What to do with 3 SSD's

[ViviTheMage]

I've got a 120GB SSD, I plan to use for my OS.

I have 2 256GB samsung SSD 830's coming shortly, that I want to use for programs and whatnot. Basically, should I software raid them or no? I heard you lose TRIM?

 

[blastingcap]

I had a pair of Samsung 830 256GBs, tried RAID but gave that up because it didn't really speed up my Shogun 2 loading times (which are truly epic, btw) and yeah, I think you lose TRIM which sucks. Ended up giving one to my gf and kept the other as my Steam drive.

 

[ViviTheMage]

so I should just split up my installs and have one dedicated to steam then? or sell them for one 512GB, haha.

 

[Aikouka]

I thought Intel's RST allows for TRIM over RAID now?

Looks like it does, but you'll need a 7-series board: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6161/...ssd-arrays-on-7series-motherboards-we-test-it

EDIT:

Oh, and I'm guessing you got in on the $160 Amazon deal? I was rather tempted to pick up another 128GB drive, but I just don't have a use for it.

 

[lehtv]

What 120GB SSD do you have now?

 

[ViviTheMage]

I'll have a Z77 mobo

the second SSD is a crucial m4

yeah, snagged 4 of the SSD's, giving two to my buddy...2 for me!

 

[ViviTheMage]

When I setup raid 0, how will I know it's trimming?

also, should I put the two raid 0 drives on the sata 6 port? there's only 2, so I want to make sure they go fast

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I had a pair of Samsung 830 256GBs, tried RAID but gave that up because it didn't really speed up my Shogun 2 loading times (which are truly epic, btw) and yeah, I think you lose TRIM which sucks. Ended up giving one to my gf and kept the other as my Steam drive.

Intel has added RAID-0 TRIM support so far for their 7 series chipsets on s1155 (such as Z77) and are currently working on adding RAID-0 TRIM support to X79

also, should I put the two raid 0 drives on the sata 6 port? there's only 2, so I want to make sure they go fast

if you're going to RAID-0 the drives I'd keep them on similar ports, either both SATA6 or both SATA3. If you run them on SATA3 the drives will be held back by the individual speeds of SATA3 although that will then be "doubled" via RAID0 so it should act a lot like a single 512GB SATA6 drive.

That being said, I think it would be a shame to waste the potential of such excellent drives by neutering them with SATA3.

If I were in your shoes (of which my own situation is already very similar) I'd just RAID0 the two 830 drives on the two SATA6 ports and install all OS/apps on that array and just forget about trying to juggle software across two different "drives" with the 120GB drive (move it to a backup rig, sell it, use it as a scratch drive, etc)

My own situation is similar, as I mentioned before, in that I already run a 2 x 256GB Samsung 830 setup. And in my case I am compromising because my Steam collection alone is well over 500GB (I think I'm approaching the 700GB mark), so I simply uninstall the games I don't intend to replay all that often (the large single player games without much replay value are the first to go)

Right now I'm just trying to "survive" with my current method until SSD cost/capacity is down to $0.50 per GB and would then upgrade to a 2 x 512GB setup, of which TRIM should be available for X79 by then, although my Steam collection very well might push the limits of a 1TB setup in that same period, who knows

 

[lehtv]

I don't understand why you bought so many SSD's to begin with? I would probably just return one of them

 

[hhhd1]

"Software RAID" should have no problem passing TRIM, the problem is only for motherboard RAID solutions.

 

[Smoblikat]

When I setup raid 0, how will I know it's trimming?

also, should I put the two raid 0 drives on the sata 6 port? there's only 2, so I want to make sure they go fast

SSDlife will tell you.

If theyre SATA 3 drives then yes put them there, if theyre SATA 2 it will be a wasste.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Intel has added RAID-0 TRIM support so far for their 7 series chipsets on s1155 (such as Z77) and are currently working on adding RAID-0 TRIM support to X79



if you're going to RAID-0 the drives I'd keep them on similar ports, either both SATA6 or both SATA3. If you run them on SATA3 the drives will be held back by the individual speeds of SATA3 although that will then be "doubled" via RAID0 so it should act a lot like a single 512GB SATA6 drive.

