How to configure 2 SSDs + 2HDDs in RAID 1

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Fabiano_Silva

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Oct 19, 2016
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I wanna set 1 SSD for OS and applications and other SSD for mirror
And 1 HDD for all the other stuff, and second HDD for mirror to
Its make sense? or i just need 1 SSD for OS (without mirror and raid) and 2 HDDs (one for mirror) in raid 1
Thanks for help
 
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Welcome to the forum...
Certainly you can create TWO raid1 volumes by using the Main Board raid engine.
Keep in mind, you may not bring this RAID to the new Main Board, if you decide to upgrade your system
I would suggest to use the RAID engine is not tight to mother board, so you can upgrade your system w/o worry there will be issue
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Mr Kagouris

Mr Kagouris

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Sep 7, 2015
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Once you set the drives to RAID mode in the UEFI (you need to install Windows in RAID mode by the way, if you install in AHCI and switch to RAID it's likely you won't be able to boot to Windows) you'll be able to create new RAID volumes. Create two of these volumes, one with both SSDs and one with both HDDs, both volumes set to RAID 1.
 
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

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Jul 30, 2014
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Welcome to the TH Community, @Fabiano!

Is there a particular reason for you to have RAID 1 configuration? You should keep in mind that RAID is not a backup solution, even if it's a Mirror array. In order to create a working RAID 1 at its best, you need to have 2 identical drives in the array. Meaning that you won't be able to create one with 1 SSD and 1 HDD because it would basically bottleneck the performance of the SSD to the transfer rate speed of the HDD and it would downsize the HDD's capacity to the one of your SSD, which is definitely not a good idea because it would waste a lot of your storage capabilities.

Having one SSD for your OS is great, how you configure the other storage drives is up to you.

You should just have to keep in mind that you still need an Off-site backup for all your data from the storage SSD and your RAID 1 configuration (if you decide to create the array with the 2 HDDs). I'd recommend you read more about RAID 1. It's pretty important to have a purpose for creating such a storage configuration, otherwise you are better off using them as secondary storage HDDs for your massive data (HDDs) & demanding software/games ( second SSD).

Can you share more details about your motherboard?

Always make sure you backup your files before tampering with your storage!

Keep us posted.
SuperSoph_WD
 
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Mr Kagouris

Mr Kagouris

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Sep 7, 2015
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Is there a particular reason for you to have RAID 1 configuration? You should keep in mind that RAID is not a backup solution, even if it's a Mirror array. In order to create a working RAID 1 at its best, you need to have 2 identical drives in the array. Meaning that you won't be able to create one with 1 SSD and 1 HDD because it would basically bottleneck the performance of the SSD to the transfer rate speed of the HDD and it would downsize the HDD's capacity to the one of your SSD, which is definitely not a good idea because it would waste a lot of your storage capabilities.
Click to expand...

As per OP:

I wanna set 1 SSD for OS and applications and other SSD for mirror
And 1 HDD for all the other stuff, and second HDD for mirror to
Click to expand...

One RAID 1 volume for the SSD data and one RAID 1 volume for the HDD data. Not a combination.

But I agree that if this is for critical data then an off-site backup is the best way to do it and not a RAID array. Heck, even a NAS would be better for backup.

If this is just redundancy for a gaming rig or whatever, don't bother with RAID at all. If you just want to keep your data safe, invest in a dual-HDD NAS (those usually run in RAID 1) or use a cloud service.
 
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Fabiano_Silva

Commendable
Oct 19, 2016
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Thanks for the welcome!

Yeah, the company I work for is buying an integrated software management and need run the system with a mirror (for integrity). But im not intend use a combination, just create one RAID 1 for the SSDs, and other with HDDs.

But when i read your and Mr Kagouris answers, i realized i need a mirror (RAID 1) just for the SSD.
So.. i can use 1 HDD normally and the other for backup.

Thanks for the help guys.

 
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FireWire2

Distinguished
Oct 30, 2006
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Welcome to the forum...
Certainly you can create TWO raid1 volumes by using the Main Board raid engine.
Keep in mind, you may not bring this RAID to the new Main Board, if you decide to upgrade your system
I would suggest to use the RAID engine is not tight to mother board, so you can upgrade your system w/o worry there will be issue
 
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Solution
Mr Kagouris

Mr Kagouris

Judicious
Sep 7, 2015
3,966
2
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Using one HDD normally and the other for backup would be functionally the same as using them in RAID 1 (although I guess it would eliminate the risk of RAID array corruption). For high reliability backup, use either a network attached storage device (NAS), an offsite backup storage, or a cloud service.
 
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