How to set up X-25M Raid?

[Yuriman]

I just ordered 2x 80gb x-25M G2's, leaving a smoking hole in my wallet. However, I'm wondering what I need to know before raiding these? I haven't been keeping up with the latest SSD info.

OCZ forums has a guide that has a few rules.

1: Partition Offset / Stripe Unit Size should = an integer

2: Partition Offset / NAND Page Size should = an integer

3: Partition Offset / File Allocation Unit Size should = an integer

4: Strip Unit Size / File Allocation Unit Size should = an integer

5: Partition Offset / NAND Erase Block Size should = an integer



Firstly, are these all relevant for the Intel drives? What settings are you guys with the G1's using?

When installing the W7 RC (again), and later the full version, how do I.. erm, set everything up correctly? I've never had to change these things before, these are my first SSD's.

I read a statement from OCZ that "TRIM will be supported in RAID if your RAID controller supports it"... but that's kindof vague. Can anyone elaborate?

Any must-have utilities, ect?


Thanks in advance.

 

[rcpratt]

Where did you buy 'em?

 

[ArizonaSteve]

I, too, am interested in the answer to this. I will probably be raiding two of the 80GB drives sometime between now and November.

 

[Yuriman]

www.pugetsystems.com


"These drives will ship out on Monday (we have a shipment arriving here either Friday or Monday)"


http://www.pugetsystems.com/part_info.php?part=6307

 

[taltamir]

the G2 will get TRIM support the day W7 goes public. TRIM is not supported by RAID.
RAIDing SSD already has negligible benefits (aside from sequential read write, but honestly who cares about those?).

I would keep them seperate for the TRIM support.

 

[drizek]

Ya, what taltamir said. I would cancel the order and get the 160GB drive instead(act now, while it is still in stock). It will be faster than a single 80GB drive, is cheaper than getting two 80s and you don't sacrifice TRIM.

I think TRIM will only be compatible with future RAID controllers that specifically support it. So far, that means none.

 

[taltamir]

even then, it will only be in RAID 0, 1, and maybe 10... not raid 5

or it might require a special varient of those raid styles for trim support (which means even longer delay before trim support)

 

[drizek]

If what the pcper article said about the g1 not needing TRIM is true, getting 2x80GB G1s might be a good idea if you want to set up RAID. I imagine that they will be discounted quite heavily, down to about 200 bucks, within a few days.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: drizek
If what the pcper article said about the g1 not needing TRIM is true, getting 2x80GB G1s might be a good idea if you want to set up RAID. I imagine that they will be discounted quite heavily, down to about 200 bucks, within a few days.

at the moment they are being sold side by side with the G2 at their old price (320$) and a "no refunds" policy (for both).

 

[Emulex]

you sure they will not have a way to pass thru trim with ahci?

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Emulex
you sure they will not have a way to pass thru trim with ahci?

Positive.
AHCI is irrelevant. It is RAID that matters, and it requires modification to raid controller to make it work.

 

[Rubycon]

Actually the performance increase is noticeable IF you attach these drives (four or more of the larger ones is best) to a proper intelligent host NOT the motherboard's onboard RAID controller if you want to call it that. It's a feature that was a gimmick in 2000 when they first started adding them to boards and is the same today.

The bad news is a decent SAS/SATA host will set you back at least $600.

 

[taltamir]

rubycon. I was saying that AHCI is irrelevant to TRIM command interoperability with RAID. Not that AHCI is irrelevant in terms of performance.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: taltamir
rubycon. I was saying that AHCI is irrelevant to TRIM command interoperability with RAID. Not that AHCI is irrelevant in terms of performance.

Originally posted by: taltamir

RAIDing SSD already has negligible benefits (aside from sequential read write, but honestly who cares about those?).

TRIM support will be built into future firmware revisions of smart hosts. It will be able to do this online. Areca hosts can support on the fly migration of stripe sizes without interfering with data or operation other than an impact on performance. TRIM could be scheduled by time or performance counters in this manner. Problem is by the time (Areca) has this SSDs will probably not need TRIM! :laugh:

 

[Yuriman]

Anyone have any solid news on what the first controllers to support TRIM raid will be? Is it possible that current ones with a firmware update will? Should I raid them anyway, until Win7 comes out?

Also, what offset / stripe size, ect., to use?

 

[Binky]

I'm still waiting to see some confirmation that Trim is actually enabled in the Win7 RTM. AFAIK, everybody exepcts it to be working but nobody's talking about whether this is true or not.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Yuriman
Anyone have any solid news on what the first controllers to support TRIM raid will be? Is it possible that current ones with a firmware update will? Should I raid them anyway, until Win7 comes out?

Also, what offset / stripe size, ect., to use?

it is also possible for every SSD out there to support trim and for every DX10 video card to support DX10.1 and DX11 (they are turing complete).
Possible does not mean it is gonna happen, or that it is even remotely likely.
I expect a bunch of new "versions" which are the same hardware but with new TRIM supporting firmware.

 

[rgallant]

Originally posted by: Yuriman
Anyone have any solid news on what the first controllers to support TRIM raid will be? Is it possible that current ones with a firmware update will? Should I raid them anyway, until Win7 comes out?

Also, what offset / stripe size, ect., to use?

--taken from ocz
RyderOCZ
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Even if TRIM is fully functional on the Vertex and in Win7.. if the Raid controller is not passing the commands, TRIM will not work.

All 3 must support TRIM for TRIM to work
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I wonder if intel can\will do this for their chipsets with just with a bios update. After win 7 oct.22 , could be part of a win 7 bios\ raid drivers update.-for intel drives only?

-for myself I'll look around in nov. after the smoke has cleared ,and the real os is used in real world benchmarks, and see whats good at that time .