Should I get Mobos with a RAID controller?

[Zero In]

I have 2 hard disks, different speed and storage space. How does RAID work and does it offer any benefit for the additional price?

 

[overclock]

Go here. to learn about RAID.

RAID requires 2 hd's of the same size. It will work with a 15 and a 30 gig for example but you will lose 15 gig of the 30 gigger.
If you want to use the RAID ports as IDE ports so you can have 8 IDE/ATAPI drives then get a Soyo Dragon Plus. Here is a GREAT article about the Dragon Plus. I wish I had the ~$150 to get one of these.

Good Luck!

 

[Wind]

Only if u need it.

 

[AkumaBao]

I personally like it a lot. Great performance! It's a lot cheaper than going with SCSI! Almost as fast too. Gonna have to bench the XP333 when I get it to see if it's up to SCSI 160 speed.

 

[NelsonMuntz]

I think if you could use the extra channels for more devices, then it is worth it. I will be getting it in the next motherboard I build around for my personal use.

 

[j@cko]

the question should be whether if you need it.

 

[Zero In]

If I get a mobo with a RAID controller, doesn't it mean that I don't have to share ide cables anymore? Currently I have 2 CD drives and 2 hard disks. Doesn't putting them in separate cables improve performance?

 

[Jasmine]

I would get SCSI if I were you. I don't understand why mobos have raid at all actually. Speed increase? A little bit (with 0 config), Chance of failure? Twice as bad because using 2 H/D's. Probably OK for servers though to back up using 5 config or something.

SCSi is where its at, if u can afford it that is.