That being said, I think it would be a shame to waste the potential of such excellent drives by neutering them with SATA3.

If I were in your shoes (of which my own situation is already very similar) I'd just RAID0 the two 830 drives on the two SATA6 ports and install all OS/apps on that array and just forget about trying to juggle software across two different "drives" with the 120GB drive (move it to a backup rig, sell it, use it as a scratch drive, etc)

My own situation is similar, as I mentioned before, in that I already run a 2 x 256GB Samsung 830 setup. And in my case I am compromising because my Steam collection alone is well over 500GB (I think I'm approaching the 700GB mark), so I simply uninstall the games I don't intend to replay all that often (the large single player games without much replay value are the first to go)

Right now I'm just trying to "survive" with my current method until SSD cost/capacity is down to $0.50 per GB and would then upgrade to a 2 x 512GB setup, of which TRIM should be available for X79 by then, although my Steam collection very well might push the limits of a 1TB setup in that same period, who knows

Is there a specific version of the software that supports it? I assume i'djust hook them up and boot into winters and create the raid 0 in intel RST?

I don't understand why you bought so many SSD's to begin with? I would probably just return one of them

they were cheap, and I need the space?

 

[corkyg]

I have 2 at present - both 256GB Sammies. I will eventually add a 512 GB for data, etc. These are in my T510 laptop. I keep 2 of the OS drives as complete duplicates. One is in the machine. The other in a padded pouch in my travel case. I rotate them after any major updates in order to keep them current.

When I travel, I always have a "spare tire" immediately available, all caddy mounted and ready to go.

 

[KingFatty]

Why not JBOD them? Then you'll have a 512 GB drive that is SSD. Would TRIM still work on JBOD?

 

[ViviTheMage]

If trims works raid 0, i'd love to do that.

I just want to know the correct method and software version before I do it.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Is there a specific version of the software that supports it? I assume i'djust hook them up and boot into winters and create the raid 0 in intel RST?

the latest version directly from intel should work

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6161/...ssd-arrays-on-7series-motherboards-we-test-it

The requirements for RAID-0 TRIM support are as follows:

A 7-series motherboard (6-series chipsets are unfortunately not supported).
Intel's Rapid Storage Technology (RST) for RAID driver version 11.0 or greater (11.2 is the current release)
Windows 7 (Windows 8 support is forthcoming)

don't forget to set your Intel SATA controller to RAID mode in the BIOS

if you want to boot to the array you'll have to create it in Intel's Option ROM

Why not JBOD them? Then you'll have a 512 GB drive that is SSD. Would TRIM still work on JBOD?

There's almost no reason to go JBOD vs. RAID0 now that Intel supports TRIM over RAID0 on his setup (Z77 motherboard, Windows 7)

 

[ViviTheMage]

I have version 11.1 installed, they say you need 11.0 + so I think I am good, since it came from the board manufacturer. Do I need to do anything special to enable it, or will it just work?

Also, setting up raid 0, do it in windows, or from the IRST software in windows?

 

[bunnyfubbles]

either from the Intel Option ROM when booting (prompt will tell you to Ctrl+I to access, which occurs after BIOS and before Windows) or from IRST

you can always just update to 11.2 from intel, although 11.1 should work according to the article

and no, you do not need to do anything special other than install a proper driver (11.0 or later on Windows 7)

 

[ViviTheMage]

easy peezy, thanks.

 

[ViviTheMage]

okay, so I installed everything as AHCI, flipped the regedit to 0 for iastorv and boots up, changed bios to RAID and setup the array for the two SSD's, and everything works, but performance is weird.

530MB/s Reads, and 830MB/s writes, seems backwards, and low (both samsungs are on sata 6)? Also, I cannot see drive stats in IRST software anymore, it just shows up as unknowns. one array with 2 disks, and 1 solo disk (my boot).

did I do something wrong?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I read somewhere that mdadm now supports trim. May be worth looking into.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I need windows though.

going to open a new thread on this problemo.