Dream SCSI Setup -- Controller Card Suggestions?

[y0shi]

Now that we've decided (1) 15k is the way to go, which controller card would you reccomend for its price/performance? Also, it looks like I might get the (12) 10K drives for free to play with anyway, so what inexpensive, 40mb/s Hardware RAID0 card would you suggest? Since this is an extremely outdated interface, there are bound to be some good bargains on high quality cards that run 40mb/s. Do you guys have any favorites or reccomendations?




<< Hi guys, this is my first general hardware forum thread. From lurking I've seen that many of you have valuable experience and suggestions that can help me. I'm uncertain about how to create the "snappiest" computer possible with a given CPU on my $700 budget and I'd appreciate your ideas and suggestions.

Some background on the situation:

1) My goal is to achieve the illusion of having a faster CPU which high RPM SCSI drives are known to produce.
2) My access patterns most closely resemble that of a workstation, and not database server where spindle count is king.
3) My previous fastest hard drive experience was with (2) 7.2K RPM WD100GB 2MB cache drives in Software RAID0.
4) Megabytes per dollar is not an issue; anywhere from 18GB to 320GB is fine.
5) The sole criteria is that I must have the "snappiest" and most responsive partition for my O/S, Program Files, Games, and CAD Software.


My Dilema -- And Your Top Pick?:


(12) 10K RPM Original Cheetahs 4GB 40MB/s SCSI on Mid-Range Hardware RAID0 (The drives are free discards and 40MB/s cramps the STR, but I want the most responsive and least latent solution available)
(4) 7.2K RPM WD80GB 2MB cache ATA100 IDE's in 3Ware ATA100 Hardware RAID0
(2) 10K RPM Atlas II's 18GB 8MB cache u160 SCSI in Software or Entry-Level Hardware RAID0
(1) 15K Cheetah 18GB 3.6ns u160 SCSI Single Channel


How widely would the subjective performance differ between these choices in your best estimate? If it's 10% or less between the SCSI choices, I'll go for the free 10K Cheetahs and a quality Hardware RAID0 PCI Card I should probably consider 10% negligible since my previous best was dual 7.2K IDE's.

If you have any suggestions\options, words of wisdom, or even just friendly comments that would help in my quest for the Holy Grail of Snappiness, I would LOVE to hear them and will consider all suggestions
Thanks in advance guys, you're my favorite and only online community that I regard with such loyalty and pride -- have been for years and plan to for many more to come!

--y0shi >>

 

[y0shi]

I spent over an hour perfecting this post, trying to make it as clear and concise as possible. If you stop to read, please offer your opinion

 

[BD231]

Nothin sweeter than the 15k's right now, at 61mb's per sec I just dont know how much "snappier" you can get

 

[Hard_Boiled]

15K drive would "feel" the snappiest I would think. In all configurations, the 15K drive has the best access times. Also it has the benefit of not having to purchase a RAID card. I just want to know where you were planning on sticking all 12 of those 10K cheetahs you have for free, if you decided to go that route.

 

[y0shi]

in a lian li server case, the one with like 12 internal 3.5" bays in the drive cage, and a few more elsewhere... it would be a fun project hehe so far it looks like i should go with the single 15k drive... thanks for the input guys, thats kind of what my suspicion was too, but i am hoping someone with some direct experience might have witnessed different results -- especially since ive already got the 2 10k Atlas II's

 

[Pabster]

Stripe a pair of 18.4 X15-36LPs on a decent controller (ie, avoid Adaptec). AMI is a good choice.

 

[Goosemaster]

If you stipe anything, don't stipe 10kII's and I have one...they suck...

...compared to the 10kIIIs


I say either the Seagate x15 36Lp or the Quantum(Now maxtor) 10kIII


10kIII vs

About 3MB/s difference in transfer rates


1.1ms access time difference





P.S. THe Fujitsu MAN and MAJ drives are good as well...put only shine in a server enviroment....that means they are quickly beaten in a dektop enviroment

 

[neuralfx]

i would get the single 36lp 18.1gb myself and a good controller ..
-neural


- > I also hear good things bout a raid0 of 2 WD special editions

-neural

 

[fluxquantum]

(1) 15K RPM SCSI u160 Cheetah X15

 

[y0shi]

cool, it sounds like most everyone agrees that the 15k cheetah is the way to go.
neural : my ide storage will be (2) WD120gb 8mb special editions in RAID0, hopefully on a 3ware card

all of this is gonna be on a tyan tiger mp board with dual xp1800's. now the question is, what pci scsi card should i get?
is the price difference much between solid 80 and 160mb/s cards?
is the price difference much between solid 160mb/s controllers and 160mb/s RAID cards?

as always, all suggestions are welcomed and appreciated!

 

[y0shi]

original post has been updated, im lookin for a cheap 40mb/s hardware raid0 card and a good price/perf u160 card now. plus today was the last day of class, w00t!

 

[bozo1]

LSI U160 is a good choice for a card - $79. at hypermicro. $115 if you want a cable included.
Raid cards start at $200 for Ultra2, more for Ultra160.
For an Ultra-Wide (40MBps) card, you'll probably have to hit fleabay as everything sold today is pretty much Ultra2/Ultra160.

 

[y0shi]

ive herd mylex is pretty good too, has anyone had experience with the accelraid 150 i see so often on ebay for cheap?