I will be losing onboard raid when i upgrade my motherboard, help me pick a raid card

[mikef208]

I am currently using an Abit KT7A raid, and I am planning on going with an ECS K7S5A, so no onboard raid, so if i want to keep using it I need to get a raid card, unless I try Win 2K software raid, but i don't think so. So what would you recommend? I am currently running 2 maxtor 30gig Diamond Max Plus 60's in raid0, but I am entertaining thoughts of other types of raid. Is raid5 one of the best ways to go? And what is it exactly, how does it compare to raid3, or should I just try raid 0+1? LMK

 

[ukDave]

check this out. courtesy of our very own Matthew Witheiler.

Anandtech

dave

 

[Athlon4all]

IWill SIDE RAID100 (from that article). It was the highest performing, some people have had issues with Highpoint 370A, but u being a KT7A-RAID user you're probably used to it. Again as Matt benchmarked in that article, RAID 5 performs worse than RAID 0 and 1. I'd recommend if u can, go with 0+1, but if not then RAID 0 is fine. Just fyi, you will have to backup and delete the array, and re-create it (i.e. you can't just throw them into the new card, and everything will be merry)

 

[bacillus]

if you want to save money, get a promise ata100 pci card & mod it to a raid one!

 

[mikef208]

I will take a look at that article, thanks

"you can't just throw them into the new card, and everything will be merry "
Yes I know, but thanks for telling me, just in case I didn't know

What exactly is involved with modding the promise cards?

 

[MichaelD]

Bacillus,

How is the mod done? I have a Promise TX2 ATA100 card and would be interested in doing this. My next mobo might not have onboard RAID. Thanks much.

 

[Rabmash]

Buy a Chaintech Raid PCI Raid Card. Uses a Highpoint 370 Chipset (Same as your MB) and you'll be able to swap your RAID array without reinstalling anything. Plus It's cheap!!

AFAIK Highpoint Chipped RAID's only have problems when you share IRQ's with them (Win 2K is tested and proved okay though - All PCI devices on IRQ 11)

Also a quick point, under WinXP install the old 1.0.3b drivers for your HPT370 RAID (WinXP installs 1.0.5) otherwise you'll get mouse jumping and other anomolies.

 

[mikef208]

Yeah as of yet, I haven't noticed any problems with my HPT raid array, except it is performing at about 1/3 what sandra says it should, but I am about ready to try HDtach, and see what it says. Oh yeah and my Linksys NIC is giving me a cannot start error in device manager, not sure if that is related to the raid or not

 

[TheWart]

a recommendation to y'all for the Promise Fasttrak TX2 RAID controller $75 from newegg


mine is workin great so far (2 days)




PLUS i have the ECS k7s5 (BIG NOTE: u must put the promise card in the pci slot RIGHT UNDER the agp slot or the card will not detect your hard drives!!!!!)

 

[mikef208]

PLUS i have the ECS k7s5 (BIG NOTE: u must put the promise card in the pci slot RIGHT UNDER the agp slot or the card will not detect your hard drives!!!!!)


Is that common for all Raid cards, or is that just for the Promise card?

 

[bacillus]

modding the promise ata100 card to a raid one!