I have a question about RAID...

[The MAX]

So currently have a 250Gb and a 500GB. Have a lot of media and am running out of space they way I have my partitions set up.
So I want to keep the 250 specifically for OS's and Software installs, and the 500GB as my data drive.
Only trouble is now I have no room for back up.
So what I would ideally like to do is set up a RAID 1 (I think) whatever the mirrored one is. Not interested in buying a RAID card or anything, just going to use the onboard on my P5Q-Pro.

Question is: I have a Seagate 7200.11 500GB drive. I can't find these anywhere for sale right now, all sold out. I know for RAID 0 its important to have drives of exact same make and model for best results, however would it be okay to RAID 1 a 7200.11 and a 7200.12? If so is there any cons to doing this?

Thanks for the help in advanced.
Help me protect my grad research and HD movies!!!

[JD]

It would be fine to RAID1 different drives, just note that the faster drive (7200.12) will probably run slower than it could due to the 7200.11 drive.

You could optionally not run RAID, and just setup some software to automatically copy all the contents of the 7200.12 over to the 7200.11 at night (or a convenient time).

[The MAX]

I don't think that is a major concern for me anyway. For the sake of difference between 100MB/s or 90MB/s avg r/w times its not going to matter for storing movies and music and data.
Thanks for the input.
I might just go with the 7200.12 in raid 1 with the .11
Any other opinions?

[Dazmode]

Will be Ok as drives are the same size , I run mix of 7200.10 and 7200.11 on my RAID10.

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by The MAX

Thanks for the help in advanced.
Help me protect my grad research and HD movies!!!

This is not what RAID is for.

If your scared of losing stuff like that then get an external drive and back it up to that on a regular basis.

RAID is good but if its vital data I would not recommend it at all.

[grinder]

enaberif, that is an excellent point.

RAID 1 will ensure uptime in the face of HDD failure; but is not a backup by definition. I would totally go the external drive route, or a network drive route for proper backup. You can accidently format, delete, virus-wipe the info on your RAID1 volume because it is a workspace, the external drive will not be your workspace; better insulating it from disaster.

[The MAX]

hmmm I'd rather do it internally.
Possibly just get software as someone else recommended and just keep stuff backed up using that once a day.

[dataxpert]

It will not protect your files, computer gets stolen, fire, lightning. Cheap power supply without output protection can burn all you drive in one shot, in case of power surge. Raid 1 + off side back up, is the best. At least for the price of your back-up software you can have a external enclosure, no need for something expensive.

Originally Posted by The MAX

hmmm I'd rather do it internally.
Possibly just get software as someone else recommended and just keep stuff backed up using that once a day.

[death_hawk]

Repeat after me:

RAID != Backup

They need to coexist.

[The MAX]

is != supposed to be a "not equal" sign?
or was it supposed to be Raid 1 and you are saying it is backup?

I think I have an idea of the setup I will get. Just spent $118 on gear for my road bike (seat bag, pump, etc...)and its my girlfriends birthday this weekend so I won't be buying a hard drive anytime soon. lol