   Computer setup question (s/w vs h/w RAID)
  The base setup I'm going for is basically this:Intel Pentium D 830 (dual-core, 3.0 GHz)1 GB RAMI want a RAID controller to mirror two 160 GB SATA drives. However, looking around, I can find prices ranging from qute affordable to twenty times that. I presume the number of ports is the primary factor here: since I only want to mirror two drives, I can go for the cheaper solution. Right?Examples:Innovision DM-8301R SATA RAID (RAID 0,1,0+1), 2 ports, PCIroughly $40Serial ATA 3Ware Escalade 8506-8, 8 ports, RAID0-10, JBOD, PCI, Retailroughly $800The first one doesn't support RAID modes 2-6 and has 6 fewer ports. Is that it? Or should I also keep something else in mind?Furthermore, what is the overhead for software RAID systems (why are hardware-based RAID's considered so much better?) and would that overhead have any impact on the abovementioned system?   
  As with anything computer related price effects more then just features. Where I work we use nothing but 3Com raid cards because we seemed to have more problems with raid corruption when using cheaper generic cards. You don't need an 8 port card but make sure you don't just get the cheapest 2 port card you can find.   ;  Promise makes excellent RAID controllers aswell. I had a built-in Promise RAID array in my older computer, and I installed a Promise FastTrak 2300 in the machine of a client. I had some problems with that card due to it being faulty, but they gave me a new one without problems. Works like a glance now.Toolmaker   ;  So, the golden rule of the universe - buy the second worst (cheapest) and if that won't work, reconsider, and you'll be golden - applies?My dilemma is choosing between a built-in software RAID controller on the motherboard or spending the least possible feasible amount of money on a hardware controller (hence the question in the OP about the difference between the two).Promise FastTrak (S150) comes at about $150, which is a little steep for me unfortunately.   ;Quote:Original post by irreversibleSo, the golden rule of the universe - buy the second worst (cheapest) and if that won't work, reconsider, and you'll be golden - applies?My dilemma is choosing between a built-in software RAID controller on the motherboard or spending the least possible feasible amount of money on a hardware controller (hence the question in the OP about the difference between the two).Promise FastTrak (S150) comes at about $150, which is a little steep for me unfortunately.If you haven't purchased a motherboard yet there are plenty out there with integrated raid chips. I'm not sure about the Pentium side but I believe the NForce 4 spec calls for hardware raid integrated.;Quote:Original post by tstrimpIf you haven't purchased a motherboard yet there are plenty out there with integrated raid chips. I'm not sure about the Pentium side but I believe the NForce 4 spec calls for hardware raid integrated.Too bad they don't make nForce motherboards for the LGA775... Thanks for the tip, though.   ;How about Adaptec SATA Raid controller ? http://a-c.stores.yahoo.net/adsatraid121.htmlWorks pretty well for me.   