Why not use bios raid 1?

[Imacflier]

Hi, all,

Other discussions state it is unwise to use on board Raid 1, that one should use an add-on raid card....but, so far as I can recall, no one explains why!

So, if I am going to use Raid 1 (a separate discussion, please!), why is it better to use an add-on card?

TIA,
Larry

 

[kanewolf]

Because if your motherboard dies, your data is less likely to be inaccessible. You can move the card and drives as a unit.

 

[GhislainG]

It depends on the platform; an Intel ICH is compatible from ICH7 released a long time ago to the current ICH10. An add-on controller is better if you plan on swapping platforms, but RAID 1 isn't a serious issue since you can always install a single drive and then add the second one to rebuild the RAID. Regardless of your choice, backups still are important because RAID 1 doesn't prevent user errors or a hacker from encrypting the drives.

 

[Imacflier]

Kanewolf,

A Windows formatted drive should be readable on any windows system, not just the one on which it is created. Since RAID 1 is simply mirroring there is no striping to decode. So I do not see why the data would be less accessible.

 

[kanewolf]

Kanewolf,

A Windows formatted drive should be readable on any windows system, not just the one on which it is created. Since RAID 1 is simply mirroring there is no striping to decode. So I do not see why the data would be less accessible.

There HAS to be information on the disk that identifies it as part of a RAID volume. That data might be transparent. I don't have exhaustive research. But moving a RAID1 disk from an Intel ICH RAID volume to an AMD compatible motherboard is a gamble in my opinion.
As I said, backups are the safe way to protect your data. Don't rely on RAID1. There are WAY too many threads about attempting to rebuild a RAID1 volume and losing all the data.
All I can say is good luck.

 

[Imacflier]

I agree that RAID 1 is not a back up solution....but I know of no better way to protect critical work-in-process between backups than RAID 1 (at least when cloud storage is not permitted) and that iss what I plan on using RAID 1 to do.

And concern over changing a failed motherboard from INTEL to AMD causing a problem is a bit of a strawman issue, dontcha think?

 

[GhislainG]

If I were you I'd go ahead and use the ICH10R controller which is faster than cheap RAID controllers.

 

[Imacflier]

GhislainG,

Well, in this case, I have NO expansion slots available at all (GA-Z97N-WIFI), so choosing a raid controller is pretty much Hobsen's Choice!

 

[GhislainG]

It doesn't matter because the ICH10R fully meets your requirements.