OK i have a couple of questions. first off i currently have a 500gig sata barracuda 7200.11 drive as my main with windows and programs and such. i have a 320 7200.10 that i have for all my music and movies. would it be smart to keep this set up or get another 7200.11 500 gig and run them in raid 0? i currently am not using raid but it seems like i would get a speed increase? i also read that i should partition some for the os? how much and is this a good idea and just have all my programs on the rest of the space? ill use an external i just picked up for music. any input on how i should set up up my hard drives

i'd get another 320 and RAID1 your data files...

I like and use Raid 0. But remember, as in non-raid you need to BACK-UP your data. I have 3 computers with Raid0 and have only lost one HDD (My fault as I jarred it during write). Two of the computers are approx five years old. Raid 1 has a performance penaty and if the MB goes out (vs HDD) can be a problem as your option to recover generally require replacement MB has the same Raid controller. SO you still should have a BU.

Partitioning - Quick answer yes. My setup (Dual boot)- 2 HDDs Raid 0: C - 60 gigs for operating system (XP Pro) and Programs, D - 10Gigs for Swap file Only and E- All my Data. 2 HDDs Raid 0: F Operating System (Vista) and G for Data.
(1) the small D for the Swap file - Keeps the swap file close to the outer edge for performance and allows for mor effective defragging. Similar reason for seperating OP/Programs Data - Keeps the operating system and programs on the outer part of HDD platters improving performance and with Data on its sereate partition I can back-up my data easier. Note I can back-up E on G and Back up G on E. Then I also (not as frequently) Back up E & G onto a USB HDD. Have been running for a year and a halve - no problems.

Bottem Line, Myself I would get a 2nd 500g drive, Raid 0 and Partition C= 50 -> 60 Gigs, D = 10 Gigs and E remainder ( APProx 930 G) for your Data. The 320 G drive I would (1) leave in as Drive F for Back-up/ temp files or (2) install in a USB encloser and use as B/U drive.