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1 74GB Raptor or 2 80GB RAID 0

Forum Storage : Hard Disks - 1 74GB Raptor or 2 80GB RAID 0

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Robc1880   10-11-2005 at 04:59:15 AM

I am looking to getting either the Raptor or 2x80GB SATA Drives to put in RAID. I was wondering which would give me best performance for basic program functions and helping improve game load/access times. I was also wondering if RAID 5 would be any better/faster than RAID 0? Any suggestions on what would be best for gaming and general use? If the 2x80GB solution is best, which HD should I get? should I get a RAID controller and if so, could someone give me a link? Thanks for any help.


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Robc1880   10-11-2005 at 06:10:27 AM
- 0 +

I would love to RAID 2 raptors, but i only have enough for one. I just got some birthday money and was just trying to figure out how to spend it. How much faster would the Raptor be compared to if I was to use 2 of the 80GB Seagate NCQ drives?

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RichPLS   10-11-2005 at 06:15:22 AM
- 0 +

The best SATA RAID speed and security is right here <A HREF="http://www.netcell.com/productbriefs/NetCell -SR5103 Product Brief.pdf" target="_new"> for $250 from Netcell SyncRAID. </A>

You can use 3 discs for RAID 0 speed but RAID 1 security and later add two more drives for greater speed.

<pre><font color=red>°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°`°¤o \\// o¤°`°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°
And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" Huh
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own little sign</pre><p></font color=red>

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Robc1880   10-13-2005 at 02:51:01 AM
- 0 +

thanks for the help guys, I will probably get one Raptor right now and then another later down the road. I like that card you linked to Rich, but if I got that I wouldn't be able to afford the HD. Thanks again Rich and Wusy.

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Robc1880   10-13-2005 at 03:23:47 AM
- 0 +

Do you have to have the Secure connect cable for the Raptor drive or would the standard SATA cable that came with my mobo work just fine?

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RichPLS   10-13-2005 at 05:10:51 AM
- 0 +

It is magnificently more expensive than pilfering it from your local uni!!!

<pre><font color=red>°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°`°¤o \\// o¤°`°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°
And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" Huh
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own little sign</pre><p></font color=red>

Reply to RichPLS
Robc1880   10-14-2005 at 02:31:15 AM
- 0 +

Thanks for the input guys, I will just go ahead and use the cables that came with my Mobo. If they seem loose at all I have found the secure connect cable for $5 if I must buy it.

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davemar14   10-14-2005 at 04:01:53 AM
- 0 +

I would get a single 74GB Raptor and add a second when you get the money. I currently have 2x74GB Raptors in RAID 0. Here is a benchmark screenshot of these insane drives at work. Video editing runs like butter on them, compared to my single 80GB drive.

Raptor screenshot:
<A HREF="http://amdgamingrig.dyndns.org/raptors.html" target="_new">http://amdgamingrig.dyndns.org/raptors.html</A>

My System:
<A HREF="http://amdgamingrig.dyndns.org" target="_new">http://amdgamingrig.dyndns.org</A>

Reply to davemar14
davemar14   10-14-2005 at 04:21:16 AM
- 0 +

Yea. I need to get a PCI-Express board. Then get a RAID card for that bus. Gay old PCI bus at 133MB/sec. I can't complain though, 100MB+ is still fast enough to do anything.

My System:
<A HREF="http://amdgamingrig.dyndns.org" target="_new">http://amdgamingrig.dyndns.org</A>

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Robc1880   10-14-2005 at 07:05:37 AM
- 0 +

Should I get a raid controller card when I decide to go with RAID or should I just the Motherboard chipset to handle it? <A HREF="http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10407&cs_id=1040702&p_id=2530&seq=1&format=2&style=" target="_new">Here is a raid card I found, will this work if I need to get it?</A>

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Robc1880   10-15-2005 at 12:41:19 AM
- 0 +

The one that I linked to has the Silicon 3132 chip, is that one any good or just look for the 3114R like you said?

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Robc1880   10-15-2005 at 01:07:00 AM
- 0 +

yeah, but it doesn't have the chip you said. It has the SIL3132 chip. Would I be better off going with that card than using the NVRAID on the mobo?

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Robc1880   10-15-2005 at 02:27:24 AM
- 0 +

Yeah I was just planning on doing RAID 0 once I could get a second Raptor. If I was to install my OS and games on the Raptor now, would I have to do a reinstall after I get the second and want to build a RAID 0 array or would it just copy from the first drive to the array and build from there? As you can tell I've never done RAID before so i don't know how it works

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mozzartusm   10-16-2005 at 12:55:02 PM
- 0 +

Raptors are so over priced. I have a 74Gb Raptor and also have a seperate RAID 0 config thats made up of 2 cheap Maxtors. Overall the RAID 0 performs slightly better and is so much cheaper. Raptors are high quality, im not putting them down for performance, I just dont see paying such a high premium again.

