RAID 0 reading material

[SpaceCore]

I'm going to setup RAID 0. This is my first time setting up raid so I would like some reading material, please. Links!

 

I did some googling and from my understanding I might need HDD RAID drivers? to be installed on the windows installation screen.

My motherboard (ASRock FM2A55M-VG3+) has Raid configuration in the storage advance options. Currently on AHCI mode.

 

some questions:

Should I switch from AHCI to RAID mode in the motherboard? if yes, then what? install windows?

Do I really need RAID drivers? or will windows 7 ultimate/motherboard cover that during installation?

 

I'm not sure how this process goes so any help/pointers are appreciated.

 

P.S I am aware that if one drive fails or the controller does, I lose all data. I am ok with this. I just want to go fast(er).

 

edit:
found my motherboard's RAID drivers & Utility.

add drivers to USB > switch to RAID mode in bios > setup RAID 0 with MB utility > begin windows installation > install RAID driver from USB when disk selection comes up > Done?

[MisterZero]

Here you go! @SpaceCore

 

[SpaceCore]

@MisterZero

 

I'm having a little problem. When I'm going to setup RAID in the bios, it won't use full capacity.

 

1 drive is 160GB, the other is 640GB (total of 780GB)

When I select "Use full capacity" it only uses 320GB for RAID 0.

 

If I manually select 700GB it says invalid value.

 

help?

 

found this info:
>The RAID 0 will only take the maximum capacity of the smaller of the disks :

2TB (considered as 250GB) + 2TB (considered as 250GB) + 250GB = 750 GB

 

in my case, 160 + 160 = 320

[bbrooking18]

@MisterZero

 

I'm having a little problem. When I'm going to setup RAID in the bios, it won't use full capacity.

 

1 drive is 160GB, the other is 640GB (total of 780GB)

When I select "Use full capacity" it only uses 320GB for RAID 0.

 

If I manually select 700GB it says invalid value.

 

help?

The drives have to be the same size for Raid 0, in this case 2x160GB = 320GB

[SpaceCore]

ok now I have to make a decision.. Have 780GB with a slow transfer rate, or 320GB with a fast one.

*sigh*

 

edit:

is the performance boost really noticeable? because if it is, I'll do it. 320GB ;/

[SpaceCore]

ok, I'm doing it.

 

[bbrooking18]

ok now I have to make a decision.. Have 780GB with a slow transfer rate, or 320GB with a fast one.

*sigh*

 

edit:

is the performance boost really noticeable? because if it is, I'll do it. 320GB ;/

Are you using two mechanical drives?

[SpaceCore]

Are you using two mechanical drives?

yessir

[MisterZero]

Well good luck

And using 2 mechanical drives in RAID 0... I don't know that it would be a very noticeable difference.

I did it with 2 SSDs and it wasn't enough of a difference to be something I would advise doing.

[SpaceCore]

Well good luck

And using 2 mechanical drives in RAID 0... I don't know that it would be a very noticeable difference.

I did it with 2 SSDs and it wasn't enough of a difference to be something I would advise doing.

would you say that with mechanical drives its about 15% increase? more? less?

[bbrooking18]

yessir

http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/storage/partition-your-hard-drive-keep-your-data-safe-1213797

 

this will give you a step by step guide for making your larger drive into two smaller parts so that you would be able to use two 160GB drives for Raid 0 and the remainder will be a third drive (obviously do a backup)

[SpaceCore]

http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/storage/partition-your-hard-drive-keep-your-data-safe-1213797

 

this will give you a step by step guide for making your larger drive into two smaller parts so that you would be able to use two 160GB drives for Raid 0 and the remainder will be a third drive (obviously do a backup)

I don't have anything to back up

Windows already finished installing, but I don't mind re-installing.

 

Would it be possible to shrink the volume after RAID is already setup (I'm thinking no)

 

I'll undo RAID, Partition through windows installation, and then redo RAID. This is ok?

[bbrooking18]

I don't have anything to back up

Windows already finished installing, but I don't mind re-installing.

 

Would it be possible to shrink the volume after RAID is already setup (I'm thinking no)

 

I'll undo RAID, Partition through windows installation, and then redo RAID. This is ok?

Yeah should be as along as you end up with two drives at 160GB, are you going to use the Raid 0 for boot?

[SpaceCore]

Yeah should be as along as you end up with two drives at 160GB, are you going to use the Raid 0 for boot?

 

yea for boot.

[bbrooking18]

yea for boot.

Well good luck 

[Keystone Nyan Cat]

As for asking about speed improvements, I definitely have noticed a difference up to 1.8x what it was to my original 1 drive solution. From what I've read, RAID 0 really isn't unstable, what causes your data to get lost is a drive dropping out of an array, which is more times than not caused by it going bad; so if you test your drives before setting them in a RAID 0 array and if everything is alright, you shouldn't need a backup (been rocking my setup since 1.5 years no problem ) If you want I can attack a HDTune shot of my drives performance with and without RAID 0 enabled.

[SpaceCore]

If you want I can attack a HDTune shot of my drives performance with and without RAID 0 enabled.

yes pls!

[Keystone Nyan Cat]

Attached the pics. I hope this helps!