal 36gb raptor (May or may not sell it) and a SATA hitchie 120gb drive???

What should I use for the OS?

LOL, I was reading this tread and trying to figure out how im gonna eat after i pay my Bills this mounth (damm tranny needed replacement so im broke for a wile) and i relized, I dont really need my raptors.....just like that, I got $$$ for food! and gas.. .lol
Click to expand...

First, I would invest in a better keyboard.

My idea for you is to use the raptor as the boot drive and programs, and use the 120 to store music, pr0n, pics, and any other data, and the 200 can be a backup of both. That's what I'd do in your position.

You might have to put the programs on the 120 too, I dunno if 30ish gigs is enough for an OS and a buttload of games.
 
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