More RAM or RAID 0

[wpaul281]

I am getting ready to move from 7 premium 32 bit to ultra 64 bit witch would benefit me more. Hard drives will be WD caviar blue 500gb and I already have 4gb or RAM.

 

[Zepher]

you have to tell us what you do with the machine first.

 

[1Bowtie]

And if you go raid 0, if one drive goes you lose everthing on both drives so i'm not a fan of Raid

 

[Zepher]

And if you go raid 0, if one drive goes you lose everthing on both drives so i'm not a fan of Raid

that is why you have a backup.
Install your OS and apps on the Raid, image that install to your backup, and re-image your backup drive every month.

 

[Wishmaster]

Alternatively, if you don't mind spending a bit of money, invest in a SSD for the OS and Apps.

Use 1 of the 500GB HDs for all User DATA/Files and the other as a back up drive. (If you do not have a drive or external for backups now)

If you do have a back up drive for images already, same thing only you also have the RAID 0 option for the 2 HDs for USER DATA

This would serve far greater performance improvements over adding more RAM.

 

[wpaul281]

not reading very good reviews and commits on the SSD's as far as reliability. Great performance and a bit pricey.
I am very good at backing my personal data up so not worried about failure to much. As far as what the machine is used for mainly photo editing some video and web surfing.

 

[LiquidSnak]

RAM will help you more with editing than RAID will. I would personally start with that.

 

[wpaul281]

The down side to doing the RAM is I have 32bit XP as a dual boot so it will not help that at all.

 

[Dave76]

What are your system specs?

For most systems the extra RAM will help with photo editing.

 

[wpaul281]

CPU intel dual core 2.93GHz 1066 FSB, DDR2 RAM 4gb 1066 FSB,

 

[wpaul281]

Main reason for asking is I found the same hard drive I have now for $40 and since I am changing OS's anyway wondering if it is worth the money??

 

[pparks1]

Increasing from 4GB to 8GB or more or RAM may make no difference whatsoever depending upon what you use your computer for. Adding more RAM is not a guaranteed win.

 

[DeaconFrost]

The down side to doing the RAM is I have 32bit XP as a dual boot so it will not help that at all.

It's 2010....virtualize the XP install, and add more memory. RAID0 is nearly pointless in a workstation environment, and the huge increase in risk isn't worth the very small, theoretical gain in performance you probably wouldn't see anyway.

 

[wpaul281]

maybe I will look into the ssd a little more I seen the 32gb corsair for less than a $100

 

[LiquidSnak]

For just over $100 you can get double that.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

For just under double that you can get a Sata III adapter and a Crucial Real SSD 64gb that will rock your computing world !

 

[wpaul281]

Any experience with the Corsair Reactors

 

[wpaul281]

SATA III adapter using a PCIe card???

 

[Dave76]

Most of the SSDs on this site are the better performers on the market, have a look at the ones listed.
You can pick any two and compare them side by side.

AnandTech SSD Benchmark

 

[linnemeyerhere]

wpaul128,
I don't have any time with the Corsair Reactors. But here is a link to the adapter so you mobo can be brought up to current sata and usb spec's.Asus Serial ATA Controllers at TigerDirect no need to throw the baby out with the bath water as they say !