How much of a difference is there for games/apps/OS with Raid 0 and no raid?

Compddd

Golden Member
Jul 5, 2000
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That much difference? I dont edit video, I dont do image editing or anything of that sort. Just play games and do MS Office stuff. Is there much of a performance increase between Raid 0 and no raid for that type of stuff? If not, would getting a Raptor and putting my OS/Games/Apps on it be faster then this Seagate Raid 0 I've got right now? How does a Rapor on SATA channel 1 and a 120GB Seagate SATA drive on SATA channel 2 for housing my files sound?
Also, I've heard about not being able to boot to a single SATA drive?? Since I have a Intel 875 mobo with native SATA support, can I boot to a single SATA Raptor? Thanks guys!
 

AtomicDude512

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Feb 10, 2003
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I have heard that the Raptor loads Windows and most programs super fast. Personally I can't attest to this as I can't justify the $130 needed to buy a 36GB hard drive, not to mention a SATA card for my motherboard.

In terms of games faster hard drives will only help with loading levels, in game they have no affect on performance. To me it looks like your system should be fine for gaming anyways, being as it is latest hardware. But if you want the bragging rights...
rolleye.gif
 

Compddd

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Look at my system specs, about the only thing I can improve right now would be the hard drive area. Wouldn't having a single Raptor improve system responsiveness overall?
 

Compddd

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My situation is special, I can upgrade for free to whatever. So I guess I will go with a Raptor for OS/Games + Seagate SATA Cuda for Storage
 

toekramp

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Jun 30, 2001
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Originally posted by: Compddd
My situation is special, I can upgrade for free to whatever. So I guess I will go with a Raptor for OS/Games + Seagate SATA Cuda for Storage

if you can upgrade for free...why wouldn't you get the biggest and best even if the benefits are minimal?
 

sman789

Banned
May 6, 2003
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raid 0 has made boot up and shut downs much faster...pcmark hdd scores twice over and copying files from Cds faster
 

Compddd

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Argh, these are conflicting opinions! I've heard alot of people say the solution for the fastest load times/most responsivness on OS/Games is a Single Raptor or 15k SCSI drive, and then a large IDE drive for storage. Are they wrong or something?
 

Confused

Elite Member
Nov 13, 2000
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Originally posted by: Compddd
Argh, these are conflicting opinions! I've heard alot of people say the solution for the fastest load times/most responsivness on OS/Games is a Single Raptor or 15k SCSI drive, and then a large IDE drive for storage. Are they wrong or something?

If you are not willing to take the risk of data loss from a RAID0, then using a WD Raptor (basically a SCSI drive on an ATA interface) or a 10/15k SCSI drive for booting/apps will give you the best/snappiest peformance.

However, if you want to run the risk of data loss in case of a dead hard drive, then a PATA RAID0 would be pretty fast. I am running that, and it knocked my map loading times in BF1942 down from about 35 seconds (single WD SE 80GB 8MB Cache) to about 20 seconds :)

And then of course a RAID0 with a couple of Raptors or 15k SCSI drives will be even better! ;):p


Confused
 

borgmang

Senior member
Jun 27, 2003
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I'd like to get some feedback myself. I'm considering buying 2 raptors for Raid 0, and 1 or 2 additional PATA or possibly SATA drives for storage. Anybody have any opinions about this and partitioning as well.
 

Compddd

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Jul 5, 2000
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Confused, so your saying a raid 0 array is faster then a single drive for OS and gaming? and that a Raid 0 array is more responsive in Windows/Apps then a single drive? Not including Video or Graphics work here.
 

Confused

Elite Member
Nov 13, 2000
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Originally posted by: Compddd
Confused, so your saying a raid 0 array is faster then a single drive for OS and gaming? and that a Raid 0 array is more responsive in Windows/Apps then a single drive? Not including Video or Graphics work here.

Yes, I can tell that it is much "snappier", and apps/games load quicker, compared to a single 7200rpm drive. Obviously you won't get more FPS in a game, but you will load levels quicker, which is an advantage, as you can get the best places/vehicles etc :)

Whether a single raptor or a scsi drive will be any snappier/quicker, I don't know, as I haven't had first hand experience with it, so I can't tell you. The only people who will be able to tell you that are those who have had experience with those :)


Confused
 

Compddd

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Jul 5, 2000
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Well right now Im running 2 Segate 80GB SATAs in Raid 0 on the Intel Southbridge. Just wondering if a Raptor + 1 Seagate 80GB for storage would be snappier/quicker for OS loads and playing games, etc
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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I'm doing something similar with my system. I just got a new Raptor yesterday, and I will be using my 80GB WD SE as my storage/secondary drive. In a month or so I plan on getting a new Maxtor SATA drive and replacing the 80GB SE with it.

I haven't installed the Raptor yet, but I think it would be faster than two 7200RPM SATA drives since it is a 10K RPM drive. RAID primarily only improves the loading and moving of large files...normal OS stuff doesn't really benefit much in my experience.

I'll say one thing...these Raptors are HEAVY. :)
 

Compddd

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Jul 5, 2000
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I had 2 Raptors in Raid 0 for a couple days. Booting was slower cause of that Intel Raid initilization thing that has to pop up before Windows Loads. Are 2 Raptors in Raid 0 actually faster then a Single Raptor for Responsivness and load time?
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
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2 raptors raided together would offer increased data transfer... how much, is hard to say.
 

Compddd

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thats only thing they offer right, increased data transfer rate? Would 2 raptors load a map in say Morrowind faster then a Single Raptor? also what is the best Stripe Size on Raid 0 for the best performance
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
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Yes, they would load a map faster. 64kb is your best average user stripe size, that's what I use.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
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Depends on the size of the files your working with... if you're dealing w/ big ass videos, then a bigger stripe is better. I've just always been told that for average people 64kb is the best. That was the default for my P4C800 Deluxe onboard raid.
 

Compddd

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I just play games. Dont do any video work of any kind. Maybe I should go with 16k stripe?
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
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I assume you're using the raid controller that's on your board? Then you won't be able to change it from 64kb, most likely.

I have almost exactly the same setup as you... Raid didn't really change my life... but when you're ripping CDs it makes a big diff. Or if you move a big file from one place to the other. Oh, and I defragged my HD last night, which was 29% fragmented. It's a 160gb RAID 0 hd.... in 15 minutes. Hooah!