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[Question] Add a drive for RAID-0 or single large drive?

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Hey Everyone,

My SSD listed in my specs for "Apps" is pretty well full. The two choices I have are adding a second drive or upgrading to a single larger drive.

Thoughts?

If I add a second drive I'd go with the same hardware (OCZ Agility 3 120GB):
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III...

If I go with a single larger drive I'd upgrade to the Force GS 240GB:
Corsair Force Series GS CSSD-F240GBGS-BK 2.5" 240G...


With the single 240GB, I'll be able to re-purpose the 120GB Agility as a caching device in my media server. (not at all necessary, but I'd like to play with that tech on the linux side).

For RAID-0 I'd be using the Marvel 6 Gbps controller on my mobo, not the Intel SATA controller.


Thanks!
 
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me myself, I would go with the Raid0 array:toast:
I am totally addicted to the raid0 speeds! Look at my specs I run 4 harddrives in raid0;)
 

Frick

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me myself, I would go with the Raid0 array:toast:
I am totally addicted to the raid0 speeds! Look at my specs I run 4 harddrives in raid0;)

He has an SSD, so he's already pretty quick. ;)

I'd go with another of the same btw.
 
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i would go for Raid0 :cool:
 
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He has an SSD, so he's already pretty quick. ;)

I'd go with another of the same btw.

Hmmm.....Well I plan to upgrade to 4XSSD for a replacement raid0 to my current Sata raid0 for even faster speeds. So yeah maybe a little over the top but I like it that way.
 
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Hmmm.....Well I plan to upgrade to 4XSSD for a replacement raid0 to my current Sata raid0 for even faster speeds. So yeah maybe a little over the top but I like it that way.

If you actually want that level of performance / overkillness, just go with a PCIe SSD. It'll be easier for you.
 

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I'd vote for a single 240/256 ssd since they can be found in sale for crazy cheap recently, less hassle and less work.
 
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I'd vote for a single 240/256 ssd since they can be found in sale for crazy cheap recently, less hassle and less work.

This is my initial line of thinking as well. Ideally, I'd go with a 360GB or 480GB but for some reason, you see performance losses when going above 240GB.

*sigh*

My plan always starts out reasonable and affordable but I see the thought of both options beckoning. (two 240GB Corsair GS drives in RAID0).

The problem is that I filled up the 120GB pretty quick (I've only got 4 of my Steam games installed! (plus BF3, Eve Online, MS Office, Visual Studio, Firefox & Eclipse). I can envision filling 240GB pretty quick as well.

Hmmm.

I could drop down from the GS to the GT (toggle-mode to sychronous) and get two 240GB drives for $199 each right now.

Corsair Force Series GT CSSD-F240GBGT-BK 2.5" 240G...

That's reasonable, right?
 
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I have to ask why your using the Marvell controller over the Intel? Never heard ANY good things about the Marvell controller. Just they are slower and more troublesome in anything I have read. Raid 0 on the Intel would definitely be the better choice.
 
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I'm already using 5 of the 6 Intel ports. If I get a single SSD I can use the 6th . If I go RAID them it would have to be on the Marvell controller.
 

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You do realize that for $400 for that raid investment, you could be stepping into a 512GB drive?
 
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You do realize that for $400 for that raid investment, you could be stepping into a 512GB drive?

Yeah, that's something I considered (and I guess I'm still considering)

The problem with the bigger drives is they're rated at slower speeds (90k IOPS for the 240GB vs 50k IOPS for the 480GB Corsair GS series).

And it's hard to find reviews comparing the performance of the 240/256 vs 480/512.

I also haven't found out how much bandwidth my Marvell chip has available to it (is it a single PCIe lane? or a few?)

I'm also able to wait a few more months. I think I can make it until black friday and expect 240GB drives to hit the $150 mark (toggle nand). So a couple in a RAID0 for $300 is a pretty good deal.
 
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