Best Mobo for RAID 1

[Overkast]

I'm building a RAID 1 array for someone using two 74GB raptors.

In an attempt to build the most stable RAID configuration as possible for these drives, any advice on whether I should be looking for a mobo w/ on-board RAID controllers built in, or should I be looking to get a mobo and a RAID controller card seperately?

Please recommend product/brand names as well. Thanks.

 

[Ironmanstl]

I haven't has any probs yet with two 120gig Western Digitals striped

 

[imported_Harbinger]

yeah , i am using 2x WD160JB on raid 0 with absolutely no problems on my A8V. Using the onboard promise controller (because my gainward 2400 is big enough to block the via's controller sata ports.. ). Ironmanstl you use via or promise for raid ? jsut curious...

 

[Ironmanstl]

Originally posted by: Harbinger
yeah , i am using 2x WD160JB on raid 0 with absolutely no problems on my A8V. Using the onboard promise controller (because my gainward 2400 is big enough to block the via's controller sata ports.. ). Ironmanstl you use via or promise for raid ? jsut curious...

I learned the hard way I had to put my sata hard drives on the promise controller, as I also have a plextor sata dvd writer, and it just so happens the promise controller won't recognize sata cd or dvd drives


Of course my first install I had my hard drives on the via, couldn't get my sata dvd to work , but I thought, I'll reload it l8r. Bad decision. had to do a complete reinstall, of course on a closer look in the a8v manual in small print it says sata cd and dvd cannot be on the promise.

 

[OLtimrNewbie]

Overcast; Most replies to you have been as if you are building a Raid 0 ; but you said Raid 1. Raid 1 is mirrored; ie. both drives get the same data written to them. I have 2 pc's both in Raid 1 Config. ASUS A7N8X-DX with the onboard Raid controller and 2 Seagate 80Gb 7200 rpm drives; and an ASUS A7N8X-E-DX using the onboard Raid Controller and 2 Seagate 120Gb 7200 rpm drives. Both have been excellent; giving me very little, if no trouble. The only advice is to have the Silicon Raid Drivers loaded onto a floppy disc and at the Command F6 while loading Windows to install them. That is if you are loading either WIndows XP OS . I use XP Pro on the A7N8X-DX and XP Home on the A7N8X-E-DX . Both units use XP2800+ Barton CPU's. The Raid drivers that come on the boards CD-ROM are adequate or you can download from the silicon Image web site the latest drivers. They come larger than will fit on a floppy; but you don't need the whole package; just 3 parts. The Si3112r (system file-88Kb) Si3112r.mpd (MPD file-88Kb) and SiSUPP.VXD (virtual device driver-21Kb)
Recent tests and reviews have indicated that Raid 0 doesn't buy you much speed increase, and if 1 drive fails you lose all data. Raid 1 only buys you security. Same data on both drives; lose 1 drive and you still have an operating PC. Replace the bad drive and crosswrite the data and your system security is restored. If I were replacing the units I have ( I'm not planning to)and money was no object! I'd go with the ASUS P5AD2 Premium and a P4 3.4 or P4 3.6.

 

[Overkast]

Thanks for the help OLtimr. I appreciate it.