PATA RAID

[dave518]

If i were to set up RAID for two PATA drives would i put both drives on one ribbon cable or would i need two cables?

 

[MichaelD]

Technically, it would work with both drives on the same IDE cable, with one drive set to Master and the other to Slave. But the performance would likely be WORSE than a single drive all by itself.

You not only need two CABLES you need two CHANNELS.

With IDE RAID, you ideally want one drive per IDE channel, with each drive set to MASTER on it's own IDE channel.

<--ran IDE RAID 0/1 for years on both motherboard-based controllers and PCI RAID cards

 

[Blain]

You can use one, but your performance will suffer.

 

[dave518]

So therefor you cant have CD or DVD drives since most motherboards have only two ide channels so a raid card would work better?

Thanks for the help, it is greatly appreciated

Edit: Do you have a RAID card you would suggest?

 

[Blain]

Think about it for a minute...
You don't use your optical drives in a RAID array or use them 100% of the time, like a HD.

Your opticals can be set up as slaves to your HDs.

 

[dave518]

So then you would have a HD and an optical drive on the same cable, one set for master the other for slave?

 

[MichaelD]

You need a RAID controller chip or card in order to have RAID. (We wont' get into Windows RAID, people!)

Older enthusiast motherboards (two-four years old) would have the two normal IDE channels running off the motherboard chipset; two IDE channels can support FOUR IDE devices.

They would also have an additional chipset (typically VIA) that would support another two IDE channels (four devices) but with the added capability of RAID 0 or RAID 1. The chipset itself must support the RAID functionality.

If you want to get your feet wet with IDE RAID, get a $20 IDE RAID PCI card from Newegg (or the store of your choice), two IDENTICAL IDE drives (same manufacturer, drive size, etc) and go for it.

I have had great luck for the past 8 years with a 3Ware 7000-2 IDE RAID card, as well as using the onboard RAID of many motherboards.

"PC Enthusaist RAID" as I like to call it, is what most on these forums tinker with. Some of us also do this for a living and at work, maintain hundreds of SCSI drives running RAID 5/RAID 50 with tens of hotswap spares. It's great that it's not MY MONEY, b/c I could never afford it. LOL!

We're here to help. Go for it. Just remember this: RAID /= Backup. Put your OS/Games/video editing swapfile on the RAID array. Burn your pictures and other irreplaceable data to a CD/DVD and lock it up.

 

[dave518]

So RAID card is the way to go, thank you very much

Would this do the trick?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: dave518
So RAID card is the way to go, thank you very much

Would this do the trick?

Yes, that would be just fine. Remember though; you will need TWO IDENTICAL IDE drives (to get best performance) for your RAID array. The size of the drives doesn't matter; what matters is that they are the same size, speed and firmware. IOW, buy the two drives at the same time (unless you already have two identical IDE drives).

 

[dave518]

Identical huh, well i have two older Western Digital 30 gb drives and i thought i could RAID them, i dont think they are the same drive though, performance would suffer but would it still work?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: dave518
Identical huh, well i have two older Western Digital 30 gb drives and i thought i could RAID them, i dont think they are the same drive though, performance would suffer but would it still work?

Honestly, if they are "that old", that they are 30GB drives, as long as they are both the same speed (5400 or 7200 rpm) you won't notice any performance difference.

In fact, as long as they are the same speed, I think it would be a good way for you to get your feet wet. One taste of RAID and you'll be hooked.

/see you in 6 months when you start asking about SCSI RAID :evil:

 

[dave518]

thanks for all the help, i think that it will be good for "getting my feet wet" as you put it too, nothing i can seriously mess up, just something to mess around with, should be great

 

[Blain]

Why bother with RAID if you don't have a need for it?
You can get good performance out of a new 7200 or 10000rpm single HD.

RAID done right isn't cheap.

 

[Jiggz]

Originally posted by: Blain
Why bother with RAID if you don't have a need for it?
You can get good performance out of a new 7200 or 10000rpm single HD.

RAID done right isn't cheap.

Dude, give the guy a b-r-e-e-e-a-a-k . . . He just want to get his "feet wet". That's not really a lot to ask for isn't it? He is paying for it and he's doing it as well. Go for it guy. and to make sure you report something good when you're done, google for RAID and do some readings while delving into it.

 

[dave518]

Well might not be getting to do it, looks like one of the hard drives pooped out, i don't know whats going on with it.

 

[Jiggz]

Did you:
a. Tried the said hdd by itself and still does not boot.
b. Tried connecting it to your IDE1 and have it recognized by the bios? If it's recognized it could just be a jumper setting or lack of partition and format.
c. Do you hear it spinning? Does it make metallic sound?

If it's really FUBR, you might just to buy from the For Sale/Trade Forum just to get your project and learning going. Goodluck!

 

[corkyg]

Some mobos have PATA RAID controllers on board. PATA RAID is not new - I had one back in 1995. But - they are not high on the usefulness food chain.

 

[dave518]

Well i had disconected the hard drive because i was moving it, then when i reconnected it whenever i turn the computer on everything gets power, i hear it spinning, but the moniter power LED just blinks (as if the computer is not on). The screen is practicaly off.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance

 

[dave518]

anyone?

thanks

 

[Jiggz]

Are you sure the hdd is the only thing you disconnected. Check the video card you might have bumped it out. Also did you change any jumper on the hdd? Make sure you replace the jumper back. Double check all connections inside.

 

[dave518]

yea, i even tried it in another computer, same thing, o well