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jmterry2014

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Should I use Windows 8 Storage Spaces or Set up a Raid 5

I want to know the best way to utilize my SDDs and backup hdds.
My system is an
I7 4770k @ 4.3 Ghz
Z87-D3HP-CF MoBo
2 x 8 GB RAM STICKS of Corsair Dominator 2100 Mghz
Windows 8
Hardware:  I have:
1 (one) Corsair Neutron 480 GB SDD
2 (two) Corsair Neutron 240 GB SDDs
2 (two) 1 TB WD HDDs (one green; one black)

THE PROBLEM
I have Win 8 OS on Corsair 480 GB.
I have a data back up (complete) on the 1TB WD Black HDD
I have no data on the remaining three - 2 x 240 GB Corsairs SDDs and 1x 1TB WD Green HDD

Theoretically:
Is it better to set up a Windows Storage space or to create a Raid 5 array?
What are the advantages to using a Raid 5 over Windows storage, if any?
If I am to set up a Raid 5, I want to use my two Corsair 240 SSDs and the 1TB WD Green...
I wonder how I can set up a Raid 5 with these three disks and also put the OS onto the Raid array?  Can I do that?  Or does the OS have to be on another SDD (my Corsair 480)?
If I decide to setup Raid 5 with those three, I know I set it up in Bios... but now I have to boot from the 480 Corsair which is not part of the array.  So do I
  1. restart the computer with Bios set to start Raid for Windows 8?  And then
      1.1 boot from my CDRom into Paragon Disk Copy... where I can copy the OS off of 480 Corsair onto the Raid array
  2. restart the computer with Bios set to AHCI and boot into Windows 8 from the 480 Corsair and then...
     1.1 use Paragon Disk Copy to Migrate the OS from the 480 Corsair onto the Raid Array?
    1.2 if I do this, then when I restart do I go into bios and make the Sata Mode a Raid?  And if so, then the OS will boot off of the 240 Corsair in the RAID array.

FINAL THOUGHTS -
I would like to keep the 480 out of the system (and sell it).
I would use the 4th 1 TB WD (black) as a repository (keeping all the data it already has on it, backing up what I need to safeguard onto the Raid array???)

BUT IF USING THE 480 CORSAIR in ANY configuration is better... than I would do that.
Please be more specific (meaning don't skip any steps) because I'm a newbie (sort of -- at least to this Raid thing).

Thank you all.
Avatar of jmterry2014
jmterry2014

ASKER

I just looked at a YouTube Video.  Raid 5 is probably not what I want.
I want to have a faster performance overall.  So would I use the two 240 Corsairs and the 1 TB WD Green in a Raid 1 setup?  With the OS being bootable off of this Raid 1 array?

If so, what steps do I follow to set up Raid 1?
how do I get the OS migrated over to the Raid 1?

Finally, if I use Win 8 Storage Spaces -- with the three drives -- do I have to use the 480 Corsair as a C drive (with O.S. on it) because the the three drives are "storage" and not bootable....
Or would it just be fastest to keep OS on 480 Corsair as C and have the three be in Raid 1 or in "STORAGE SPACE" as 3 drives in the arrangement?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Dawid Fusek
Dawid Fusek

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NTShad0w shines the light on the problem revealing a brilliant solution to my issues!
I get my OS moved over to a 240 Corsair then mirror that and I use the 1TB WD as a backup with a backup program.  I use Paragon, but I also have Acronis.  

Perfect, brilliant, NTShad0w is a chess master for sure!
And I agree with all his comments about Raid 5, Storage Spaces, etc.

GREAT!
good for U mate,

1 correction here,
I didn't notice U have 2x 1TB HDD, not 1x 1TB HDD

So In my example I shall use them both as a separated disks, first (WD green) for backup, second (WD black) for data (and create a additional backup plan to backup that second disk on that fist)

regards
NTShad0w
Got it!

Thank you, thank you for you expertise and your thorough answers!

Joe