I Personally wouldn't recommend raid0 (striping) to anyone unless they have a specific need for it. Having said that we use it where I work for streaming data from a high speed camera. The images are then analysed offline at a later time and ultimately discarded. The OS is put on a separate drive. For raid 1 I wouldn't agree with you we have had several problems on our system with data glitches or drive failures its always been a simple matter of taking the drive out and putting it into another pc to clone it just in case before placing back in the original pc with a new drive so that the mirror can be rebuilt . Its always worked. and this is between different chipsets or add-in raid cards. Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gerhard Fiedler" To: Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 11:30 AM Subject: Re: [EE]:: BIOS R.A.I.D. 1 Advise Was: Whr R.A.I.D. is a terrible idea > SM Ling wrote: > >> After reading the postings about RAID, I am thinking to setup a RAID1 for >> my >> home PC to save the hassle of hard disk crashing. >> >> I am using the gigabyte motherboard (GA-8VM800M), any comments for using >> the >> onboard RAID controller (VIA VT8237R)? What are the considerations of >> using >> external RAID controller versus onboard one? > > I bought a PCI card RAID controller some time ago. But considering what > happens when the controller fails (BIG hassle to get to your data), I now > don't run a controller-based RAID1 anymore. I use software RAID1 -- the > controller is now used as a simple (standard) disk controller. > > Imagine what happens when the onboard controller fails. If you don't get > the same mobo as replacement, your data is practically inaccessible > (unless > you want to play games with hex-editing the disks to replace any special > markers the RAID controller puts there). Your mobo may not even be in > production anymore... You can't just take your disks and connect them to a > different controller. > > Gerhard > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist