i have read sources that raid offers no real benifits to the average desktop user... i was going to say get two 36gb raptors and raid them but decided to recommend the 74gb mainly due to the above. raptors are seriously fast.

I agree with what you say Dr. Z - I should have said "but you will lose a shed load of data if either of the drives develops a fault". However, I've never personally had a raid 0 set die on me and you have had several deathstars go pear shaped. So what does that prove and what do you warn people about single drives? You can't live life thinking the worst all the time. Blissfull ignorance is great fun

smerko - raptors are seriously fast, I agree. Remember that scene near the end of Jurassic Park when the big game hunter type guy looks around and one has just "teleported" in? Spookily quick them bu66ers

Joking aside, Raptor drives are stunningly quick but ludicrously expensive IMHO

Maybe my use is different to other normal users. I need the fastest throughput for video editing and packing/unpacking RAR sets. I've built and run countless systems over the last 15-20 years and can honestly say that FOR ME, raid 0 is the fastest way of storing data and offers several tangible benefits.

But enough of all this, I'm getting a new car in 9 days time - woohoo

Cheers