Raid 0 Config on SSD

[JoeDirt]

I'm joining the revolution... Finally decided to get some ssd, but I run into some questions trying to set it up. I have two Intel 730 and I'm trying to put them on raid 0. First problem the drivers, RSTe or IRST, wich is more compatible with raid 0 configuration. Second, strip size should I go for 64kb or 128kb...?

 

Sorry if my writing sucks... 

[EmeraldFlame]

In my previous experience with RST, a regular consumer is typically better with going with RST instead of RSTe. The enterprise version typically goes much longer without changes to ensure stability in every possible configuration whereas that isn't an issue in a standard home environment using very simple raids. 

It also kind of depends on the chipset your MoBo is using. I know at one point RST offered TRIM over certain chipsets, while RSTe didn't. I have no idea if that is the case, but you would want to look into it.

As for strip size, 128kb is pretty typical, but you honestly won't see much of a performance difference regardless. I mean you might see 4/5mbps and slightly affected seek times, but it wouldn't be enough that you could really make a decision off of it, it would all be withing the error margin. 

[Captain_WD]

I'm joining the revolution... Finally decided to get some ssd, but I run into some questions trying to set it up. I have two Intel 730 and I'm trying to put them on raid 0. First problem the drivers, RSTe or IRST, wich is more compatible with raid 0 configuration. Second, strip size should I go for 64kb or 128kb...?

 

Sorry if my writing sucks... 

 

Hey JoeDirt,

 

First I would like to say that by doing RAID 0 for your boot  drives, you are risking losing all your data on it (including saves of games and programs, updates, OS settings and others) if either of the SSDs fail. A single SSD is already fast enough and with RAID0 you shouldn't see any improvement in cold booting times (some users actually report slower booting times compared to a single SSD).

 

I would support @EmeraldFlame and also say that RST seems the better and more flexible option. You could check with your motherboard's manufacturer for recommended settings. 

 

Whichever strip size you chose, you wouldn't see much difference as the speeds would be pretty close. I would go with the standard 128kb.

 

Captain_WD.

[JoeDirt]

In my previous experience with RST, a regular consumer is typically better with going with RST instead of RSTe. The enterprise version typically goes much longer without changes to ensure stability in every possible configuration whereas that isn't an issue in a standard home environment using very simple raids. 

It also kind of depends on the chipset your MoBo is using. I know at one point RST offered TRIM over certain chipsets, while RSTe didn't. I have no idea if that is the case, but you would want to look into it.

As for strip size, 128kb is pretty typical, but you honestl, I have a GIGABYTE X79-UP$y won't see much of a performance difference regardless. I mean you might see 4/5mbps and slightly affected seek times, but it wouldn't be enough that you could really make a decision off of it, it would all be withing the error margin. 

 

Thanks guys...

 

I believe my chipset is a C600, My motherboard is a GIGABYTE X79-UP4... And it does take more time to boot, because it displays the raid configuration for 3 sec. after the logo, and then reboot again and this time without showing the raid config. and then windows start, it does that every time I start the pc, everything else is normal...

 

Would you guys recommend a RAID controller or it will be mostly the same without it...?

[EmeraldFlame]

Thanks guys...

 

I believe my chipset is a C600, My motherboard is a GIGABYTE X79-UP4... And it does take more time to boot, because it displays the raid configuration for 3 sec. after the logo, and then reboot again and this time without showing the raid config. and then windows start, it does that every time I start the pc, everything else is normal...

 

Would you guys recommend a RAID controller or it will be mostly the same without it...?

 

Your chipset would be the X79 chipset in that case. I know at one point RSTe didn't support TRIM on that chipset which is a pretty big deal, it will affect performances a lot if you don't have TRIM. This very well may have changed, as I don't keep up with RSTe, its definitely something you would want to look into.

 

As far as simple RAID 0, a RAID controller really isn't worth it at all. Software raids are able to hand RAID 0, 1, and 10 pretty easily without much overhead, and that's what I would stick with in your case. Plus with a controller, you will have the same issue of it needing to initiate the array configuration before it can boot. I typically don't recommend a RAID card to anyone unless they plan on doing RAID 5, 6, or some raid with a ton of raid (like a raid 10 across 16 drives or something). RAID cards are expensive, the one in my home server cost me $250 used (would have been $700 new), and its kind of a middle-grade consumer card. 

[Captain_WD]

Thanks guys...

 

I believe my chipset is a C600, My motherboard is a GIGABYTE X79-UP4... And it does take more time to boot, because it displays the raid configuration for 3 sec. after the logo, and then reboot again and this time without showing the raid config. and then windows start, it does that every time I start the pc, everything else is normal...

 

Would you guys recommend a RAID controller or it will be mostly the same without it...?

 

As @EmeraldFlame pointed out, you would need a separate RAID controller card if you are doing something a bit complicated or on a larger scale (bigger RAID5, 6, 10, 50, 60 arrays). A simple software RAID that can be managed without a card would be sufficient enough for your needs. Moreover, there are ways to actually restore part of the RAID0 array if one of the drives crashes if you use software RAID instead of hardware. 

 

During cold boot, your RAID needs to be initialized and, as I said in my first commend, most people experience much slower booting times compared to a single SSD boot. 

 

Captain_WD.

[JoeDirt]

I was able to configure RAID 0 with IRST and also using Trim, but It wasn't easy, I had to flash the BIOS to the latest version (F7), and install the raid driver. For some reason it didn't let me install windows with the usb, I had to use the CD. After a couple of days of work and research these are the results. Thank you guys...

[Captain_WD]

I was able to configure RAID 0 with IRST and also using Trim, but It wasn't easy, I had to flash the BIOS to the latest version (F7), and install the raid driver. For some reason it didn't let me install windows with the usb, I had to use the CD. After a couple of days of work and research these are the results. Thank you guys...

 

Sorry to hear about all the trouble you had to go through. I'm glad to see everything worked out fine in the end.

Enjoy the cosmic speeds!

 

Captain_WD.

[JoeDirt]

Sorry to hear about all the trouble you had to go through. I'm glad to see everything worked out fine in the end.

Enjoy the cosmic speeds!

 

Captain_WD.

 

Don't be, it wouldn't be fun if there was no difficulty, I learned a lot and enjoyed the hole process, for a newbie like me I think I did OK...

 

Thanks again and merry Christmas from Puerto Rico...  

[Captain_WD]

Don't be, it wouldn't be fun if there was no difficulty, I learned a lot and enjoyed the hole process, for a newbie like me I think I did OK...

 

Thanks again and merry Christmas from Puerto Rico...  

 

Great If you happen to have any questions regarding HDDs or SSDs or storage in general, feel free to approach me

I wish you and your close ones a very merry Christmas! Enjoy the holidays!

 

Captain_WD.