I Need Some HDD Config Recommendations

**CDsDontBurn** · 12-03-2012, 07:45 AM

I'm about to be building my new system within a week or so and I have two extra HDDs I want to be putting in RAID 0. The problem is though, I already have my OS drive. What I'm asking here is for recommendations on what type of setup I should run here and why. The hard drives I have are a WD 250GB HDD I'm currently using as my OS and I acquired 2x Samsung HDDs, and possibly also using my current 320GB Seagate HDD as well. Below are the configurations I'm thinking of using:

Single Boot: 250GB as OS (win7), 2x 320GBs RAID 0 for games / programs
Dual Boot: 2x 320GBs RAID 0 for primary OS (win7), 250GB as secondary OS (win8 )
Single Boot: 2x RAID 0 (win7)
Single Boot: 250GB HDD (win7), set up all 3 of my 320GB HDDs in RAID 5 (2x Samsung, 1x Seagate) for storage / programs / games
Single Boot: 3x 320GB RAID 0 (win7), 250GB HDD (win8 )
Single Boot: 3x 320GB RAID 0, 250GB HDD (storage - optional)

What do you guys think I should do? I like all of them for different reasons, but I'm unsure which way I should go. Currently, I'm leaning on setting up the first option above, but I also like the RAID 5 option for storage. On a performance level though, the last two options would be the best way to go all around.

IDK. So many different options I have here but not sure which option to go with. This is why I need the help of B3D here.

**Goliath182** · 12-03-2012, 04:45 PM

I really like the first option personally. I prefer to have the OS have the non RAID setup even though it will take a little longer to load. Your games will thank you. My second choice would be go all out RAID 0.

**altereDad** · 12-03-2012, 06:08 PM

Before I suggest anything....

1. what are the RPM of the drives?
2. are you intending on running multi-boot down the road?

**Joshua_Mahr** · 12-03-2012, 06:14 PM

Type speed and interface of all drives available would be nice. It would be much easier to give you your best options.

**CDsDontBurn** · 12-03-2012, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Goliath182

I really like the first option personally. I prefer to have the OS have the non RAID setup even though it will take a little longer to load. Your games will thank you. My second choice would be go all out RAID 0.

All those options I like TBH. Though, I'm not sure which one I'll end up doing. I might not end up doing the 3 disk RAID 0 or RAID 5 as I currently have data on my 320GB Seagate drive that I'd have to migrate over somewhere for that to get working.

I also want to check out win8 too just so I know what the fuss about that is all about. Though, I might just load up Virtual Machine on my computer and install win8 on that. So, IDK.

And If I can muster it up, I'll probably buy an SSD to retire my 250GB HDD and use the SSD for my OS and the RAID 0 for games. Or maybe the other way around. IDK. I'll end up doing something though of course.

**Joshua_Mahr** · 12-03-2012, 06:25 PM

If your sure you will be getting an SSD, I would look into a LSI MegaRAID card. Use two HDD in Raid 1 and the SSD for Cache. That would be quite fast.

**CDsDontBurn** · 12-03-2012, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by altereDad

Before I suggest anything....

1. what are the RPM of the drives?
2. are you intending on running multi-boot down the road?

1. The HDD info is in my OP. But, to say it again, the 3x 320GB HDDs are all 7200RPM 16MB buffer drives. 2 of them are Samsung drives and the 3rd is by Seagate

2. I am thinking of doing a win7 / win8 dual boot but I haven't decided on that. That's one of the options I listed up above in my OP.

Originally Posted by Joshua_Mahr

Type speed and interface of all drives available would be nice. It would be much easier to give you your best options.

All 4 drives are SATA II, 16MB buffer, 7200 RPM. Aside from the single 250GB HDD, the other three are 320GB which is why I'm considering doing a 2 disk or 3 disk RAID array of some sort.

Originally Posted by Joshua_Mahr

If your sure you will be getting an SSD, I would look into a LSI MegaRAID card. Use two HDD in Raid 1 and the SSD for Cache. That would be quite fast.

I'm not sure if or when I'd be getting the SSD though. And if I get a RAID card, I would be using it to connect to an external enclosure and setting up a minimum 5 disk RAID 5 on it.