A quick question about RAID 0

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foggy666

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#1 foggy666
Member since 2003 • 1123 Posts

I currently have a WD 1TB HDD with 32mb cache (WD1001FALS), and was thinking about getting another 1TB drive for more storage and to put it in a RAID 0 configuration.

Do I have to get the same model or just another 1TB drive? The reason I'm asking is because I can buy a WD 1TB HDD with 64mb cache (WD1002FAEX) for less than my model and get more cache.

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XaosII

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#2 XaosII
Member since 2003 • 16705 Posts

You dont have to get the same drive, but its recommended as a RAID setup will only go as fast as your SLOWEST drive and will mirror the capacity of your smallest drive. That means that that 64mb drive will act like a 32mb cache drive. Its also recommended as the same drives should, theoretically, have the same lifespan/reliability. Mixing two drives means that it will suffer at the hands of the first drive to die.

If you're willing to accept those downsides, which arent very big at all (except for maybe a large GB size difference), then you're fine with mixing drives.

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foggy666

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#3 foggy666
Member since 2003 • 1123 Posts
I'll be using my onboard RAID controller (Gigabyte P35C-DS3R motherboard), will I see increase in performance when using it for RAID?
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markop2003

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#4 markop2003
Member since 2005 • 29917 Posts
I'll be using my onboard RAID controller (Gigabyte P35C-DS3R motherboard), will I see increase in performance when using it for RAID?foggy666
For two magnetic drives you're fine with onboard, you start really needing a proper RAID controller when you start getting into more drives or more advanced forms of RAID as they don't tend to be supported by onboard and parity calculations use CPU time
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rock_solid

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#5 rock_solid
Member since 2003 • 5122 Posts
I'll be using my onboard RAID controller (Gigabyte P35C-DS3R motherboard), will I see increase in performance when using it for RAID?foggy666
i have my 2 drives in raid 0.....i tested speed before and after with HD Tune and there is a definite speed improvement.