What is a HD Controller Card?

[Caveman]

Is this something needed to do a Raid Array? If so, how do I know what card to get with what HDs I'm planning to use it for?

 

[mikecel79]

A HD contoller card (sometimes called an IDE controller card) is basically and add in IDE controller for your PC. It's often used in addition to built in IDE controller. Some of them have RAID functions too. What type of drives do you have and what are you trying to accomplish?

 

[Zepper]

The least expensive "software" RAID cards I know of are based on SiliconImage logic. One (Syba) is available from dealsonic.com for less than $25. shipped and can support up to 4 drives in an array. This is similar to the IDE RAID that is often integrated into mobos. SATA RAID cards are a bit more expensive.
. If you need to do fancier than RAID-0, 1 or 0+1, then you will need a more expensive card. IDE RAID 5 cards are over $100. each.
. The best thing is to use two or four drives of the same make and capacity though mismatched drives will work, but the total capacity of the array will be only twice the capacity of the smallest drive in the array.
.bh.

 

[Caveman]

I'm starting to research for a future build (around July) and this was a confusing issue the first time around (2 years ago). I'm planning to try a RAID 0 for max performance. I'd love to try two Raptors but I may opt for 2 60 GB Seagate SATA Barracuda Vs to save some cash... As far as the controller card goes, I'll be getting a new MoBo; probably SiS to support an Athlon 64... I'd assume a good SiS offereing then will have the RAID capability built in?

Sound reasonable?

 

[Zinn2b]

YEP sis has onchip out 180 controller