RIAD or separate channel drives

[ivelimirovic]

Hi!

iI'm newbie to this forum, this is my first post, blah, blah, blah

currently, iI'm upgrading my computer and am faced with a dilemma. already i posses a 160mb parallel ATA drive, and i'm planning to purchase a new motherboard, CPU and another two SATA 200mb drives (that's right, I need a lot of space). the whole idea is to keep all my mp3 on a hard drives for easy access (i have lots of them). my question is:

should i use RAID or not (the one which supposedly 'doubles' the speed of drive, I forgot which number it is)?

recently i've read an article stating that, for the most practical uses, RAID of this kind is next to useless, since it improves the performance for, like, 3% in normal use, and decreases data security drastically, since the damaged data cannot be restored easily.

my other idea is, as it may look stupid, the following:

1) keep windows, and only windows on the first (boot) drive

2) keep all other software, (like program files folder, installed applications, games, etc.) on second hard drive

3) keep mp3 AND swap file on third drive

that way, windows, drivers and such are on first disk, all other software are on second, and swap file on the third disk (all on the separate channels, of course), which could provide all drives are accessed at the same time, providing a good speed AND security? at the same time data for which access speed isn't important (like mp3, divx and such) are on all drives with enough space?

does this look stupid? should i just connect to SATA in a RAID, and parallel ATA on separate channel and shut up?

please answer me, i'm really in need of an advice?

thanks in advance,

Ivan

[ripken204]

definetly raid0 the new drives and use the old drive for data/backups and swap

[KamiQuazi]

Get 2 Raptor 74 gb @ 10000 RPM 8mb cache SATA 150... that would make u very happy... lol

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16822144160

RAID 0.. .sounds nice... here is a break down for ya...

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?act=At...pe=post&id=7369

I misread the post sorry about that...

Edited August 26, 2005 by lostincyberspace2007

[ripken204]

he wants the space so he doesnt need raptors

what mobo and hdds do u plan on getting? also please let us help you with your entire build.

[KamiQuazi]

Look at these:

Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3200822AS 200GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150

Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200JD 320GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150

I have the second one... one difference is that i have a 120gb model and i have had it for 2 years and no problem yet...

[ivelimirovic]

he wants the space so he doesnt need raptors

what mobo and hdds do u plan on getting? also please let us help you with your entire build.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First of all, thank you guys!

i'm looking for not-so-expensive system to replace my older one, and also get lots of storage. ok, here it is:

1) MB: ASUS N8F-E (or something like that, nforce3 the one with FireWire), this may yet change. nforce3 mainly because i plan to keep my old AGP card

2) CPU: AMD64 3000+ (socket 754, cause of MB)

3) 2x512 DDR400

4) keeping my AGP ASUS 9550GE/TD (overclocks nicely, to 375/250, good enough for me, I'm not a great FPS-maximum-detail-fan)

5) keeping my Audigy2

6) keeping my NEC FE1250 22" monitor

7) 2 new hard drives, Maxtor 10 SATA 200MB

one more thing, i get some discount for maxtor drives and asus boards, my friend is a dealer

one more question:

i really don't need a really big GPU and CPU, basically am satisfied wih my current overclocked Athlon XP overlocked on 2000+ and overclocked 9550GE/TD. i do a upgrade mainly for SATA controlers, USB2.0 and FireWire

does is make sense, in money terms, for me to jump over to nforce4, buy a AMD64 for 939 and have to buy a pci-e card? how big are the benefits, compared to cost?

[KamiQuazi]

To keep the prices down, AMD has made a 64-bit Sempron on the 754 motherboard.... wanna look at one?

Whats your total amount that u can spend?

Here is a link to the 64 Semprons...

AMD Sempron 64

Here is a link to the AMD 64-bit...

AMD Athlon 64 (Socket 754)

A motherboard for the 754 cpu... it includes the firewire, DDR 400, and a NForce 3 250gb NorthBridge...

Abit NF8 ATX AMD MotherBoard

Edited August 27, 2005 by lostincyberspace2007

[ripken204]

mobo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16813130468

MSI K8N NEO2 PLATINUM which is s939, agp, and nforce3

cpu:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16819103537

3000 venice

what ram is that? and do u plan on overclocking?

if i u can afford to get nforce4 and a pci-e card then do it! nforce4 allows ALOT of expandability in the future

Edited August 27, 2005 by ripken204

[ivelimirovic]

mobo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16813130468

MSI K8N NEO2 PLATINUM which is s939, agp, and nforce3

cpu:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16819103537

3000 venice

what ram is that? and do u plan on overclocking?

if i u can afford to get nforce4 and a pci-e card then do it! nforce4 allows ALOT of expandability in the future

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

LAST time i bought a system, i planned it for overclocking. it was 4 years ago, i bought a EPOX VIAKT233 based board (overclocker's choice, in that time), quality RAM and an unlocked Athlon XP (not of them were, in that time). in past four years, i tried how much can i overclock my system, gained something like 20%, felt happy and then returned to fatcory settings. currently, i overclock graphic card with ATITool in 3d apps, and 'overclocked' the mb from 133 to 140Mhz (pathetetic). so, this time (based on my expirience) i don't really mind how much system is overclockable. as for RAM, i only want to have lots of it, it really speeds my ususal work (currently i have 768mb, but, hey, it's an UPGRADE, why not go for 1GB )

as for the CPU, i have a friend who gives me a discount on hardware, and he has a AMD 0.13 newcastle 64 3000+ and AMD 0.09 venice 64 3200+ for 50EUR more, so i consider upgrade this is not really worth it, and the MB is also slightly more expensive. for that money, i would rather like to see ANOTHER hdd in my machine, yes, i'm a maniac, i know

as for pci-e, i already own AGP card which suits my modest gaming needs, and i don't think AGP will die THAT fast...

my main question was if there is a point of NOT connecting two MAXTOR SATA 200mb (also on discount) in RAID or not, but i think you guys have a point - i'll do what you suggested (make a RAID), thanks everybody!

of course if you have any suggestions, i would welcome them!

thanks!

[KamiQuazi]

ur welcome, dude!