ASUS P5WD2 Premium
Intel 3.73 EE @ 5.6Ghz
XMS2 DDR2 @ 1180Mhz

<A HREF="http://valid.x86-secret.com/records.php?PHPSESSID=792e8f49d5d9b8a4d1ad6f40ca029756" target="_new">#2 CPUZ</A>
SuperPI 25secs

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Robc1880   10-17-2005 at 04:53:24 AM
- 0 +

what speed are your maxtor drives? and by about how much do they outperform the raptor by?

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mozzartusm   10-17-2005 at 06:04:45 AM
- 0 +

7200RPM 8Mb Cashe. The Raptor will edge the Maxtors in seek time but not by much. The Maxtors in RAID0 usually edge the single raptor in some of the other times. The difference is so small that you would really have to pay attention to notice it when booting up. The difference in price is what I cant get past. When I am paying for a performance increase, its going to be noticeable or im not for it. If you want a system that will boot and run an OS SUPER fast then buy one the gigabyte I-rams. You will be limited to 4GB but thats plenty for the OS.

ASUS P5WD2 Premium
Intel 3.73 EE @ 5.6Ghz
XMS2 DDR2 @ 1180Mhz

<A HREF="http://valid.x86-secret.com/records.php?PHPSESSID=792e8f49d5d9b8a4d1ad6f40ca029756" target="_new">#2 CPUZ</A>
SuperPI 25secs

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Flamethrower205   10-17-2005 at 09:51:04 AM
- 0 +

If you think about it, if you get two 80GB drives in RAID 0, even assuming their transfer speed is as good as a Raptor's, your seek time still sucks. Whereas a Raptor has a fast seek time, in RAID 0 you're limited to the slowest drive so if one takes 8ms and the other 14, you effectively get 14 ms seek time.

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<font color=red>XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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Reply to Flamethrower205
mozzartusm   10-18-2005 at 02:27:44 PM
- 0 +

You had more than 2 SCSIs at one time didnt you?

ASUS P5WD2 Premium
Intel 3.73 EE @ 5.6Ghz
XMS2 DDR2 @ 1180Mhz

<A HREF="http://valid.x86-secret.com/records.php?PHPSESSID=792e8f49d5d9b8a4d1ad6f40ca029756" target="_new">#2 CPUZ</A>
SuperPI 25secs

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Robc1880   10-18-2005 at 11:38:21 PM
- 0 +

Thanks for the help guys, I went ahead and ordered the Raptor from Newegg. $184 shipped and has a $20 MIR. I understand that if I bought 2 cheaper drives and put them in RAID 0 they would be close to the raptor, but when I get enough money for a second raptor that's when I would see the difference, so that is why I went with the Raptor. Thanks for all the help everyone.

Reply to Robc1880
RichPLS   10-19-2005 at 05:54:56 PM
- 0 +

You should be pleased with the purchase, I have one also.

<pre><font color=red>°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°`°¤o \\// o¤°`°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°
And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" Huh
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own little sign</pre><p></font color=red>

Reply to RichPLS
mozzartusm   10-20-2005 at 02:03:07 PM
- 0 +

You got yours alot cheaper than I did. I HATE YOU! :tongue:

ASUS P5WD2 Premium
Intel 3.73 EE @ 5.6Ghz
XMS2 DDR2 @ 1180Mhz

<A HREF="http://valid.x86-secret.com/records.php?PHPSESSID=792e8f49d5d9b8a4d1ad6f40ca029756" target="_new">#2 CPUZ</A>
SuperPI 25secs

Reply to mozzartusm
Robc1880   10-21-2005 at 03:28:18 AM
- 0 +

How much did you pay for yours and when did you get it?

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mozzartusm   10-21-2005 at 10:02:44 AM
- 0 +

Not sure about either but it seems like it was 3months ago and just over $200 maybe $220 The next week the prices dropped at least $25 at the same e-tailer

ASUS P5WD2 Premium
Intel 3.73 EE @ 5.6Ghz
XMS2 DDR2 @ 1180Mhz

<A HREF="http://valid.x86-secret.com/records.php?PHPSESSID=792e8f49d5d9b8a4d1ad6f40ca029756" target="_new">#2 CPUZ</A>
SuperPI 25secs

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