How Do SSDs Redefine Storage Performance?

Features
By Patrick Schmid and Achim Roos
published

It only takes one or two modern SSDs to outperform business-class RAID arrays with four or eight hard drives. We're running a full comparison and looking at the implications for high-performance systems when you make the transition to flash-based tech.

Test Setup

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System Hardware
HardwareDetails
CPUIntel Core i7-920 (45 nm, 2.66 GHz, 8 MB Shared L3 Cache)
Motherboard (Socket 1366)Supermicro X8SAX, Revision: 1.0, Chipset Intel X58 + ICH10R, BIOS: 1.0B
ControllerIntel RS2BL80 (LSI MegaRAID 9260-8i), Firmware: v2.70.03-0862, Driver: v4.31.1
RAM3 x 1 GB DDR3-1333, Corsair CM3X1024-1333C9DHX
HDDSeagate NL35 400 GB, ST3400832NS, 7200 RPM, SATA 1.5Gb/s, 8 MB Cache
Power SupplyOCZ EliteXstream 800W, OCZ800EXS-EU
Benchmarks
Performance Measurementsh2benchw 3.13PCMark Vantage 1.0.2.0
I/O PerformanceIometer 2008.08.18Fileserver-BenchmarkWebserver-BenchmarkDatabase-BenchmarkWorkstation-BenchmarkStreaming ReadsStreaming Writes4k Random Reads4k Random Writes
System Software & Drivers
Operating SystemWindows 7 Ultimate 6.1.7600
Patrick Schmid and Achim Roos