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General advice on new desktop regarding RAID

  • 03-12-2007 11:59pm
    #1
    techguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,236 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I am looking at the possibility of getting a desktop with the 500gb HDD with Dell™ DataSafe Local™ Backup solution which means I am getting 2x500gb Drives set up as RAID..

    Q) does this mean that I only have the use of 1 500gb drive and everything that is written to that is mirrored onto the second 500gb drive..?

    I am only using this as a personal computer and would consider my ext 320gb HD as backup enough for me..

    Can I discard this RAID configuration and have the 2 500gb drives at my disposal? I am aware that this may mean opening the case and reconfiguring the way these babies are connectoed to the motherboard??

    Any opinions,advice??

    Also as a side note.. will the 256MB ATI® Radeon™ HD 2600 XT graphics card
    be enough for me as I am really trying to "future proof" this machine..

    Should I look at the possibility of a 512 geforce card? Would this cost much more??


Comments

  • #2
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Yes. Mirroring (RAID1) does as you expect.

    Any change is only in BIOS/Drivers/OS. With RAID1 (Mirror) is can be possible to "break" the mirror deliberately via menu in OS and then use the 2nd drive.

    Do not be tempted to RAID 0 (Striping). Just have them as RAID1 or ordinary separate drives.

    Opening the case is not required at all.

    An external 320G is not a backup for 500G or 1000G. Why not leave it as it is until you need more than 500G and then break the mirror (no data loss)?


    I'd go for a Nividia 8800 GT. But I know nothing about gaming.


  • #3
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    You can use the 320 GB external as backup, if you plug it in to backup and then unplug it. The mirroring protects you from a hardware failure. The external disk would protect you from a software failure / virus, but not while it's plugged in since it too could be affected. Better still keep it somewhere else in case of fire etc.


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