another raptor for raid 0, worth it?

[lostplanet]

is 2 X raptor 37 GB in raid 0 performance gain worth the extra expense compared to single 37 raptor running OS and games?

Asus A8V D rev 2
A64 venice 3500
2X 512Mb OCZ platinum rev 2 ddr 400
2?? or 1?? wd raptor 37 for OS and games
1 X 120 GB maxtor sata 8MB
X800XTPE sapphire
enermax 480w coolergiant atx 2
audigy...
XP Pro SP1
Mainly gaming

thanks

[apu318]

Do you transfer large files, do photopshop, video/audio authoring? If you answered yes to any of these questions, than Raid-0 will have some bennifit for you. Gaming, sort of. It doesn't have that much of an impact in gaming. There is a thread about gaming load times with and without raid-0. I can't remember what the results were, but check it out.

[wdeep4]

The continuing saga of raid vs no raid. You'll find just as many opinions here as there are people, I'd suspect. As for me, I run 2 Raptors in Raid 0. My rig seems to be much more responsive that way. If you have the money, why not just give it a shot and see what you think for yourself? As for me, I'm sold on it. But that's just my opinion...

[lostplanet]

thanks i should have looked more closely at the stickys before i posted sorry.
amazing reading, vert interesting and im only on page 2 lol
still undecided....atm

[ajrettke]

From what I've read 36gb's have a larger benefit of going into RAID 0 than 74gb raptors. I still however, don't think the small performance gain is worth the risk/hassle/cost

[Bad ConNecTioN]

Coming from someone who ran a single 37gb Raptor, and now has two in Raid 0 I can officially say the answer is maybe...

The increase I experienced in day to day activities was a small one. The increase I experienced in game load times was a little more noticable, but still not night and day. The increase I experienced in Windows boot times was perhaps the biggest of all (and of most importance to me) with a reduction of around two seconds.

However, the biggest advantage of all with adding a second Raptor was perhaps the most obvious...more space. 37gb is nothing when you start talking about todays hottest games. Had I stuck with only one I would have ran out of room awhile ago. Since I ended up with two Raptors I decided I might aswell Raid them.

I am completely satisfied with my decision, but then again I am an impatient person. Two seconds to me at start up is practically a lifetime. The only problem now is I can never go back to slower drives.


Should you purchase a second Raptor? My answer is no. I recommend you start saving for a single 74gb Raptor as that appears to be the best solution when it comes to cost, speed, and space. However, should you want more space for games and such...then maybe buying another Raptor is not a bad idea. Hell, since you have two you might aswell Raid them ;)


Enjoy

[Scott9027]

If you can afford 2 36 gig Raptors then you should just get a 74 gig, and then add another one later on if you want to.

[Bad ConNecTioN]

He already has one 36gb Raptor.

[Airbornederekc]

if u already have a 36gb then hell ya get another raid 0 is nice. ive noticed an overall improvement in just opening of all applications file accessing and all thag goodness. and yes game load times do increase quite a bit

[Bad ConNecTioN]

Don't you mean decrease :p

[Shadowknight281]

I haven't noticed much difference in a 7200rpm vs. the Raptor. I noticed a better loading time with games when using 2 7200rpm drives in RAID... but one failed, and the other soon after. Safer to use 1 drive IMHO.

I've found the Raptor doesn't make much of a difference in loading Windows - what helps the most is turning off unnecessary things in BIOS (on-board sound if you don't use it, firewire, etc) and managing system settings in Windows to disable other devices you never actually use.

[orion25]

Well, I have 2 X 36 GB Raptors in RAID0. Not sure how they would perform as 2 drives though. I did the RAID for the wow factor. HL2 loads pretty quickly in my experience though.

As has been said a lot. Go with RAID0 if you want some small speed improvements. Do not use it if you have data that you cannot afford to lose............

[Recursion]

I haven't noticed much difference in a 7200rpm vs. the Raptor. I noticed a better loading time with games when using 2 7200rpm drives in RAID... but one failed, and the other soon after. Safer to use 1 drive IMHO.

I've found the Raptor doesn't make much of a difference in loading Windows - what helps the most is turning off unnecessary things in BIOS (on-board sound if you don't use it, firewire, etc) and managing system settings in Windows to disable other devices you never actually use.

um, My pc. 18 seconds to load windows on WD 7200RPm drive. Wd raptor 8 seconds.

id say you are just a hater.


for somebody like me who reinstalls windows and formats every 2 weeks. raid 0 is great. I love it and wouldent have it any other way.

[Edo]

for somebody like me who reinstalls windows and formats every 2 weeks. raid 0 is great. I love it and wouldent have it any other way.
Your comp must stuff up a little lol?

Even tho i don't have raid, i'd go with it due to the extra quick loading times.

[techtro]

Well, I have 2 X 36 GB Raptors in RAID0. Not sure how they would perform as 2 drives though. I did the RAID for the wow factor. HL2 loads pretty quickly in my experience though.

As has been said a lot. Go with RAID0 if you want some small speed improvements. Do not use it if you have data that you cannot afford to lose............


or you can have 4 x 36gig raptors in raid 0+1 :)