Need a good pci-e Sata III Raid controller

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Rakewell

Rakewell

Platinum Member
Feb 2, 2005
2,418
1
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Sorry if in wrong forum.

I have an evga 4 way sli classified, which doesn't have SATA III/USB 3.0. (II/2.0)

I just bought 2x256 830s from Amazon, and I want to set a raid 0 array for OS/Games.

Can someone recommend a decent controller? I want to be able to boot from it without issues, and the Newegg reviews are fraught with bad reviews. (I know to take them with a grain of salt however.)

Can anyone recommend one?

Thanks guys.
 
G

greenhawk

Platinum Member
Feb 23, 2011
2,007
1
71
generally anything that is pci-4 x4 or better should be enough. x1 is going to be pointless and x2 does not exist.

how much are you looking to spend as most cards at x4 are raid of some kind.
 
Rakewell

Rakewell

Platinum Member
Feb 2, 2005
2,418
1
76
Hey man,

Thanks for your response. The card would go into a free 8x/16x slot on the classified between two 580s.

I'd like to keep it under $50 if possible, I'm not looking to shatter records.

Would like to have more than two SATA connectors on the card, but can handle it if it's not there.

Also, dunno if possible, but would love to have USB 3.0 as well.

Thoughts?

Thanks again-
 
Last edited:
I

Insert_Nickname

Diamond Member
May 6, 2012
4,971
1,696
136
How much are you willing to spend...?

If you get a cheap PCIe x1 card, you will be limited to 500MB/s even with both drives active.

Also I must warn about RAID0, in case one drive fails for any reason you loose your data. So a robust backup system is required...

About the USB3 controller, if you have a free slot, just grap the cheapest one with an external power connector...:)
 
Rakewell

Rakewell

Platinum Member
Feb 2, 2005
2,418
1
76
Insert_Nickname said:
How much are you willing to spend...?

If you get a cheap PCIe x1 card, you will be limited to 500MB/s even with both drives active.

Also I must warn about RAID0, in case one drive fails for any reason you loose your data. So a robust backup system is required...

About the USB3 controller, if you have a free slot, just grap the cheapest one with an external power connector...:)
Click to expand...

I'd like to spend 50 or less. And I know all about Raid0, I've done it before and keep mad backups and images. :)

I have an open PCI-e 8x/16x slot and am looking for an affordable card with 2/4 SATA ports for Raid that can boot from an EVGA 4-way Classified without trouble. Looking for speed, but don't need to break records.
 
exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
Cough up the cash for a quality controller like a LSI MegaRAID 9260-4i and save yourself A LOT of trouble and buyers remorse.

Those $50 RAID cards are a joke.

If you can afford 4 SSDs and RAID0, a ~$300 controller for them shouldn't be out of reach.
 
O

Old Hippie

Diamond Member
Oct 8, 2005
6,361
1
0
exdeath said:
Cough up the cash for a quality controller like a LSI MegaRAID 9260-4i and save yourself A LOT of trouble and buyers remorse.

Those $50 RAID cards are a joke.

If you can afford 4 SSDs and RAID0, a ~$300 controller for them shouldn't be out of reach.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

An LSI 9260-4i + Fastpath software is @ 400.00.

Anything less isn't worth it......take it from someone who's been there. :)
 
Rakewell

Rakewell

Platinum Member
Feb 2, 2005
2,418
1
76
exdeath said:
Cough up the cash for a quality controller like a LSI MegaRAID 9260-4i and save yourself A LOT of trouble and buyers remorse.

Those $50 RAID cards are a joke.

If you can afford 4 SSDs and RAID0, a ~$300 controller for them shouldn't be out of reach.
Click to expand...

Dunno where you got 4 SSDs from my post...

I bought two from Amazon yesterday which almost broke the back for me at $300 total. I don't really have $400 for a controller, nor do I need one. There's got to be one out there that can do a simple raid!
 
M

mrpiggy

Member
Apr 19, 2012
196
12
81
Rakewell said:
Also,

I hate to be a pain in the ass, but I don't understand why I have to spend so much money on a controller.

What's wrong with this one?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ers-RAID-Cards
Click to expand...


Cus it's crap. You have already been given the best advice if you don't want to spring for something more expensive. Use the Intel ports. The drivers are good, the latency is good, and running at SATA2 speeds is not going to affect your 4K reads, which is what affects user experience the most. Using one of those cheap cards means crap drivers, crap latencies, and crap 4K randoms, which is the opposite of what you should want.
 
Rakewell

Rakewell

Platinum Member
Feb 2, 2005
2,418
1
76
mrpiggy said:
Cus it's crap. You have already been given the best advice if you don't want to spring for something more expensive. Use the Intel ports. The drivers are good, the latency is good, and running at SATA2 speeds is not going to affect your 4K reads, which is what affects user experience the most. Using one of those cheap cards means crap drivers, crap latencies, and crap 4K randoms, which is the opposite of what you should want.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. Thanks man. :thumbsup:
 
exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
Upgrade to a Intel Sata 6g board for the price of your RAID card budget? If you are only running two drives, onboard Intel can't be beat.
 
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