1x/2x sataII SSD raid0 ICH10 or 1x sataIII ssd on Marvell 91xx

[Martyzzz]

Hey Everybody,

I've been reading up on SSD's for the past 2 weeks or so because im planning to upgrade my WD Raptor 74Gb bootdrive to SSD.
I'm writing this post because i could use a little help with picking out what is best for me.

These are my main system specs :
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
CPU : Intel I7-950
Ram : 6Gb 1333Mhz Cosair XMS (3x2Gb)
Mobo : Asus Sabertoorh X58
HDD's : 74Gb WD Raptor (OS) / 1tb WD (Data) / 600Gb raid0 (editing)

The space i want/need on my new ssd('s) should be between 80Gb and 120Gb.

Here's my problem:
My motherboard has an Intel ICH10 6 channel SataII controller and a Marvell 9128 SataIII controller.
I've been reading that the Marvell SataIII controller is rubbish and i should avoid hooking up any SDD's to it while i have seen benchmarks.
Looking at it i could go for either 2 smaller sataII ssd's in raid0 (eg 2x40Gb) or try a 80/120 SataIII on the Marvell Controller.
Last maybe a larger very good Single SataII drive (80-120Gb) also would be an option if its almost the same speed as the 2 smaller ssd's in raid.
So keeping in mind that my SataIII controller option could be crap im stuck on the following SSD choises/configurations (I have a limited budget around Eur 175 = $ 254 also im from the Netherlands and i cant order stuff online from newegg i have to go to THIS store in my country

Option1 (one single ssd on sataIII)
OCZ Agility 3 / 120Gb Eur 187,90 = $ 272,23
Crucial RealSSD C300 128Gb Eur 189,90 = $ 275,13
I need to hook this up to the Marvell 9128 SataIII controller but it might not work propperly nor could i get max speeds ?

Option2 (two small "cheaper" ssd's in raid on SataII)
OCZ Vertex 2 / 40Gb Eur 89,90 = $ 130,25 (x2= 179,80 / 260,50)
Intel 320 / 40Gb Eur 81,90 = $ 118,66 (x2= 163,80 / 237,32)
Cosair Force F40Gb2 / Eur 92,90 = $ 134,59 (2x 185,8 / 269,18)
This config only gives me 80Gb space in total but thats more than enough for me, im only not sure about this option because of the fact that smaller ssd's perform less than bigger ones and the fact that raid doesnt mean speedincrease x2 over a single drive. I dont care that much about redundancy issues.

Option3 (one single bigger SataII SSD)
Kingston SVP100S2 96Gb / Eur 122,90 = $ 178,06
Intel SSDSA2CW080G310 80Gb/ Eur 132,90 = $ 192,55
OCZ Vertex 2E 90Gb / Eur 144,90 = $ 209,93

Just thought of an option4 kinda thing.
Would a SataIII still outperform the other options on the Intel ICH10 controller due to the limited bandwith...aarrgh driving me nuts !

This is what i have put toghetter so far, the biggest choise is to go SataII or SataIII (due to my crappy Marvell controller, is it worth it...)
If SataIII isnt the way to go for me than im chooseing between a big sataII SDD in raid or 2 smaller SataII sdd's in a raid config (would it be THAT much faster as hdd space isnt an issue for me)

I use my bootup HDD only for windows, basic programs and very few photo and video edits (mainly i do this on other HDD's anyway) and maybe only 1 or 2 games
The size of 80Gb is a MUST, bigger is only lucurious but not needed, price is more important, the lower the better.
Atm i have 40Gb free space on my 74Gb Raptor

Anyone any thoughts or dealt with similar issues ?

Thanks in advance

 

[nanaki333]

the marvel controller is fine. go with a single c300 for peace of mind. they're proven reliable, solid performers.

 

[Martyzzz]

the marvel controller is fine. go with a single c300 for peace of mind. they're proven reliable, solid performers.

Cheers for the reply but wouldnt 2 smaller sataII ssd's in raid outperform a single sataIII ?

 

[groberts101]

Cheers for the reply but wouldnt 2 smaller sataII ssd's in raid outperform a single sataIII ?

YUP!.. especially on that chip. Though, to a lessor degree with a slower 6G drive like the one mentioned above.

PS. avoid the Marvell if going raid and use the Intel sata2 ports. Much better caching and higher max throughput over the Marvell by far.