NVMe RAID mode combines 2 or more NVMe SSDs to boost data transfer speed, increase storage, or add redundancy to your PC.
As games are getting larger and demand faster load times, many gamers are setting up NVMe drives in RAID to enhance gaming performance.
In this post, let me break down exactly what is NVMe RAID mode and how it helps in PC gaming.
Whether you’re building a next-gen gaming rig or upgrading your existing machine, you should understand NVMe RAID, which can be a key to unlocking smoother gameplay and lightning-fast performance.
Let’s dive deep into this,
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What is NVMe RAID Mode?
NVMe RAID Mode is a storage configuration developed by a group of over 90 companies led by Amber Huffman of Intel that allows you to combine 2 or more NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) SSDs into a single virtual drive using RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology.
This technology is designed to boost performance or add redundancy for data protection, or both, which is dependent on the RAID level you choose.
Apart from the traditional SATA-based RAID, NVMe RAID uses the PCIe interface, which is much faster than traditional drives.
When multiple NVMe SSDs are configured in RAID mode (like RAID 0 or RAID 1), they actually work together as one logical volume that can be controlled either by software (BIOS/OS) or hardware (RAID controller).
Let’s take an example,
- RAID 0 (Striping) splits your data across drives and doubles or triples your speed, but remember, if one drive fails, you lose all your data.
- RAID 1 (Mirroring) duplicates your data for safety, but you get only half the space.
- RAID 10 or 5 is are mix of speed and redundancy, ideal for performance users like gamers, and video editors who want speed along with protection.
You can enable NVMe RAID Mode in BIOS settings if your motherboard supports it via specific drivers (like Intel VROC or AMD RAIDXpert2).
You need 2 identical NVMe drives to setup RAID Mode.
It’s widely used in high-end PCs, workstations, and gaming rigs where performance and speed are critical.
So, if we want a summary, NVMe RAID Mode lets you supercharge your SSD setup for faster game loads, smoother multitasking, and other high-end work.
How NVMe RAID Works
NVMe RAID actually combines multiple NVMe SSDs into a single virtual drive through a RAID configuration.
This setup allows your machine to treat several physical drives as one logical unit, like a bridge connection. This setup is used for 2 reasons.
- The first reason is to achieve a higher data transfer speed
- The second reason is to protect your data in case of a drive failure
NVMe RAID operates over the PCIe interface, which is already a faster interface.
Let’s see how it works:
- RAID Controller (Software or Hardware): Your system uses either BIOS-based software RAID (common on consumer motherboards) or a dedicated hardware RAID controller to manage the drives. In most gaming PCs, RAID via the motherboard BIOS is sufficient.
- RAID Levels Which Define Its Behavior: RAID 0 (Striping)- Data is split evenly across 2 or more drives, which doubles the read/write speeds. RAID 1 (Mirroring) – This setup is used to copy the same data into 2 or more drives.
- Performance Impact: As we know, NVMe SSDs are already blazing fast; when you combine them in RAID 0, it results in insanely high sequential read/write speeds, sometimes over 10 GB/s. This is great for loading large texture games or transferring massive files quickly.
- Configuration Requirements: A compatible motherboard and BIOS support with RAID mode enabled
NVMe RAID vs Single NVMe vs SATA SSD
| Feature / Spec | NVMe RAID (e.g., RAID 0) | Single NVMe SSD | SATA SSD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe (Multiple NVMe drives) | PCIe (Single NVMe drive) | SATA III |
| Sequential Read/Write Speed | Up to 10-14 GB/s (RAID 0 with Gen4) | ~3-7 GB/s (Gen3/Gen4 NVMe) | Gamers, streamers, and general users |
| Latency | Ultra-low | Very low | Higher than NVMe |
| Load Times in Gaming | Slightly faster (RAID 0) | Already very fast | Noticeably slower |
| Boot Drive Support | Yes (with RAID driver) | Yes | Yes |
| Redundancy (RAID 1/10) | Yes (if configured for it) | No | No |
| Data Loss Risk (RAID 0) | High (if one drive fails) | Moderate (single point of failure) | Moderate |
| Complexity to Set Up | High (BIOS, RAID drivers needed) | Very low | Very low |
| Upgrade Cost | High (multiple drives needed) | Medium | Low |
| Best For | Enthusiasts, prosumers, creators | Gamers, streamers, general users | Budget gaming, everyday use |
| Game Load Performance Boost | Marginal improvement | Already fast | Noticeable improvement vs HDD |
Benefits of NVMe Raid Mode in PC Gaming
There are multiple benefits of using your NVMe drives in RAID Mode.
Let’s see these benefits.
- Faster Game Load Times: RAID 0 striping improves read speeds, which helps games load textures, maps, and levels more quickly.
- Large Unified Storage: Combining multiple NVMe SSDs into one large volume is ideal for massive game libraries and 4K assets.
- Sustained Read/Write Performance: RAID Mode 0 can speed up game installations, updates, and large file transfers.
- Redundancy for Data Protection (RAID 1/10): If you want to protect your game installations and files, then this RAID mode can minimize your data loss risks.
- Better For Multitasking: RAID Mode can handle background tasks like asset streaming or gameplay recording with minimal lag.
Downsides of NVMe Raid Mode
- Risk of Data Loss in RAID 0: In this setup, if one drive fails, all your data in the array will be lost.
- Complex Setup and Maintenance: RAID Mode requires you to have BIOS configuration knowledge and hardware setup knowledge. It is more complex than installing a single drive.
- Higher Cost: RAID needs 2 or more NVMe SSDs.
- Limited Motherboard Support: Not all motherboards support NVMe RAID. Sometimes you need RAID hardware drivers to set up this on your system.
- Driver Compatibility Issues: Some drivers (e.g., Samsung NVMe driver) don’t work with RAID mode enabled.
Is NVMe RAID Worth It for Gamers?
It’s my personal opinion that for most gamers, NVMe RAID isn’t necessary.
A single high-performance NVMe SSD is more than enough for faster load times, smooth gameplay, and quick file transfers.
However, NVMe RAID 0 can technically offer faster speeds, but there is minimal difference in real-world gaming.
However, if you fall into one of these categories, setting up NVMe RAID may be beneficial for you.
- You’re building a high-end gaming and content creation rig and need a setup to handle large video files or multitasking.
- You want a large, unified storage volume for your game libraries or 4K/8K textures without splitting data across different drives.
- You want to protect your game saves and files from accidental drive failure.
Conclusion
NVMe RAID mode is a powerful storage solution that can supercharge your PC’s performance, but it’s actually not necessary for PC gamers.
With my RAID setup I didn’t feel any significant speed boost in gaming. So I think it’s not necessary for the gamers.
For most gamers like me, a high-speed single NVMe SSD is more than enough to balance simplicity, speed, and cost.
But if you want to build a high-end rig and want every performance edge, you can explore NVMe RAID.
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Gautam Roy is the founder of PCBuildHQ.Com and StartHomeStudio.Com. He has over 20 years of experience in web development, creative technology, system architecture, audio recording, music production and video editing.