RAID (Software or Hardware)

[jiewmeng]

i read that with current technology, software RAID will provide better performance (uses faster CPUs). is it true? what other factors will you consider and which shld i choose

also if i use software RAID whats a good software? i think i will either use RAID1 or 5.

 

[Everlong]

For a home computer, then software RAID is probably the best to go for. Hardware RAID starts to get expensive if you want the best speeds.

RAID5 is probably better to go for, as in your other thread, you were wanting a performance increase. RAID1 is just mirroring, so you write the file to one disk, then write the same file to the second disk. Read speeds are the same as what they would be with just a single drive, and write speeds are slower.

RAID5 is striping with parity, as I explained in your other thread. A file is striped across two drives, and then to the third drive. Read speeds are increased like with RAID0, as you're only reading half the file from each disk, but write files are slower too because of the parity checking.

 

[jiewmeng]

thanks. but what software RAID do u recommend?

 

[Everlong]

I've only used RAID with Nvidia nForce RAID controllers, but most motherboards come with onboard RAID. Intel RAID controllers, I imagine, will be decent as well. Just stay away from the JMicron ports on the motherboard if it has any.