Raid 1 Storage backup - Reccomendations?

[Adrianr]

Hi folks,

Looking to set up a 2 disk mirrored Raid 1 array consisting of two 500GB drives for photo backup and storage.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-160-MD&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=

These caught my eye for the 32mb cache, but i'm unsure of it's advantages in Raid? If any. Never used Maxtor before and i hear Seagate or Samsung thrown about way more. Anymore suggestions welcomed, though ideally i would like to keep this around the £100 mark.

Btw, if there is a better way to accomplish what i'm after, feel free to fire in those suggestions too!

Cheers.

 

[Adrianr]

Ahh okeydokey. Wondered why i hadn't seen their name about anywhere.

Speed isn't really an issue to be honest. It's purely for backup purposes so will be written to every so often and copied from when i need it. Price and reliability are the overiding factors. A good RMA service definately helps though, wouldn't want to be with only one disk for very long.

Thanks AbsenceJam, Sounds from that the Samsungs are the ones to go for, anyone else?

 

[Adrianr]

Currently all my photos are just kept on an 250GB external USB Hardrive (Due to some faffin around and own stupidity), but this is also populated with various program installers, the odd movie etc. I'de be after just a pure photo solution. Or is data recovery good enough nowadays to not warrant raid? Is 2 copies really overkill?

There are too many for DVDs really, though i can't ever really have enough backup!

 

[Adrianr]

Store or backup? Both (Though im not entirely sure of the difference you're implying). It would be a drive saved too at regular intervals, but there will also undoubtedly be times i need to access work on that drive. If by backup you mean a seperate entity from the PC alltogther, then no. It will still be constantly (internally) connected.

I may aswell start backing up to DVD too, do you recommend Dual layer 8GBs or normal 4.7s? I'l just need to get some form of safe holding device.