Laptop HDD's For Desktop Raid

[das_stig]

This for a general purpose desktop made from spare parts so nothing critical, programming, web browsing and light gaming.

So rather than go out a buy a 3.5in HDD for storage, how about using a bunch of 250GB 4000rpm laptop HDD's in raid-10 for storage, 64GB SSD for OS.

Although I'm not sure, power usage shouldn't be that much different from a single 3.5in HDD ?

Your thoughts ?

 

[Rdslw]

Seems like a lot of work. If those drives are old, then raid might die soon. Also those 250GB drives are sloooooow.
might be nice exercise and interesting case to try, but I think you will still be better with new one.
Make this raid and tell me your experience.
with 4 drives power will be:
~~1.6W read/write, ~~.55W idle x4
VS example WD green 3.5:
Read/Write 6.00 Watts
Idle 5.50 Watts
Standby 0.80 Watts
Sleep 0.80 Watts

 

[USAFRet]

This for a general purpose desktop made from spare parts so nothing critical, programming, web browsing and light gaming.

So rather than go out a buy a 3.5in HDD for storage, how about using a bunch of 250GB 4000rpm laptop HDD's in raid-10 for storage, 64GB SSD for OS.

Although I'm not sure, power usage shouldn't be that much different from a single 3.5in HDD ?

Your thoughts ?

Drive power requirements is pretty small anyway. But I'd think that more than 2 laptop drives would consume more than a single large 3.5".

 

[Rdslw]

This for a general purpose desktop made from spare parts so nothing critical, programming, web browsing and light gaming.

So rather than go out a buy a 3.5in HDD for storage, how about using a bunch of 250GB 4000rpm laptop HDD's in raid-10 for storage, 64GB SSD for OS.

Although I'm not sure, power usage shouldn't be that much different from a single 3.5in HDD ?

Your thoughts ?

Drive power requirements is pretty small anyway. But I'd think that more than 2 laptop drives would consume more than a single large 3.5".

I checked, looks like 5400 2.5 drives take ~3 times less power. Interesting. I always thought they are ~15-20W.

 

[ss202sl]

Also you probably should consider at least a 120 GB SSD for the OS. 64GB is really too small.

 

[captaincharisma]

Also you probably should consider at least a 120 GB SSD for the OS. 64GB is really too small.

120GB would still be pushing for an OS drive. 250GB should be minimum

 

[USAFRet]

Also you probably should consider at least a 120 GB SSD for the OS. 64GB is really too small.

120GB would still be pushing for an OS drive. 250GB should be minimum

Depends on the actual use.
My HTPC gets by with a 120GB. But it only has 2 duties...play movies and play music.
Of which all that lives on a whole different system, and is accessed over the LAN.

No games, no applications, no 'general use'.

 

[das_stig]

Wanted to save the ££ on new HDD when I have these sitting around unused, recycle and all that green PC stuff

Looking at the power info on 3.5" and 2.5" labels, there does seem to be good saving here, with the raid-10 providing a boost.