Go with the IDE RAID set up. I've never had a problem with RAID, but what ever system you go with always back up, back up, back up. You never know when a drive could crash. Also check out adaptec they have solid controllers too. I personally don't use 40+ tracks but I know people who use a RAID setup and get 40+ tracks.

apprec little james.

which do you recommend: raid 0+1 or raid 3 ?

Mitch,
I use the A7M266 with a Promise ATA100 TX2 controller card. With a 1.4Ghz I can get 40 tracks with 5 plugins on each track in PTLE 5.1. Not sure I would go with RAID as in PTLE it hasn't made a difference in performance.
Good luck.
Allen :)

i thought ptle allowed 25 tracks max, no?

Yes. PT LE only allows 24 audio tracks...Allan..any tip as to how you are getting over that limitation?
Opus

Hey Mitch try both. Format your drives and set them up with the first scenario and just record some test tones or whatever and try to record as many tracks as you can. Reformat the drives and try with the the next configuration.

Keep a seperate drive for your OS, in other words programs will not be in the RAID array but on a seperate disk like a ATA100 drive.

RAID 3 sounds like it would be a safer because of parity checking but if you go RAID 0+1 you might get better performance and you'll have a back up.

Test both systems and you'll know which one best suits you.

Hope that helps.

well that begs my other main question -- how many tracks should i expect without the raid (assuming nuendo and high end p4 2.0ghz probably ddr memory)? i have yet to build the computer so should first check if i can get 40-ish tracks without the raid. anyone?

apprec the replies, little james.

Had to use 16 Aux. tracks after the 24 Audio tracks. We are pushing for unlimited Audio tracks for the next PTLE version release in May with WinXP. We are slowly getting results in from the newer A7V266E. There is a VIA patch available to anyone running the KT266 or KT266a chipsets with a Promise controller and it has been shown to increase burst transfer rates up to 40% on standard ATA100 drives. That may give these chipsets a little more performance. Most of the new systems using the A7V266E are running XP1800 or higher so I am anxious to see the results come in.
Allen :)

With that processor and 4 drives in a RAID array no problem. The only limitation is native effects.
Native effects are notorious cpu hogs, but with Nuendo you can process individual tracks, which cuts down on cpu usage. And if you don't like the way the effects fit a track you can always undo the effects.

Is this box for post or pre production?

and the limitation on effects would be more with my cpu than the drives, no?

without the raid, how many audio tracks do you think i'd get (both at 24/48 and 24/96)?

In regards to effects it only really matters how many numbers your cpu can crunch at a time so the faster the cpu the better. So a fast P4 is a good investment.

As far as track count without RAID, you could probably get 40+ with just a single IDE drive but it would work the hell out of that bad boy. And when you factor in editing you might have wished you went SCSI, IDE RAID, or SCSI RAID.

Now that I think about it try just one big ATA100 drive(7200rpm)for audio. And if it doesn't float yer boat grab 3 or 4 more drives and a RAID controller.

good idea, little james... thanks.

No problem. Let me know how everything works out.