RAID 0 stripes data across two or more drives so they act as one larger, faster volume. For a machine that games and edits video, that extra sequential throughput can speed up scratch disks and large project loads. But RAID 0 has no redundancy, so understanding the tradeoff before you build it is essential. Here is how to set it up sensibly and safely.
Understand the tradeoff first
Striping two drives roughly doubles sequential read and write speed, which helps when moving large video files or working with high-bitrate footage. The catch is that if either drive fails, the entire array and all its data are lost. RAID 0 is for speed on data you can afford to lose or have backed up elsewhere, never for the only copy of anything important.
When RAID 0 makes sense
| Data type | RAID 0? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Video scratch/cache | Good fit | Speed helps, data is temporary |
| Game library | Optional | Fast loads, games re-downloadable |
| Project masters | Avoid | No redundancy, keep backed up |
| OS boot drive | Not recommended | Failure takes down the whole system |
Setting it up
Use two identical drives for best results, ideally matching model and capacity. Enter your motherboard BIOS and set the SATA or NVMe mode to RAID, then use the platform’s RAID utility, often reachable from BIOS or a dedicated setup screen, to create a striped array. On modern boards you can also create a software stripe from within Windows Storage Spaces, which is more flexible and easy to undo. Choose a stripe size in the 64-128KB range for large-file work.
Modern reality check with NVMe
A single modern Gen4 NVMe SSD is already extremely fast, often faster than a RAID 0 array of SATA drives. Before building an NVMe RAID 0, ask whether you are actually storage-bottlenecked; many editing workflows are limited by the CPU or GPU instead. RAID 0 shines most when you need very high sustained throughput that a single drive cannot provide.
Hardware versus software RAID
You generally have two ways to build the array, and the distinction matters. The RAID mode built into your motherboard’s chipset is often called hardware RAID, but it is really firmware-assisted; it ties the array to that specific platform, so moving the drives to a different motherboard can be troublesome. Windows Storage Spaces, by contrast, creates the stripe in software at the operating system level, which is more portable and easier to reconfigure or dissolve without losing the ability to read the drives elsewhere.
For a gaming and editing machine, software striping through Storage Spaces is usually the more flexible choice, and modern CPUs handle the tiny overhead without any noticeable performance cost. Whichever route you choose, document your configuration, including stripe size and drive order, so you can rebuild it if something changes. And revisit the redundancy question one more time before committing: if the array will hold anything you would be upset to lose, pair it with an automated backup to a separate drive or NAS, because RAID 0 gives you speed and capacity but offers exactly zero protection against a single drive failing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need backups with RAID 0?
Absolutely, and more than ever. RAID 0 doubles your failure risk because two drives now have to keep working. Anything you cannot afford to lose must live on a separate backup, whether a single reliable drive, a NAS, or cloud storage. RAID 0 is a performance tool, not a safety net.
Can I set up RAID 0 without losing my current data?
No. Creating a RAID 0 array erases the drives involved, so move any existing data off them first. Set up the array on empty drives, then copy your files back. Always confirm you have a working copy of everything before you initialize the array.
Bottom line: RAID 0 delivers speed at the cost of redundancy, so reserve it for scratch disks, caches, and replaceable data, and always keep separate backups. Use matched drives, pick a large stripe size for video work, and remember that a single fast NVMe may already do the job.
