Raid 0 or Bigger SSD

[CoolBeans]

Hello building a new PC and I was wondering if I should go with 2 128GB Samsung 840 Pro's or just get one 256GB 840 Pro. I wont have a raid card.

 

If I raid 0 it would be an extra 50$ would the performance be worth it

[CobaltMK33]

If you can accept the risks of doing a RAID 0 and not a RAID 10/5, then go ahead with the two SSDs. Nothing wrong with double performance. Except losing everything very easily. I'd back them up with a Hard Drive or an External Hard Drive.

[Oisin Maguire]

go with the one 256GB as you would double your likely hood of one dying the other way

[Theo]

I had the same dilemma sometime ago, go with 2 ssd in raid0

[Brother]

A year ago I went with the 2 x 120GB option (same dilemma) but a few months later I decided to change my motherboard and it was a lot of fuss to change things. I had to transfer from raid 0 to normal AHCI and it took a lot of my time (I did it though), so I switched to 1 x 240GB so it is easier in the future because I change my PC components very often.

[hasan.intisar97]

I would say it depends on your budget and if you plan to have a backup or not.

 

For example, if you are going to have a hard drive that is mirroring the RAID 0 array, and the $50 difference isn't going to kill you go for it. If you will not have a hard drive backing up the RAID 0 I would definitely advise against it unless the only thing you have on the SSDs are Windows and Programs and your files are elsewhere. 

 

Also keep in mind, a 256GB 840Pro will do better than a single 128GB model because the better bins go to the better product, although a RAID0 of 2 840Pros will most likely demolish the 256GB single in synthetic benchmarks, and probably give you faster real world performance as well. 

 

Currently in my rig I have: 

128GB 840 Pro that holds Windows + Programs (Adobe Premiere, After Affects, Photoshop, Visual Studio 2012, and Office) (All legally obtained through High School :D)

     The SSD I backup to a HDD once or twice a month. 

750GB Seagate Barracuda that I use to hold all of my personal files to leave space on the SSD.

     The HDD I backup every Sunday to a different HDD

 

Although hard drive's are pretty cheap, it could add another $50-100 to your order on top of the $50 more you are already investing in a RAID 0, by all means if your budget allows you to, DO IT. Just make sure you ask someone who has the same motherboard as you or at least their motherboard has the same sata controller how it deals with RAID0. A slower computer > a buggy computer.

 I have owned 6 SSDs myself and installed them for others as well and the 840 Pro is by far the fastest I have seen, and this is only a single 128GB model. 

 

 

Here is benchmarks of my single 840 Pro, taken while I was still browsing the internet and had background programs running. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CobaltMK33]

A year ago I went with the 2 x 120GB option (same dilemma) but a few months later I decided to change my motherboard and it was a lot of fuss to change things. I had to transfer from raid 0 to normal AHCI and it took a lot of my time (I did it though), so I switched to 1 x 240GB so it is easier in the future because I change my PC components very often.

 

This is a great point, if you're thinking of upgrading in the near future then it'll be a heck of a lot easier to just go with one larger SSD. I'll probably do that because I'm upgrading to Haswell here soon.