Reconfigure to RAID 0

N

neogamer

New Member
Any ideas on who to change to a RAID 0 configuration after your have installed the O/S? I am using VISTA HOME PREMIUM 64 Bit, 780i mobod

Yes, I realize I will need 2 hard drives, and not the single one I have.

Or, do I just have to start all over? Can I start all over simply be reinstalling, or does Microsoft have some kind of check to prevent a second installation?

Thanks,
 
Creating a RAID kills all data upon creation. Why do you want to run RAID 0? It won't offer you any more FPS or video game performance.
 
I'm thinking of better/faster boot time and saving time during writes and reads. I don't think that RAID 0 would improve operating performance, but the Quad Core should handl that.

Thanks for the questions, but doesn't answer how I would do it. For example, if I have to re-install the O/S, will Microsoft let me? This is a new build (August 2009).

And, if I backed up data and programs using Acronis, could I then restore them under the new configuration?
 
Yes you can reinstall the os, and i love my raid 0 drives, game levels load a good bit faster, and i transfer alot of large files over my network, and the raid 0 has a very fast transfer rate. Only thing that sucks is, if one of the hard drives fails, your sol.
 
I know there is no redundancy with RAID 0, but I am not convinced I need to go with RAID 5. Thanks for the suggestion - I will look into it.

WIth regard to the recovery of programs and/or data, any problems you would anticipate once I reinstall the operating system? THe reinstall would just acknowledge that it is a RAID configuration and proceed?



Thanks
 
RAID technology is not really an end user solution unless you need data throughput. It won't help for gaming.
 
Once you've setup the disks in a RAID 0 configuration, insert the Vista DVD and start the installation process. The array will probably be recoginized by Windows as "NVIDIA Stripe." That's how my config was recognized with the 680i. You'll need to format the array; if you receive an error message, such as, "this device is not recognized by Windows" (I'm paraphrasing), then you'll likely need to install RAID drivers. The drivers will be on a floppy that was supplied with your mobo.
 
You usually have to make the floppy yourself but the driver for it should be on the CD of drivers that came with your motherboard. If not, it EVGA will have a download for it on their website.
 
mep916 mentions casually 'once you've setup the disks as RAID 0' as if I understand what you mean.


I think this involves BIOS, but am not sure. Could you enlighten me?

If I install a 2nd hard drive, would this come up when I boot?

By the way, I'm just getting back to gaming, but do a lot of OFFICE applications including large spreadsheets and WORD documents.
 
tlarkin said:
spread sheets and word documents will not benefit from RAID 0. I still recommend you don't do it.
Click to expand...

I agree, a RAID0 would do very little for you and increase the chances of a failure. If you were working with large video files then you may see some performance benefits but for just office/internet and the like it's not worth the increased risk.
 
neogamer said:
mep916 mentions casually 'once you've setup the disks as RAID 0' as if I understand what you mean.
Click to expand...

eVGA 780i Manual

If you own the XFX model, you'll have to go to their website and register the board if you want access to the manual.

Anyway, it's been several months since I setup a RAID array on my 680i, so I can't give you step by step instructions from memory. Read the manual I linked above and that should answer your questions. I remember it being very simple, taking less than 5 minutes.
 
This is how you do it and I still say its not worth it

1) back up any and all data you need to another source

2) Enter your BIOS and set your SATA controller to RAID mode

3) Enter your RAID BIOS, it will prompt you to hit a key during the boot strap to enter the RAID BIOS

4) Create your RAID array with the on screen menus, and select your two drives and create RAID 0 - This will destroy all data on your drive

5) Boot off your Windows installation disk, and load the raid controller drivers during the installer

6) Install Windows

done
 
I've had issues with RAID on every board I've owned, so I also agree w/ tlarkin and Cromewell that it's likely not worth it - especially in your situation. Let's just say I haven't yet learned my lesson, and I don't care about losing data. :P

If you go with RAID 0, do not put any important data on the array. Important files you'd like to keep should be kept on a seperate hard drive. I only install my operating system, games and programs on my array, and they all can be reinstalled if I experience drive failure or data corruption.
 
HI,
Why not run RAID 1 which only requires two drives? There is no speed advantage but full redundancy prevents one disk failure from wiping out your system. I have identical dual 500gB SATA disks configured in RAID 1 on my Vista 32 machine. It works like a charm.

While I have not had any disk failures on thie new machine (I built it in Feb, 2008), I did have a power failure last week while I was on line that caused the disks to be out of sync. This is the functional equivalent of a failed disk. The condition was detected and after about 4 hours of work, the computer repaired itself. Obviousy, a write command was interrupted. It required nothing from me except patience and crossed fingers. All is well again and the machine is again running in full RAID 1. Pretty neat.

Boy, I need to get my UPS batteries replaced. It was out of the system when the power failure occured.

Sparky
 
karma said:
HI,
Why not run RAID 1 which only requires two drives? There is no speed advantage but full redundancy prevents one disk failure from wiping out your system. I have identical dual 500gB SATA disks configured in RAID 1 on my Vista 32 machine. It works like a charm.

While I have not had any disk failures on thie new machine (I built it in Feb, 2008), I did have a power failure last week while I was on line that caused the disks to be out of sync. This is the functional equivalent of a failed disk. The condition was detected and after about 4 hours of work, the computer repaired itself. Obviousy, a write command was interrupted. It required nothing from me except patience and crossed fingers. All is well again and the machine is again running in full RAID 1. Pretty neat.

Boy, I need to get my UPS batteries replaced. It was out of the system when the power failure occured.

Sparky
Click to expand...

RAID 1 decreases performance since both drives have to be in sync and read/write at the exact same time. It also doesn't protect from viruses, you get a virus and then it is mirrored on your secondary drive.
 
HI tlarkin,
That is true about viruses. After all RAID 1 drives are mirror images. But as the virus is cleaned up, it is cleaned on both drives. But the point of RAID is not computer security. It is either about speed or redundancy or both depending upon the RAID configuration. With RAID you will be in no worse shape than if you have a non-RAID system. Do not use RAID if you expect virus protection. It won't, nor is it expected to, provide it.

There is a small performance price for RAID 1 but it is not noticible. In fact, it is difficult to benchmark. Some have even claimed a small performance improvement under the right circumstances. But generally, I accept a small decrease.

Are you saying the safety provided by RAID 1 is negated by the small performance loss? If this is your claim, you have never crashed a disk and had to completely rebuild your disk. I totally disagree with you if that is what you are saying. That's silly.

If absolute, screaming disk speed is the need, then, by all means use RAID 0. But there is no redundancy.

Sparky
 
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Thanks for all the help guys.

I'm now thinking that one option is to get a new PC with 5 velociraptorts and start all over with RAID 5, or maybe only 2 with Raid 9. Screwing around with trying to retrofit it appears to be way to complicated and risky, with nominal benefits.

Or, since I only got my PC last month, forget the whole thing for a few years and I want to start over.

Great discussion and tips. I do appreciate the sharing, and education.

I'm going to stick with what I have.
 
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