How can I run an HDD in RAID configuration?

[CreepyBobo346]

I am currently in the process of choosing my parts for my PC, and I am also buying some games.

I was thinking "What if my data gets corrupt?"

So I remembered what RAID was.
But I don't know how to run HDDs in RAID configuration.

This is what I know:

RAID0- Gives faster performance, but if one drive fails both of them fail.
RAID1- Slows down performance, but gives better data security.

I want to keep all my data so I want to run 2 HDDs in RAID1, but I don't know how. (As mentioned)

Question: Can I run 2 HDDs of different capacities in RAID?

OR should I just forget all about this and buy a 128GB (All the games I will download will be around 99.150 GigaBytes).

 

[vegettonox]

Raid 1 is just a mirror of the other disk, it doesn't slow performance down. Let us know what your motherboard model is, some have hardware built in for raid others you would have to use windows software raid. You can run different capacities but you will only have a raid 1 based on the size of the smallest drive. If you bought a 120 gig solid state you would get vastly better performance but no redundancy if it was to fail, although the chances are generally lower for ssds.

 

[gilbadon]

Just get an SSD and a hard drive for storage. You do not need to do raid and hard drives, despite horror stories, actually last quite a while and do not corrupt very often. I suggest just putting everything extremely important on the cloud.

I personally think raid 1 is useless. Once you get to raid 10 where you get the best of both worlds, then I see the benefit. But you need more than 2 drive for raid 10.

 

[USAFRet]

RAID 1 is not a backup.

It is used in a moneymaking operation (webstore, for instance), when continuous operation is absolutely necessary.
There are far easier, safer ways to keep your data back upped.

As for your question...2 different size HDD:
1 TB drive + 2TB drive + RAID 1 = 1TB RAID array.

 

[CreepyBobo346]

How would I copy data onto an SSD?

Is there a separate number (Like C (Colon here)) for an SSD?

Or I could just get an 128GB FD (Flash Drive) for a cheaper price (I think) or
4 32GB FDs

 

[USAFRet]

How would I copy data onto an SSD?

Is there a separate number (Like C (Colon here)) for an SSD?

Or I could just get an 128GB FD (Flash Drive) for a cheaper price (I think) or
4 32GB FDs

What do you mean by "copy data onto an SSD" ?

 

[CreepyBobo346]

Like, put data onto an SSD instead of a Hard Drive.
If both of these are in a system wouldn't all the data go onto 1 drive?

So is there separate drive icons on your OS control panel for your storage systems?

 

[USAFRet]

Your best way forward is the OS and applications on the SSD. That is, in fact, far faster than 2 x HDD in RAID 0.

You can designate whichever drive you want for application installs.

For other data (doc/movies/music/downloads), see this:

Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html


Multiple drives in one system is very common, and recommended. My main system has 5.

 

[CreepyBobo346]

Thanks for answering my other thread.


So I don't need any of this just get an SSD or an External Storage?
I SSD is $40 for 120GB (Corsair Force LX) and $60 for something that is slower but no problem, all I need is storage nothing else.

But my main HDD is 7200RPM (I need it to boot windows and store shtuffz)

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for answering my other thread.


So I don't need any of this just get an SSD or an External Storage?
I SSD is $40 for 120GB (Corsair Force LX) and $60 for something that is slower but no problem, all I need is storage nothing else.

But my main HDD is 7200RPM (I need it to boot windows and store shtuffz)

This is all backwards.

SSD for OS and 'booting'. Also, applications.
Large HDD for other stuff (storage).

Where are you seeing a 120GB SSD for $40?

 

[USAFRet]

You are making a new PC. This is what you should do for drives:

120 (or larger) SSD. This is for the OS and applications.
1TB (or larger) for stuff that does not fit on the SSD, or does not need the SSD speed.

Remember, you need to leave 15% or so free space on the SSD. For a 120, do not go over 100GB used space

 

[CreepyBobo346]

Click SSD for link: SSD

I don't really need an SSD for starting up anything, I only needed storage and some data security (External Hard Drive or 2ND Drive)

 

[USAFRet]

Click SSD for link: SSD

I don't really need an SSD for starting up anything, I only needed storage and some data security (External Hard Drive or 2ND Drive)

1. That shows $60 to me, not $40.

2. You are seriously missing out on the benefit of the SSD by what you propose. If all you want is extra storage, just get a 1TB HDD for the same price.

3. That is not a great SSD.

 

[CreepyBobo346]

I needed an external form of storage, not an internal. (No offense)

The internal data might go corrupt.
The external HDD would have a higher chance of not going corrupt because it isn't getting shared with anything unless it goes bad while I'm using the computer.

 

[USAFRet]

I needed an external form of storage, not an internal. (No offense)

The internal data might go corrupt.
The external HDD would have a higher chance of not going corrupt because it isn't getting shared with anything uless it goes bad while I'm using the computer.

External HDD's have an annoying tendency to jump off the desk.

 

[CreepyBobo346]

I could just pick it up...Unless it breaks...

Also I will connect it on top of my case which will be down on the floor, which is carpet, and the case space on the desk is closed off the, only parts that are open are the back and the front.

Also I switched my EHD (External Hard Drive):
Click Me

 

[USAFRet]

I could just pick it up...Unless it breaks...

Also I will connect it on top of my case which will be down on the floor, which is carpet, and the case space on the desk is closed off the, only parts that are open are the back and the front.

Also I switched my EHD (External Hard Drive):
Click Me

That is a perfectly fine external drive.
But when one falls off whatever it is on....just picking it up doesn't work. Often, it is toast.

 

[CreepyBobo346]

Define "Toast" (I'm not good with sayings or whatever they're called)

 

[USAFRet]

Define "Toast" (I'm not good with sayings or whatever they're called)

Toast = broken.
A dropped hard drive rarely works properly again.

 

[CreepyBobo346]

I could put in a case?
I'm not sure
And also (Not to be rude) my desk is pretty sealed, its up against a wall and has 2 "walls" next to it.

And this EHD is pretty cheap, I could just buy another one or an SSD, as you suggested.

 

[USAFRet]

I could put in a case?
I'm not sure
And also (Not to be rude) my desk is pretty sealed, its up against a wall and has 2 "walls" next to it.

And this EHD is pretty cheap, I could just buy another one or an SSD, as you suggested.

Drives are cheap. The data on them is often irreplaceable.

 

[CreepyBobo346]

The things I'm putting on the drives are also pretty cheap, everything that I will put on the drive is also pretty replaceable (About $80).
Their just space hogs.