_____ Hey, RAID'rs! _____

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
I've got the HOTS for a SA6R! ;)

Since the Sandman says that...


<< When setting up a RAID array containing drives of different capacities, (identical drives are not a requirement for RAID operation) the size of the smallest drive is used to determine the total size of the array. >>


Forgetting the lost 6.8GB, because of the size difference...
Would a 7200rpm IBM 20.5GB (average seek time - 9.0 ms, ATA/66) and a 7200rpm WD 27.3GB (average seek time - 9.0 ms, ATA/66), have any compatability issues?

Thanks
 

Tsaico

Platinum Member
Oct 21, 2000
2,669
0
0
No, but IBM's tend to outperform WD's so you might take another hit on speed with that setup. But anything that is really noticable will probably not be your problem, just braggin rights...
Good luck
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
The &quot;Experts&quot; are supposed to be really nice drives. And besides, I wouldn't have to buy anything, other than the MB.
I was interested in a RAID 0, configuration. I don't have anything important enough to warrant mirroring. I've got a burner for stuff I really want to make sure and not lose.

Is it a good idea to partition off, say 500mbs for the C: drive, for the OS. And partition off the rest of the space for programs &amp; applications? Is their a performance hit by having Windows alone, on it's own partition?
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
Another one...

Buy going with a RAID 0, is the size of your total storage equal to the size of your smallest drive, or double that?
 

Confused

Elite Member
Nov 13, 2000
14,166
0
0
i'm not sure about a performance hit by putting Windows on its own partition, but u'll need to make it quite big. when the OS says it needs 500mb, then that is just the basic size, excluding space for all stuff running. i made a 1gig partition on my drive for Windows, and that filled up VERY quickly as i installed other programs and games, cos they all have to write stuff to the C:, even if u install to the other partition, so u'll have to be careful about that.
 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,270
103
106
With RAID 0, you'll get a drive that will equal twice the size of the smallest drive (assuming 2 drives). The 'remaining' space on a larger drive is no longer accessable.

When you use RAID 0, basically everything you write to the drive is split into two parts and written to the two drives at the same time. Hence, if one of the drives is slower than the other, you lose the speed advantage of the faster drive, because you have to wait until BOTH drive finish writing their respective part. In other words, your array will function at the speed of the lowest drive in the array. In your case, that speed differential is minimal -- if you don't need the extra 7 Gig of storage, I'd go ahead and set up the array with those two drives.

There are no compatibility issues between the GXP's and the Expert series as far as I know.