Do you need RAID0 when using SSD + RST?

[iTwins]

I couldn't find any useful info regarding this before I bought my SSD. After I bought a SSD for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the Z68 + Intel RST, I started testing various configurations. Hope this helps for noobs like you and me.

My previous setup was 5 x 1TB running RAID0 (tests were done using 3 x 1TB Hitachi 7200 RPM drives)

Testing configurations:


System: ASRock Extreme4 with latest firmware + i7 2600 + 2x4GB DDR3-1600 + Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
SSD : ADATA 60GB S511 SATA3 with TRIM (550 MB/s Read, 500 MB/s Write)

CDM #1: 3x1TB 7200RPM SATA2 RAID0
CDM #2: ADATA S511 60GB SATA3 TRIM on 3x1TB 7200 RPM SATA2 RAID0 RST Enhanced Mode
CDM #3: ADATA S511 60GB SATA3 TRIM on 3x1TB 7200 RPM SATA2 RAID0 RST Maximized Mode



CDM #1: 1x1TB 7200RPM HDD SATA2
CDM #2: ADATA S511 60GB SATA3 TRIM on 1x1TB 7200 RPM SATA2 HDD RST Enhanced Mode
CDM #3: ADATA S511 60GB SATA3 TRIM on 1x1TB 7200 RPM SATA2 HDD RST Maximized Mode




If you're planning to use RST Maximized Mode, you probably don't need RAID0 at all. However, there could be some difference when using RST Enhanced Mode...

I ditched my previous 5x1TB RAID0 setup for a 1x1TB + SSD + RST. It's just as fast. I don't play a lot of games. The only game I'm still playing is Anal 1404...er...Anno 1404. There is a noticeable loading performance difference between the RAID0 without SSD RST and RAID0 + SSD + RST but very little when compared with a RAID0 + SSD + RST and a non-RAID + SSD + RST config.

 

[nanaki333]

Nice results. Thanks for taking the time to do a nice breakdown between the different setups and posting your findings!