2 SSD's to RAID 0 or not to RAID

bjaminnyc · Jul 29, 2013

The SSD in my main PC died last week and is currently being replaced via ADATA RMA. The process takes somewhere around 3 weeks and I don't think I'm going to make it that long. I had a WD Green 2TB sitting around to server as the system drive until the replacement arrives. All of my computers and laptops have SSD system drives now. Holy crap I had forgotten what a big difference they make.

Anyway, I've decided firstly I would like to have more SSD storage space, secondly I'm inpatient. Currently I'm considering 2 routes 1.) buy the same model and RAID 0 or 2.) buy a superior 120 or 240 GB model and just segregate install locations like most do with a platter+SSD. The problem with 1) is I don't know if they'll send the same model as a replacement the one I sent them was approaching 2yrs old. Therefore I'll have to wait until I receive the replacement.

What are your thoughts or experience with RAID 0 and SSDs? I'm almost thinking segregating installs of my most frequently used programs may actually be better, OS on one drive and large apps on the other SSD.

mcnumpty23 · Jul 29, 2013

toms did an ssd in raid vs single ssd article not long ago

dont think for the average user raid was advantageous

USAFRet · Jul 29, 2013

bjaminnyc :

The SSD in my main PC died last week and is currently being replaced via ADATA RMA. The process takes somewhere around 3 weeks and I don't think I'm going to make it that long. I had a WD Green 2TB sitting around to server as the system drive until the replacement arrives. All of my computers and laptops have SSD system drives now. Holy crap I had forgotten what a big difference they make.

Anyway, I've decided firstly I would like to have more SSD storage space, secondly I'm inpatient. Currently I'm considering 2 routes 1.) buy the same model and RAID 0 or 2.) buy a superior 120 or 240 GB model and just segregate install locations like most do with a platter+SSD. The problem with 1) is I don't know if they'll send the same model as a replacement the one I sent them was approaching 2yrs old. Therefore I'll have to wait until I receive the replacement.

What are your thoughts or experience with RAID 0 and SSDs? I'm almost thinking segregating installs of my most frequently used programs may actually be better, OS on one drive and large apps on the other SSD.

2 independent drives (of whatever size) is far easier and safer than trying to RAID SSD's. And you lose little if any performance.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-raid-benchmark,3485-13.html

mcnumpty23 · Jul 29, 2013

USAFRet :

bjaminnyc :

2 independent drives (of whatever size) is far easier and safer than trying to RAID SSD's. And you lose little if any performance.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-raid-benchmark,3485-13.html

thanks--i was too lazy to look for the link

oczdude8 · Jul 29, 2013

Unfortunately, that article is flawed for anyone that has a slightly older mobo that does not have sata 3.

Raid will make a tremendous difference if you system does not support sata 3. I have 2 Samsung 830 ssd on my x58 mobo(only has sata 2). If I had went with a single 240gb, I would saturate sata 2 at ~250mb/s and waste the performance of my ssd. But going with 2 drives in raid 0, I am able to get ~500mb/s read and write, since each 120gb ssd saturates my sata 2 ports. in short (single drive=250mb/s speeds, raid drives=500mb/s speeds)

If you have a sata 3 compatible system, get a fast ssd like Samsung 840 pro, ans as you mentioned, install apps on the adata when it comes from rma.

if your system does not have sata 3, either get 2 smaller samsug 840 pros and raid them, or if you are tight on budget, get another similar adata and raid it with the one that you will get from rma.

bjaminnyc · Jul 29, 2013

Thanks for the link, that pretty much confirmed what I was already thinking. I'm not going to bother with the RAID 0 and go ahead and order a ~240GB drive. The Mushkin Enhanced Chronos on the egg is only $165 and comes with Ghost Recon, seems like a pretty darn good deal. I don't know much about the brand other than some decent reviews and it comes with a 3yr warranty. I don't think the more expensive models will provide a noticeable enough difference to justify the cost.

mcnumpty23 · Jul 29, 2013

bjaminnyc :

the mushkin chronos is a decent drive

i have had one for quite a while

only thing is it scores low on some benchmarks like as ssd and some others

something to do with incompressible data i think

but on atto it shows the advertised speed or higher

and in every day use its fast

bjaminnyc · Jul 30, 2013

mcnumpty23 :

bjaminnyc :

the mushkin chronos is a decent drive

i have had one for quite a while

only thing is it scores low on some benchmarks like as ssd and some others

something to do with incompressible data i think

but on atto it shows the advertised speed or higher

and in every day use its fast

Great, thanks. Pulled the trigger, it will be at my front door tomorrow.

mcnumpty23 · Jul 30, 2013

bjaminnyc :

mcnumpty23 :

Great, thanks. Pulled the trigger, it will be at my front door tomorrow.

you are welcome

i upgraded my mushkin 120gb to a samsung 830 250gb just to get more space

and quite honestly couldnt tell the difference in everyday use between them

the mushkins now in my laptop where it makes a huge difference over the original mechanical drive

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2 SSD's to RAID 0 or not to RAID

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