Does raid 0 configurations improve gaming performance?

[Double L]

Do raid 0 configurations improve gaming performance? Thanks in advance for your help.

[Midknyte]

it will improve load times, but it won't help framerates.

Best of Data Storage (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162275) Is RAID0 worth it?

[Sterling_Aug]

Are you ready to rebuild the RAID0 array on a weekly basis?

The question is how often will the array break, not will it break.

[Midknyte]

yuppers. if you do decide to run RAID0, have a third non-RAID drive as your backup.

[Double L]

thanks a lot! it's music to my ears. i'm actually looking for a reason not to have to spend the extra cash on it. and unreliability is about as good as it gets. thanks!

[Midknyte]

if you want better gaming performance, get a better video card.

[mobo57]

I think it was Tom's Hardware that did a compairison of gaming on a RAID 0 versus a single SATA drive a while back. The differences were nominal at best. For smaller games/files, the load times are so fast you really can't tell the difference. For larger games such as Doom 3, Quake etc, the comp has to do work on the files (expand etc) and that is what takes the time.
I got sucked into the RAID craze when the first Raptors came out. Got two in a RAID 0. Had the stripe break once in all that time. Reason was I tried running my OS off it and was oc'ing the rest of my system to the max. For some things like video it is faster for the average desktop. For normal use, don't bother with the cost or hassels.

[Double L]

thanks a lot! it's music to my ears. i'm actually looking for a reason not to have to spend the extra cash on it. and unreliability is about as good as it gets. thanks!

[dajogejr]

Sorry...know this thread is a few days old...but, I have to chime in.
I've had a pair of Raptors in RAID0 for over 2 years...and never had a RAID related issue.
One Raptor died because the contacts got dust on em. I broke the array, RMA'd the drive, and rebuilt the array when it came back.

Is a 0 array more volitale than a single disk...sure.
Could it fail? Sure.
Could you PSU/Mobo/CPU/RAM fail? Yep...and they do.

I don't think it's any more prone to failure than several other hardware pieces in your PC...

I honestly don't think it's nearly as volitale as everyone makes it out to be, period.

Now...that being said, a second or third hard drive for backups of data is always a great idea, regardless of whether you have a RAID array or not.

Also...as said, the only time a 0 array really pays off is if you work with write/read data intensive apps, like video or photo editing. To put it on a system so your games load a second or two faster is quite the waste. When you install or uninstall software, yes...it is faster. But that's like having a Porche to drive up and down your block delivering the paper. Faster? yes...worth it and practical? NO.