Which RAID level offers the best write performance at the cost of redundancy?

RAID 0 is a storage configuration that provides the highest level of write performance by stripping data across multiple disks. In this configuration, data is split into blocks and written simultaneously to each disk in the array, which significantly enhances throughput and reduces write latency. This parallel writing capability means that the system can take full advantage of the combined speeds of all the disks in the array, making it ideal for applications that require fast write operations, such as video editing or gaming.

However, RAID 0 is notable for its lack of redundancy. If one disk in a RAID 0 array fails, all data across the entire array is lost because there is no mirroring or parity to recover the information. This trade-off between performance and data protection is a key characteristic of RAID 0, making it suitable for scenarios where speed is prioritized over data integrity and loss prevention. In environments where data redundancy is less critical, RAID 0 is often chosen to achieve maximum performance.