SSD RAID 0 Array Slower on RAID Card Then Onboard

[hennessy1]

I recently moved my raid 0 array of 3 intel 320 series 600GB ssds to an areca 1220 card from an evga e762 4way classified board using the ich10r as the previous raid controller. If anything I would expect speeds to stay the same or a little higher but not decrease like this.

ICH10R

vs.

Areca 1220

Maybe one of the options I set in the controller bios is slowing it if so someone with a little more knowledge could help me track it down.

The array does seem faster for some reason and that is just user perception I am just curious as to why the number are so different. Thank you for any help.

 

[groberts101]

I think you just picked the wrong card for SSD here. Read a very old review which points out that same thing.
http://www.nextlevelhardware.com/storage/battleship/

I even googled the current prices for that card and was amazed that anyone would even pay that much with so many other cheaper/faster "SSD friendly" alternatives available these days. The Highpoint 2720 and LSI 9200 entry level cards being a quick example to that fact.

Can you still return it? If not?(and not trying to rub salt).. then I hope you seriously didn't pay that much for it if you have to learn that mistake the hard way.

 

[hennessy1]

I can't return it I purchased it awhile back. Was just using it for my hdd array and figured why not throw my ssds on there. I mean like I said it seems faster in certain aspects as compared to before.

 

[groberts101]

I guess it depends on the usage model.. but I seriously cannot fathom how that card will be faster than running those SSD's off the ICH10R.

I'll take Intels seamless caching to ram(how many gigs do you have on that system?) over that cards measily 256MB any day of the week. You want to see what an OS volume will thank you for?.. run that card with AS SSD and then compare to the ICH10R. Night and day, not to mention the latency will be MUCH improved on the ICH.

Would still be a decent enough card for narrower parity type storage volumes though. Just sayin'.. I think you went backwards there, is all. Good luck with it. :thumbsup:

 

[hennessy1]

Ya I see where your comming from. I also got tired of waiting for the Intel OROM that would support trim in raid. On top of that I don't know if evga will even end up updating the BIOS at that point considering EOL.

So would even the 1230 and 1260 be limiting? These are just the other 2 cards in the family of my current that I am looking at.

 

[exdeath]

LSI MegaRAID card or go home when it comes to SSD RAID. 9260 in particular. The 4i card costs less than one of the SSD array members.

 

[hennessy1]

I guess I'll hold out then. Thank you for the help. Would adjusting any of the controller BIOS options for reads change anything or is it strictly the card?

I also just went with this card because there is some issues with LSI cards and my board booting from them so until I get a new board with uefi BIOS I just played it safe with what I had.

 

[groberts101]

yep.. 1231 and the others mentioned are simply too old at this point. Probably need to be looking at the 16xx series to even get close to the speeds you're looking for here.

And I agree.. the card that exdeath has mentioned will only run you around 3 bills for 2GB/s speed potential and larger cache.

Personally?.. I would really need to be in the market for a raidcard to justify spending that much coin when you can easily upgrade the entire system for not much more these days.

Need to also keep in mind that buying a natively supported 6G based system has more to do with buying max available throughput from the sata chip.. then the individual ports 6G speed capability. Those systems will easily do 1200MB/s with enough SSD's, so there's that.

EDIT: probably need to be looking at read ahead.. write back.. and make sure that NCQ/TCQ is enabled for sure.