Best Scsi raid controller under $450 ??

[Alchemist99]

I have a couple of Seagate 36 gb i want to run a raid 0 setup what controllers would you guys recommend that would give me the best bang for my buck. Tia


SEAGATE SCSI 36.0GB 15,000RPM, MODEL# ST336752LW -
Specifications:
Size: 36.0 Gigabytes
Interface: SCSI Wide 68 Pin Ultra160
Seek time: 3.6ms
Transfer Rate: 160MB/Sec
RPM:15,000
Cache: N/A

 

[sharkeeper]

Go with LSi MegaRAID Elite 1600 dual channel U160 SCSI RAID controller with 64+ MB of cache. You can find these on ebay for $300 without looking too hard.

NOTE: This controller, while backwards compatible with 32bit/33 MHz PCI, is best run at 66MHz in a 64bit PCI slot.

Cheers!

 

[Alchemist99]

Do you think I'll take a big performance hit on a 33mhz Pci. I'm using an Asus p4t533-c mobo I chose that for the rdram 1066 compatibility
thanks for the advice btw.

 

[Wolfsraider]

no you won't reach max capacity with 2 drives and probably wouldn't with four drives

2 drives would be safe in 32 bit

mike

 

[sharkeeper]

no you won't reach max capacity with 2 drives and probably wouldn't with four drives

2 drives would be safe in 32 bit

What I have found when the LSi HBA runs at 32/33 is the reads max out at 100 MB/S and writes 48 MB/S. Same configuration (2 disks) in a 64/66 slot hit 123 MB/S both writes and reads! This was with ATTO. So even with two X1536LP disks your throughput will be limited.

Benchmarks aside, even at 32/33 the array flat out screamed. Windows XP Pro loaded in less than 1/2 the time it takes with a 1200JB! Bootup time was still faster despite the typical pauses when Windows boots up with SCSI. If there was a way to get rid of those pauses, you would be looking at seeing your desktop in less than 10 seconds from the Windows XP Splash Screen. It takes longer for the controller's BIOS to read the configuration! :Q

Cheers!

 

[alkemyst]

i want!