Here's the scenario:
I am building a computer that will act as a network storage device for local networked users, and a source code repository and backup device for remote users. The machine will also be backing up to a third-party backup service (Carbonite) via internet connection.
The machine contains (1) SSD drive, (2) 2TB HDD drives, and (1) DVD drive.
- The SSD drive will contain the OS and program files
- The (2) HDD drives will run in RAID-1 configuration (mirrored) and serve as data storage.
- The DVD drive will seldom be used and is inconsequential.
My motherboard has (2) SATA 6.0gb/s ports, and (4) SATA 3.0gb/s ports.
My inclination is to use (1) 6.0/s port for the SSD drive. Since it's solid state, it deserves the faster port. But this leaves only (1) 6.0/s port open. I would like to take advantage of the other 6.0/s port, but not at the expense of the operation of the RAID configuration.
Can I run the mirrored HDD drives, one on the (1) 6.0/s port left, one on an open 3.0/s port? Will this lead to problems in the short or long term?
I don't know well enough about the mechanics of RAID... but I think I ought to put them both at 3.0/s, operating at similar speeds. My fear is that if I install them one at 3.0/s and the other at 6.0/s, and a user is writing a large file to the HDD drive, it will (in theory) take twice as long to write to the drive on the slower transfer port as it will the faster. And if this is happening simultaneously for many users, over long periods of time, the slower drive will be far behind, negating the benefits of mirrored RAID configuration.