Edited by myself:

Ok, I assempled a comp that contains 4 HDD's, 2 160GB and 2 500GB. What I tried to do is have to RAID arrays which both are RAID 1 but they don't work with the card I have and I need a really good card that can handle 2 RAID 1 arrays, if possible.

I hope I just made this easy

Bump for the long edit

I don't know of any off the top of my head that would be able to handle two different arrays at the same time.
Could be wrong, but don't know.

The easiest solution I can think of is to get a mobo that has RAID ability, hook one array into that, and use a card to run the second. (It's probably cheaper too.)

What exactly are you trying to do?

Please explain.......so everyone knows what your trying to do and can offer the best advice.

We need more info on what you are trying to accomplish. There are raid cards that can do multiple arrays but they cost more than just buying two bigger drives. Some commercial setups have a BIOS that can support two raid cards but those are more commercial boards and again costly. With more information I'm sure someone can come up with a solution to your problem.

What I would to accoplish is I have 4 HDD's and as I stated from above 2 160GB and 2 500GB. The 160 contains the windows partition and the 500 will be used for storage and I would like a seperate array if possible for both which I choose Raid 1 but I need a card that can handle two at the sametime and at a resnable price. If possible.

System Specs:

Intel Celeron Dual Core 1.60GHz

Intel DG31PR Motherboard

2GB of RAM

EVGA 8600GTS 256MB

ATi TV Tuner

I hope this was the information you where looking for

Quote: Originally Posted by Intel P4 What I would to accoplish is I have 4 HDD's and as I stated from above 2 160GB and 2 500GB. The 160 contains the windows partition and the 500 will be used for storage and I would like a seperate array if possible for both which I choose Raid 1 but I need a card that can handle two at the sametime and at a resnable price. If possible. System Specs: Intel Celeron Dual Core 1.60GHz Intel DG31PR Motherboard 2GB of RAM EVGA 8600GTS 256MB ATi TV Tuner I hope this was the information you where looking for

A card that can do multiple arrary's would run like $200 for a cheap quality one. Is there a reason u need two separate arrays?

Well the card on the link I posted seems good enough as one the reviews states that he has two arrays.

Why I want two arrays because the windows partition will be on a separate array while data will be on another. So in case something goes wrong with one of the arrays the comp is still functioning.

Quote: Originally Posted by Intel P4 Well the card on the link I posted seems good enough as one the reviews states that he has two arrays. Why I want two arrays because the windows partition will be on a separate array while data will be on another. So in case something goes wrong with one of the arrays the comp is still functioning.

I have not seen a link posted? I would just use the 4 drives in one array. I don't see the need for a second array.

Quote: Originally Posted by musclecars&computers I have not seen a link posted? I would just use the 4 drives in one array. I don't see the need for a second array.

Sorry about that:

Newegg.com - 3ware 9650SE-8LPML PCI Express SATA II Controller Card RAID Levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, Single Disk, JBOD - Controllers / RAID Cards

I agree with the 4 drives in 1 array. Perhaps look into RAID 5.

Remember, you can still partition within the raid.

Well I found a similar card to the one in the link but with only 4 SATA connectors so that should do me good. I'm just hoping the card will work with 2 160GB and 2 500GB HDD's in raid 5

FYI: RAID 5 will only works with 3 drive minimum. Plus when setting up a raid its best to use identical drives same make/model/size. This is due to each manufacturer sets their drives up differently. A maxtor may have a max storage of say 38.2gb. A western digital may have 38.3gb. If the western digital fails you have to use a identical WD or a drive bigger than 38.3gb in order to rebuild the array.

So if you decide to setup a array with all 4 drives your only going to have 160 gb available on all 4 drives. So the 500's are going to only use 160 Which is alot of wasted space. Your best bet would be to do a raid 1 on the 2 500's.

Plus you have other options.
1. pick up a cheap usb hard drive enclosure and just plug in the 160's when needed to perform secondary backups.
2. You could also use the mb sata connectors for the 160's and run the drives normally as a secondary backup.
3. Flash drives are becoming so inexpensive that your better off saving important backup stuff on a usb drive. Newegg has 16gb going for $50. That's alot of data storage if you ask me.

Also remember when you setup a mirror raid with 2+ drives it see's all the drives as only one drive. Each drive is a copy cat of the other. So if one fails, you can insert a new drive and rebuild it.

From there you setup your partitions C, D, E, etc. So if windows hoses on the C partition you just reformat the C partition and reload windows. It will not effect your other partitions on the drives/array. Unless of course you delete the array.

I hope this helps and makes sense.....It's late and my brain is fried right now.

Please correct me if im wrong.....

Ok that explains a lot so I think its best that I will go for a raid 1 for the 2 500GB and as for the extra 160 it could just be a spare drive in the system.

Thanks for all that info that should get me started on working the array and looking for solutions.