Do I need a RAID card to make a RAID configuration?

Question

Now, I'm well aware that the subject heading above could be a very dumb question, so I will clarify it.
I have ordered my first Mac Pro. In trying to squeeze as much in the way of processing power, memory and hard disk space in with my limited budget, I opted not to go for the RAID card, at well over 500 quid.
As someone who is far from being a computer wizard, my question is, does the lack of said item mean I will not be able to set up a RAID configuration? (This pre-supposes of course, that I would be capable of doing it with one.) Or does it just make things easier? Assuming I need something do do this, is there a cheaper route?

Answer 1

It means that if you create a RAID set with two drives and want to add a third later, you will first have to copy elswhere the data on the two drives in question, destroy the RAID set, start over creating a three drive RAID set, then recopy the data if so wish.
it literally does not take a minute to set one up. You most certainly can do it. In disk utility, you click on the RAID button, select the two or three drives you want to use, they unmount, click create and a few seconds later, mounts a new volume.