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RAID Creation
Since the two RAID controllers had different capabilities and features, we decided to take different approaches for each.
In the case of the fully-featured MegaRAID 9260-8i, as well as the Adaptec RAID 5805 we used before, we created RAID 0 arrays with eight SSDs on each of the controllers. Then we used Windows Vista’s RAID capabilities to build a software-based RAID 0 array using the two RAID 0 volumes. This way we’d be utilizing eight SSDs on each controller and on each PCI Express 2.0 link.
For the MegaRAID 9210-8i, we found that the easiest (and best-performing) solution was one huge RAID 0 array managed by Windows Vista. So, we went into the Storage Manager and created a software RAID 0 array using all 16 available Intel X25-E flash SSDs.
Test Setup
| System Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Hardware | Details |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-920 (45 nm, 2.66 GHz, 8 MB L2 Cache) |
| Motherboard (Socket 1366) | Supermicro X8SAX Revision: 1.0 Chipset Intel X58 + ICH10R BIOS: 1.0B |
| RAM | 2GB DDR3-1333 Corsair CM3X1024-1333C9DHX |
| System HDD | Seagate NL35 400 GB ST3400832NS 7,200 RPM, SATA/150, 8 MB |
| Controller I | 2 x Adaptec RAID 5805 8 Port SAS Controller 512 MB Cache |
| Controller II | 2 x LSI MegaRAID 9210-8i (aka Intel RS2BL080) 8 Port SAS HBA |
| Controller III | 2 x LSI MegaRAID 9260-8i 8 Port SAS Controller 512 MB Cache |
| Power Supply | OCZ EliteXstream 800W OCZ800EXS-EU |
| Benchmarks | |
| I/O Performance | IOMeter 2006.07.27 Fileserver-Benchmark Webserver-Benchmark Database-Benchmark Workstation-Benchmarks Streaming reads Streaming Writes. |
| System Software & Drivers | |
| Driver | Details |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 |
| Intel Chipset | 9.1.0.1007 |
| AMD Graphics | Radeon 8.12 |
| Intel Storage Drivers | Matrix Storage Drivers 8.7.0.1007 |
You will find very detailed information on our storage reference test system in the article Tom’s Storage Charts 2009: A New Test Environment.
Throughput
These are really great results. Both LSI controllers take our RAID arrays, using the 16 Intel X25-E flash SSDs, to a whole new level of throughput as they jump over the 3 GB/s level! The 3,005 MB/s average throughput is excellent for a RAID controller, which typically is better at I/O than at high throughput. LSI’s new 6 Gb/s HBA, the 9210-8i, managed to reach more than 14% better throughput, hitting 3,432 MB/s average read throughput across all drives.
The write throughput wasn’t really different than the read results on the LSI MegaRAID 9210-8i, but the 9260-8i RAID card incurred a slight impact. Still, that’s nothing to worry about—this array on those two controllers is probably faster than anything most of you (or us) have ever seen in the storage arena.
- Building Professional Audio PC [Homebuilt Systems]
- Slow startup times; Event ID 100, Boot Performance Monitoring [Windows 7]
- Adaptec 5xxx Series RAID + Edge/Fanout Extenders [Storage]
- Have we gotten to the point that SSDs are worth it yet? [Storage]
- Dream build system advice [Homebuilt Systems]
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Holy cow, how much for the total damage?
It would be good to get a benchmark with a Windows XP/Vista/7 showing how long to boot the OS, various games, file copy speed... etc Fair enough these give fast throughput but where are the real world results?
What about some photos of the raid itself?
That's... such an overkill...
Personally, I would like to see a "Part II" to this article showing RAID 5, 6 and 10 setups with the same tests. No database admin or graphic designer, animator or CAD/CAM/GIS professional is going to use RAID 0 with it's inherent vulnerability, or at least they shouldn't.
It would be good to get a benchmark with a Windows XP/Vista/7 showing how long to boot the OS, various games, file copy speed... etc Fair enough these give fast throughput but where are the real world results?
I think with the cost of such a setup these would be ideal for a web or application server, or maybe a small data center. Booting Win 7 would be the least of your problems.
what vga was used?
I wonder if this is the type of storage used in super computers or render farms ?
"None of the SSDs currently available support Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) or 600 MB/s transfer speeds"
False: STEC's Zeus IOPs, and BitMicro's E-Disk Altima support SAS (Zeus supports SAS 6 Gbit). Though these cost about 3-5x more pr GB.
could it be that the computer's integrated graphics card is also connected to that bus and utilizes some bandwidth?
Another question I had is if you really notice a difference running whatever program on 2,2GB/s or 3,4GB/s? Even slow Vista should fly there.
Excellent article, thanks
I don't know about anyone else, but I would like to see Tom's including more pictures of the hardware actually in the Tom's office, set up, and being used in some of the articles that get posted.
So what you need now is for Intel to hook you up with another 6 drives and you can load up the onboard SATA controller, raid 0 that with the others. Or switch platforms to something designed for Quad SLI then really load up on the drives (plus onboard SATA of course.) I say dial up the ridiculous, then see how long it takes to boot/load games. New hobby for the super overclockers, make fastest raid 0 setup.
I'd like to see the actual setup myself, as well..
id love to see this myself as well...
It would be good to get a benchmark with a Windows XP/Vista/7 showing how long to boot the OS, various games, file copy speed... etc Fair enough these give fast throughput but where are the real world results?
As I've said before, it's not all a hardware RAID and thus isn't bootable.
I would love to see some high end Mobo's that incororate these new controllers to leave your PCIe slots free. I would bet it would not be cheap but it certainly would be awesome!
16x Intel X-25 E will set you down approx €10.000
16x Intel X-25 E will set you down approx €10.000
16x Intel X-25 E will set you down approx €10.000