RAID 0 2xSSD bootdrive with Thunderbolt

[Quasher]

Hi,

I just received my 2011 iMac with every option except the SSD here in Finland.

I was thinking about the option to get an external Thunderbolt bootdrive (when they're available) for few reasons.
1) In RAID0 2xSSD will perform much faster than a single Sata III SSD
2) Wouldn't need to open my iMac and purchase the required parts and tools
3) Corsair Force 3 SSD has a lower €/GB price in 120GB model than in the 240GB model
--> 2x120GB cheaper than 240GB

So basically I could "finance" some part of the External Thunderbolt drive enclosure by the savings I make with 1) getting 2x120GB instead of 240GB and 2) not buying the extra parts, tools and maybe service for installing internal SSD.

What do you think about this solution?
Can I boot both OSX and Windows 7 in bootcamp from Thunderbolt?
Can I partition the RAID0 setup for OSX and bootcamp? (never used RAID setups before)

 

[flopticalcube]

Pretty sure Windows won't boot from an external. Not sure about OSX as no one has tested it yet but it probably will.

 

[timtom33]

Can i just ask how is your new machine? Is it responsive enough with just a HD? Or do you notice a lot of lag and bottleneck?

(I also didn't order with an SSD because it was too expensive and i think 256GB is too big for OS and Apps, also i have never owned a Mac before and wouldn't say i am going to be doing anything too intense on it majority of the time, but everyone on here does keep saying SSD is the only way to go for them, so i'm feeling remorse even though i've not even got it yet and it doesn't arrive until Wednesday!).

 

[MrWillie]

Why?

I understand the concept of external drives, raid0, SSD benefits, and the like. But I would wait for Lion, and then buy one of these and use drive spanning. This of course Is assuming that Lion brings drive spanning for OSX on the Z68 chipset.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/Mercury_Extreme_SSD_Sandforce/Solid_State_Pro

 

[wessew]

Agree with all the above. The port is first generation, the drives will be first generation and you are within a couple of months of a new operating system. Unless you new iMac is a toy/experimental machine you should let the technology mature a bit.