SSD / MB Configuration to get the best read / write speeds ?

[Jay Janarthanan]

I am looking for a Motherboard / SSD Combo that can give me the best read / write performance for a software development PC (Compilers, Database etc).

Currently I am looking at 2 * SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 250GB NVMe on a Gigabyte LGA1151 Intel Z170 with 2 x M.2 Socket 3 connectors running on RAID 0 mode.

Is that the best option or is there some other configuration I should look at.

Thanks

Jay

 

[UsandThem]

I am looking for a Motherboard / SSD Combo that can give me the best read / write performance for a software development PC (Compilers, Database etc).

Currently I am looking at 2 * SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 250GB NVMe on a Gigabyte LGA1151 Intel Z170 with 2 x M.2 Socket 3 connectors running on RAID 0 mode.

Is that the best option or is there some other configuration I should look at.

Thanks

Jay

You only have two lowly 960 EVOs in RAID. That would be rough dealing with that! I'll take them off of your hands, and I will even pay shipping on them.

I'm not sure if this is a serious post or not, but seriously the only thing faster right now is if you had two larger (512GB+ models) 960 PROs in RAID.

Did you not read any reviews before dropping the money on the 960 EVOs?

 

[Jay Janarthanan]

I have not bought it. 960 EVO is $125 each and will be for sales in few weeks. The RAID part, is that hardware RAID as part of the Z170 chipset?

 

[UsandThem]

I have not bought it. 960 EVO is $125 each and will be for sales in few weeks. The RAID part, is that hardware RAID as part of the Z170 chipset?

All boards are different with features/specs. You can also buy a hardware RAID add-in card.

If you have to have the highest scores (or performance), you need to spend all the $$$ and buy the 512GB+and above 960 PRO.

Here is a video of someone using the 960 PRO in RAID on a run-of-the-mill MSI Z170-A Gaming board:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKXUbjTszYg

You can go to 6:30 and see the results. I'm sure someone has tested the 960 EVO in RAID somewhere, so feel free to find it.

 

[Jay Janarthanan]

Thanks for the video link. Dont know if there are hardware RAID cards that take advantage of NVM M.2 interface.

 

[UsandThem]

Thanks for the video link. Dont know if there are hardware RAID cards that take advantage of NVM M.2 interface.

https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adap...TA-Cards/m2-raid-controller-card~PEXM2SAT3422

First return on Google.

If you are going to use a motherboard for RAID, you will have to look at the detailed specs of the board and see if performance is reduced by using two NVMe drives at the same time. Sometimes it simply "turns" off some SATA ports or disables a PCIe 4x slot, but it is different on every board.

EDIT

This is also a good article to read up on concerning that sort of thing:

http://www.thessdreview.com/daily-news/latest-buzz/understanding-m2-3xraid0-nvme-boot-performance/

 

[Jay Janarthanan]

Agree with you 100%, sometimes they use the same PCI lanes. As for the Startech card its SATA 3 so dont see a point putting 2 960 on them.