Raid 5 Calculator

The RAID 5 Calculator helps users determine the total raw capacity, usable capacity, parity disk space, storage efficiency, and minimum read and write speeds of a RAID 5 configuration based on the number of disks and their capacity.

Use Our Raid 5 Calculator

How to Use the RAID 5 Calculator

Follow the steps below to effectively use the RAID 5 Calculator and determine the capacities and efficiencies of your RAID 5 setup:

Step 1: Input Basic Information

  1. Number of Disks:
    Navigate to the field labeled Number of Disks. Enter the number of disks included in your RAID 5 setup. Ensure that the number is between the minimum of 3 and the maximum of 32 to proceed.
  2. Single Disk Capacity (GB):
    In the Single Disk Capacity (GB) field, input the storage capacity of one disk in gigabytes. This value should be between 1 GB and 100,000 GB.
  3. Stripe Size:
    For the Stripe Size field, select one of the available options: 4 KB, 8 KB, 16 KB, 32 KB, 64 KB, or 128 KB. This field is a dropdown, requiring you to select your preferred stripe size from these predefined sizes.

Step 2: Calculate and Review the Results

After entering all the necessary input fields, the calculator will automatically compute and display various results:

  1. Total Raw Capacity:
    This result shows the combined storage capacity of all disks before redundancy is accounted for. The calculation involves multiplying the number of disks by the capacity of a single disk.
  2. Usable Capacity:
    Displayed is the storage capacity that is available for use after accounting for RAID 5 redundancy. It is calculated as the product of the number of disks minus one, multiplied by the single disk capacity.
  3. Parity Disk Space:
    This value indicates the disk space used for parity, which equals the capacity of a single disk.
  4. Storage Efficiency:
    The storage efficiency percentage reflects how much of the total storage is usable after redundancy is considered. The formula calculates the efficiency as the ratio of usable capacity to total raw capacity, expressed as a percentage.
  5. Minimum Read Speed:
    This value provides an estimate of the minimum read speed achievable with the current RAID 5 setup. The calculation involves multiplying the number of disks minus one by 150 MB/s.
  6. Minimum Write Speed:
    Similar to the read speed, this field shows the estimated minimum write speed, calculated as half of the minimum read speed or ((numberOfDisks – 1) * 150) / 2.

With these detailed results, you can evaluate the storage capabilities and performance of your RAID 5 configuration effectively, ensuring your setup aligns with your data storage requirements.