Considering new HD setup

[WhiteKnight]

I'm considering some upgrades to my main rig this summer and it's been a while since I've read up on the latest and greatest. What I'd like to know is what a good HD setup would be for me.

Right now, I'm running 3x 100GB drives in a RAID5 array off a PCI Promise card. I know, I know, say what you will about the card, but this setup has worked well for me and hasn't let me down. For my new setup, I'd like it to offer some sort of redundancy or backup (RAID1, 0+1, 10, 5, etc) but I'm open to different options. I'll be upgrading my mobo too, so I'll finally be able to run SATA drives. As far as RAID is concerned, what is my best bet? Should I get a standalone controller card, get a mobo with a RAID controller, or try software based RAID (as I've seen some people suggest)? Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[WhiteKnight]

^

 

[airfoil]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
As far as RAID is concerned, what is my best bet? Should I get a standalone controller card, get a mobo with a RAID controller, or try software based RAID (as I've seen some people suggest)? Any ideas? Thanks.

That really depends on what solution you're looking for. Onboard software solutions will offer you redundancy in the form of RAID1/0+1, but performance is not something you should expect.

The same goes for software based cards such as the Promise that may even offer RAID5.

If all you need is redundancy, go with the onboard solution. This really is the simplest and most cost effective solution out there. If you want RAID5, you'll need a PCI card - or maybe you could just use what you have? If you want performance and RAID5, get a dedicated hardware RAID controller ($$$).

 

[WhiteKnight]

Originally posted by: airfoil

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
As far as RAID is concerned, what is my best bet? Should I get a standalone controller card, get a mobo with a RAID controller, or try software based RAID (as I've seen some people suggest)? Any ideas? Thanks.

That really depends on what solution you're looking for. Onboard software solutions will offer you redundancy in the form of RAID1/0+1, but performance is not something you should expect.

The same goes for software based cards such as the Promise that may even offer RAID5.

If all you need is redundancy, go with the onboard solution. This really is the simplest and most cost effective solution out there. If you want RAID5, you'll need a PCI card - or maybe you could just use what you have? If you want performance and RAID5, get a dedicated hardware RAID controller ($$$).

My current PCI card is PATA only. The card I have now has been great because even though it's software based, I can do RAID5, which isn't (or at least wasn't) supported by most mobo embedded controllers. Is there any advantage to a software PCI card vs. an onboard controller assuming they both support the RAID level that I want?

 

[xsilver]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight


My current PCI card is PATA only. The card I have now has been great because even though it's software based, I can do RAID5, which isn't (or at least wasn't) supported by most mobo embedded controllers. Is there any advantage to a software PCI card vs. an onboard controller assuming they both support the RAID level that I want?

bandwith should still occur via the PCI bus so effectivly, no

onboard = cheap --- but if you're talking raid its hard to be a cheapskate

edit: and if you're looking for a huge performance jump by going to sata, I dont know if you're going to find it