Add RAID Support

[Gramidar]

So I have this https://pcpartpicker.com/user/gramidar/saved/#view=gt7d99 it is my current VR Rig.

 

I would just love to connect both 2gb barracuda drives into a single raid 0 for my storage for the games to help loading and installing.

It only runs my HTC Vive pro steam windows and just doesn't have support raid, and replacement boards at this time are too expensive(new) and the used one on ebay I just don't trust.

 

I'm not really familiar with raid controllers I feel adding a PCI-e card so that I can get the Raid 0 for the two 2gb barracuda drives and the performance that comes with it is a way better option, since I prefer to just keep all the games I have installed for the VR and I'm up to 1TB installed now.

 

Anyone that has experience with them Id prefer to just be able to install the card the raid controller setup via a post message to setup the raid. Id like to not spend more then 80$ and only need the two drives in the raid. And it just work with windows 10.

[Oshino Shinobu]

You can just use Windows software "RAID" to stripe the drives together without needing to worry about a dedicated card. 

 

For a use case like this, that's the better option IMO. 

[Windows7ge]

Look into Windows Storage Spaces and create a Simple pool. Save yourself the money. The performance shouldn't be impacted by any significant degree for the application as oppose to using a dedicated hardware controller.

[Gramidar]

What kind of performance hit will I take using the VR doing it that way thou. I already don't use 4k as my desktop resolution so I can save a lot for the game/applications being displayed on the VIVE I see a good 4-8ms more latency when my desktop is at 4k vs 1k(1080). Again I admit I have no experience in those differences SH vs HW and all. I understand how raid systems work but not how the different chipsets or software options could effect the VR UX.

 

I also have looked for some type of benchmarks in my use case pretty niche market on that...

[Oshino Shinobu]

1 minute ago, Gramidar said:

What kind of performance hit will I take using the VR doing it that way thou. I already don't use 4k as my desktop resolution so I can save a lot for the game/applications being displayed on the VIVE I see a good 4-8ms more latency when my desktop is at 4k vs 1k(1080). Again I admit I have no experience in those differences SH vs HW and all. I understand how raid systems work but not how the different chipsets or software options could effect the VR UX.

None, really. Striping has virtually no CPU overhead as it's not performing parity calculations or anything complex. 

 

You also have the option to trying it and seeing for yourself if it makes any difference. It won't cost you anything to set it up, so might as well try it first. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Gramidar said:

What kind of performance hit will I take using the VR doing it that way thou. I already don't use 4k as my desktop resolution so I can save a lot for the game/applications being displayed on the VIVE I see a good 4-8ms more latency when my desktop is at 4k vs 1k(1080). Again I admit I have no experience in those differences SH vs HW and all. I understand how raid systems work but not how the different chipsets or software options could effect the VR UX.

basically not performance hit. Raid uses very little performance on a modern cpu. You won't notice the different.