Multiple drive Intel X25-M RAID0

[gbeirn]

Anyone ever RAID multiple SSDs? Like a 4 or 5 drive RAID0. Thinking about getting some 160GB X25M since I can get a good deal on them and sticking them all in a RAID for my Steam folder.

I don't care about data loss for this since it can all just be re-downloaded. TRIM isn't so important either since it will mostly be read-only once the initial download is done and whatever updates Steam does. Plus I can secure erase if need be.

Anyone have any benchmarks with that many drives? This is on a X58 platform so ICH10R. Not sure what the bandwidth on that tops out at.

 

[Agent11]

I would get a controller card.

 

[gbeirn]

I know but I am trying to do this on the cheap for my 600GB Steam folder.

 

[Agent11]

You can get a Dell Perc H310 for like 60 bucks on ebay. Just need a free pci-e slot.

 

[greenhawk]

how cheap are you looking at?

These are new prices, so if your total cost gets close to these, better to just buy new.

960GB m500 - $600 from newegg
750GB Samsung - $530 from BHPhoto (Pre order for 20th Aug)

 

[gbeirn]

I could get 5 of them for 800GB for $375. Not sure if it is the best option. I'd rather not but controller cards since I don't have any open PCI-Express slots because of my video cards. The ICH10R is limited to SATA 3.0Gbps anyway.

 

[aigomorla]

u will CAP your IO at 3xSSD's without a dedicated raid controller.

i have done it.

3 intels in R0.

i think the sweet spot... non dedicated controller is 2xSSD's in R0....

 

[KentState]

I have 4 Samsung 840s in RAID 0 right now. There is a small benefit with my Steam folder, but I mostly see it with virtual machines. This is how they benchmark compared to my stand alone SSD.

 

[aigomorla]

pish... go away SATA3!!!

😛

(jealous)

no wait lemme break out my shots with my ARC-1680ix...


😛


nice score btw.... the OP tho is asking in SATA2, X58 ICH10R.
Which my score is on.

 

[gbeirn]

Yea I figured I would cap the sequential but every SSD I add would add to the 4K speeds correct?

 

[aigomorla]

Yea I figured I would cap the sequential but every SSD I add would add to the 4K speeds correct?

Theoretically yea...

it would equal out..

however ur burning too many SATA ports IMO.

i still think u should just get 2 larger recient made SSD's... they are faster then the X25-E.
As you can see, that Samsung 840 single killed my Gen2 Intel's.

That is why i dont use the intel's anymore... im on 2 x 240 corsairs now...

 

[KentState]

Yea I figured I would cap the sequential but every SSD I add would add to the 4K speeds correct?

Not necessarily. Depending on the stripe size, you may only see a benefit to sequential read/write. If you see my two screenshots, the single drive out performed 4 in RAID 0, plus latency gets worse the more drives you add. Even with 4x SATA3 ports, the MB is limited in bandwidth I believe. In all honesty, this was just a way to toy with benchmark for me as 1 large m500 would have probably been a better route for simplicity.