Strange RAID Configuration

[surfsk8snow.jah]

Anyone have any idea why my "Healthy" (4) disk RAID 5 array (4 x 298.09GB = 1192.36GB) might be reading a total capacity of 894.27GB?? The math does not compute...
For a brief history:
I knew that one of my (4) disks in my RAID 5 array was bad previously; every time I booted, it would call the array degraded, and one of the drives in error - pretty standard. It's not my boot array, so I wasn't too worried about fixing it right away.
Then all the sudden I started running through a small bout of BSODs. I was worried it was another disk crashing in the array, which would've rendered the whole array useless, but alas I was able to revive the computer through finagling [in fact may be a loose connection inside my box somewhere =/ That's another topic].
When I got everything running again, the RAID 5 array suddenly read "Rebuild" - and when I booted into windows and looked at the NVIDIA control panel, it was actively rebuilding the array. Pretty strange, but I wouldn't argue with improving the stability of my system.

EXCEPT, when it was all said and done, I now have a "Healthy" array both in boot menu and in NVIDIA Control Panel of 4 x 298.09GB that reads 894.27GB, basically excluding the size of one complete drive.

Is this going to cause major problems in the near future?

[DanTheBanjoman]

I read the first sentence and decide to answer: Because it's RAID 5.

[surfsk8snow.jah]

Uh oh, am I forgetting something from RAID 101?

[DanTheBanjoman]

Yes, the basics.

RAID 5 total size is N-1.

[spargel]

A RAID 5 array uses a cumulative total of (1) disk to store parity data across the array. When one disk goes down, the parity data is used to re-build the array with a new disk. Therefore, with RAID 5, you always lose the sum total of one disk in the array. All disks have to be the same size.

[DanTheBanjoman]

Originally Posted by spargel

A RAID 5 array uses a cumulative total of (1) disk to store parity data across the array. When one disk goes down, the parity data is used to re-build the array with a new disk. Therefore, with RAID 5, you always lose the sum total of one disk in the array. All disks have to be the same size.

To be exact, the parity is spread among disks. You're describing RAID 4. Other than that the point is the same.

[surfsk8snow.jah]

Alllrighty. Well sorry for wasting your time then, I obviously knew this once, but haven't messed with it in so long... like try to get me to do an Integral with U-substitution; I could def do it, but wouldn't be right the first time. Anywho, thanks for the answer.

[DanTheBanjoman]

If I'd consider it a waste of time I wouldn't bother to reply. You're free to ask questions, I prefer a well formulated simple question over the vague threads some other people start. Those I tend to ignore