Question about Raid 0 vs SSD configs.

Hello, after researching custom build companies for about a month, I'm very close to pulling the trigger on a DS gaming system.  The only question I have is whether there's any speed /access advantage of an SSD vs a RAID 0 velociraptor config?  I have two system tickets to compare and I'd like your input/reviews.  Thanks in advance!

Edited by CloveMan3 - 25 Apr 2009 at 9:08am

first off raid will not improve your seektime. second it almost pointless to raid anything right now as there are new ssd coming out this year which will be much faster but and might even drop the prices on current ssds, so just go with a regular drive and then later this year upgrade your HDD to an ssd.

you also have a lot of waste and overkill so lets fix all of that and get you most performance for your money:

here you go Ticket# 273767 --- Price: $2907 (To see this build click here) Price after current promotion $2807

Copy of Specifications:
Chassis Model: Cooler Master HAF 932
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: EVGA X58 3X SLI (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports Triple SLI or CrossFire)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1333MHz Mushkin (Highly Recommended) (Digital Storm Certified)
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition)
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Set 1 Raid Options: Configure HDD Set 1 to a Raid 0 Config - Stripe Performance (Requires Two HDDs)
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: Killer Xeno Pro (Optimized for Online Gaming) Lag and Latency Reduction
Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275 896MB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional (PCI-Express Slot Based)
Extreme Cooling: AIR: Stage 2: Cooler Master V8 (Compatible With i7 Processors)
Liquid Color:- Not Applicable, I do not have a H20: Stage 3 Cooling System Selected
Chassis Airflow: Upgrade Chassis With Zalman Performance Fans (Up to 6 Fans)
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (Blue)
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Dual Boot (Windows XP Home & Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks, Ship Within 5-10 Business Days After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

what you do is when you get the ssd later this year then push the 500GB to HDD2 for storage and use the new ssd for HDD1 for os/apps/games.

but if you sill want to go with raid, then raid 2 vertex but it will cost you a lot more then if you wait. all raid does it helps things load faster, it does not help your fps, it just helps your load time.

I think overall the 2 275 would give slightly better performance. They would generate as much heat as a 295, but due to the fact that each card has it's own cooler, they would remain cooler themselves.

SSD's are not a very good value yet, but I am very happy with my SSD's lol.  The Vertex is getting better, but  Ifeel that the launched them to early.. So many firmware updates, and the firmware update erases all data.. That is why I went with 3 Intel X-25's. couldn't be happier!  My other computer,(also i7) I have two fast HDD's in raid 0, and there is no comparison.

if you are not having problems you don't need to do the firmware updates, but the fact that inel is slc is a big deal on its own.