RAID or no RAID???

[HippyJoe]

I'm assembling parts for my new (first self built)PC. Looking at Duron 600-700 to overclock later, FOP32-1, PC150 128MB, InWin Q500 w/ 300W PS, Western Dig 20.5GB 7200RPM ATA66. Haven't bought the mobo or proc yet. I'd like to go with an Abit KT7A or KT7A-RAID. Looks like there's about a $15 price diff, so price isn't a concern. But...

Are there any advantages to having a RAID board if I'm only going to use a single drive? Do you get better HD/CD performance with RAID?

Does anyone have a link with benchmarks of both KT7A boards?

Would anyone recommend using thermal paste versus using the thermal pad that comes with the heatsink? I've heard that Radio Shack paste dries out over time, so thinking artic silver. What's a good price for that?

Thanks a bunch.

 

[Skiracer]

HippyJoe:
Welcome to the wide-wonderful world of home-brew computer systems replete with frustration, confusion, befuddlement, and most importantly the rush you get from making it all work better than it's supposed to! As for your inquiry, I would go ahead and pop for the extra $15 for the RAID for one simple reason- options in the future. You can't add it on later! If you wanted to purchase another 20GB WD HDD later and set up a RAID-0 array for greatly improved performance, then you would have that option. If in the future you have more than 4 IDE devices, then you will have another 4 IDE channels to use. Benchmark-wise, other than the HDD benchmark for RAID-0 the boards are identical. Stay far far away from the thermal pads that come with some of the heatsinks- clean it off and use a thin layer of arctic silver or other high-grade thermal paste for optimum performance. I think that the price for Arctic Silver is ~$14, but I haven't bought any lately (one small tube lasts forever!)

Good luck, and remember the Anand Forums when you have problems- and you WILL have problems sooner or later!

 

[HippyJoe]

Thanks Skiracer. I hope to get all my goods (including the RAID mobo) and begin assembling next weekend.

By the way, I love the sig. One of my buddies has wallpaper of George and Barbara putting a Sore-Loserman sign in their yard. Too cool.

 

[Mykex]

One Question you say buy it you cant add it later? Couldent you just buy a raid controller card and effectivly add it later?

 

[Technonut]

<< One Question you say buy it you cant add it later? Couldent you just buy a raid controller card and effectivly add it later? >>



I tried that before with a KT7 non-RAID thinking the same thing. When I went to install the Promise card, being in a PCI slot further from the drive bays is not a good thing. The cables were too short for my full tower case, and really blocked airflow from my lower front intake fan. Needless to say, I just went with the KT7A RAID this time, with all of the IDE ports in good positions.

 

[Skiracer]

&quot;One Question you say buy it you cant add it later? Couldent (sic) you just buy a raid controller card and effectivly add it later?&quot;

Not for $15!!!