Thread: RAID-0 Striping

Smaller block size doesn't necessarily equal better performance. It all depends on what types of files you will be storing on there - smaller files = smaller block size. Larger files = larger block size.

If you have larger files then a larger block size will mean less reads from the disk to pick up the entire file.

If you have smaller files then a block size larger than the file will mean the disk has to read a heap of empty space before delivering the file.

.. and yes you can backup your RAID-0 to a single disk, in fact you can back it up to anything it won't matter.

What are you using the disk for? Is it large media files, which can be gigs big, or for database access?

If you are chunking around large quantities of data then the larger block size can be more efficient, but I'd suggest just using the default unless the data you're storing is universally of one type.

Re the backup - the disk controller "abstracts" the fact that the hardware is striped, so when you copy/backup from it, the destination has no idea of how it was stored on the original disk.

Be careful of Raid 0, we had it on a computer and had all sorts of problems with backup, defrag, and other issues. The computer was fine with basic operations, but we didn't notice any speed difference when Raid was removed.
I never really sorted out what the issues were, but it appeared to be dependant on if you had hardware or software Raid. Hardware Raid is certainly what you get with an add on Raid card, but my testing appeared to indicate that the mother board Raid (Gigabyte) was software Raid. None of the free utilities, or my regular maintenance programs would work correctly.
I won't try Raid 0 again mainly as the feel the gains are very marginal with normal usage, and any problems are compounded.
I would love to see other peoples comments on this issue as I'm no expert.
My research on strip size indicated it was best to go with default settings.
Have fun
Greg

the array is a performance trial for games,,
and,,,
(and I am SERIOUS about my games)

I need to arrange a back-up for my PC,,


so I thought I'd do both,,

purchase two 500GB WD caviar black HDD's
(5year warranty and speed. dont say raptor,,)

stripe them,,
and back-up to the 320gb I have now,,

the thought process is --
just copy the 320 across to the new array--
then re-format the 320 for back-up duties,,,,




as a $ performance improvement,,,, ?
who knows?

compared to a faster cpu?
$140(array) V over $350(quad core)

more/faster ram? [an argument in itself ] 2 slots available, 2 slots filled, 4gb total, speed=DDR2-800.
would 8gb (or 4gb of 850)make a BIGGER difference?
?

faster graphics?
Geforce GTX 295?
= $660

or just take pills/coffee before playing?

Have you thought of the WD Raptor drives. I replaced my HDD with a Raptor (10000rpm) and I think its way faster now. Also I play no games.

Matt

yea, Raptors are cool,,
but at $190 for just 74GB,,
(though a 150GB IS available now,,,)

If I have over 60GB of games,,
plus OS,,


raptors put it in the Quad core realm,,,

I only ever use raid 0 for serious databases on servers at work. Never found it useful at home. We would match the block size to the block size used in the DB.

You would be better buying a 10,000 rpm disk.

To really notice raid 0 advantages you need to do it over 4+ disk, we generallly use 8 at work.

I'm curious as to why you'd expect to see a lot of performance improvement running RAID-0 for game play. Are your games really that disk I/O intensive?