storage configuration on GA-EP45-UD3P

[JaxxZy]

Hi All -

As I understand it, this mobo (GA-EP45-UD3P) has 2 sets of SATA interfaces: GSATA 0 & 1, and SATA2 0 through 5. I believe that each set supports RAID.

I thought I'd break storage up into 3 categories: O/S, pagefile and storage. O/S could be RAID1 on the GSATA interface set. One drive out of the SATA2 set for pagefile and the other 5 interfaces RAID 5 for good protection while balancing capacity with performance.

So maybe something like this:

O/S on GSATA interfaces 0 and 1, RAID1 across 2 WD Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB cache.

SATA2 interface 0 puts the pagefile on a 150GB Velociraptor.

The remaining SATA2 interfaces, 1 through 5, in a RAID5 across 5 middle of the road drives for program installations.

The price tag on this would be (2x$80, 1x$160, 5x$100) $820, or roughly 640GB + 150GB + 4000GB = ~4800GB usable at 18 cents / GB.


Can anybody confirm that the mobo will support 2 RAID arrays? If I configure the RAID5 stripe with 3 drives, can I subsequently extend the array with more drives? And how does this topology look? Does this cost give me a reasonable price / performance / protection combination?

Thank you for your time!

JaxxZy

 

[VirtualLarry]

That sounds doable.

But where are you going to attach your optical drive? IDE?

 

[JaxxZy]

Yes - the mobo has an IDE adapter. I figured I'd put the DVD device there.

 

[Blain]

150GB VelociRaptor (the 300 is MUCH better for the $$ per GB) > OS, Apps, ANY mechanical HD makes for horrible paging...
Don't worry about playing around with page file, buy enough RAM.

2 x 640GB > RAID 1 for more secure storage.