RAID controller $24 + shipping

[docinthebox]

Originally posted by: Chu
...There is a *HUGE* proformance difference when you have all your apps on a Raid0 array, load times becomes much faster, and the system feals incredibly snappier...

Throughput is improved. But I've read on video capture newsgroups that latency is worse with raid0 array than with a single drive. If you do a lot of random read/write instead of sequential read/write, you might get worse performance. The video capture people are complaining that when they capture to a raid0 array, they get a fair number of dropped frames whereas a single drive doesn't have this problem.

 

[docinthebox]

Originally posted by: Nosferatu
Thanks for the tip doc!

I will have to give that a try

You're welcome!

 

[Chu]

>>

Throughput is improved. But I've read on video capture newsgroups that latency is worse with raid0 array than with a single drive. If you do a lot of random read/write instead of sequential read/write, you might get worse performance. The video capture people are complaining that when they capture to a raid0 array, they get a fair number of dropped frames whereas a single drive doesn't have this problem.

<<

Quite honestly, I think some of them might be doing somethign wrong A local fansubbing group around here is starting to convert all their old VHS/SVHS/LD stuff to digital to stop tape rot, at at the SVHS/LD resolutions, Raid0 is almost a prereq to keep up.

-Chu

BTW, is there an equivalent to the unix "time" command for windows apps? I might try to do some benchmarking when my motherboard arrives, and some of the utilities that get the best use from raid0 are gui only

 

[docinthebox]

BTW, is there an equivalent to the unix "time" command for windows apps? I might try to do some benchmarking when my motherboard arrives, and some of the utilities that get the best use from raid0 are gui only

Try this.

 

[soltrain]

I'm new to the RAID world and picked up this card. When I'm setting up my computer with 2 HDDs and 2 CD drives, can I use both the IDE ports on the RAID card and the IDE ports on the motherboard (ie: HDD on raid card, CDs on MB)? I'm thinking no, but I'm not sure.
If they all utilize the RAID card's 2 IDE ports, I assume putting 2 devices on one cable is not going to affect my ability to run RAID 0? Does it matter if both HDD's are on the same cable, or should there be 1 HDD for each IDE port on the RAID card?

 

[ozone13]

Originally posted by: soltrain
I'm new to the RAID world and picked up this card. When I'm setting up my computer with 2 HDDs and 2 CD drives, can I use both the IDE ports on the RAID card and the IDE ports on the motherboard (ie: HDD on raid card, CDs on MB)? I'm thinking no, but I'm not sure.
If they all utilize the RAID card's 2 IDE ports, I assume putting 2 devices on one cable is not going to affect my ability to run RAID 0? Does it matter if both HDD's are on the same cable, or should there be 1 HDD for each IDE port on the RAID card?

Yes, you can still use the ide ports on your motherboard. Just realize that you might have to change a setting in the bios (depending on how old your computer is) to boot off the raid card instead of the onboard ide. Its best if you put one harddrive per ide....less load per ide that way.

 

[soltrain]

Does this mean you have two 'master' drives? One on the RAID card, and the 'master' on the Motherboard?

 

[ozone13]

Originally posted by: soltrain
Does this mean you have two 'master' drives? One on the RAID card, and the 'master' on the Motherboard?

It doesn't matter how many primary master drives you have. I currently have (2) harddrives on onboard ide (primary master/primary slave), (2) harddrives on Koutech RAID 0 (primary master/secondary master), and (2) harddrives on Promise Ultra 133TX HD controller card (primary master/secondary master).

 

[hevnsnt]

I bought this card to replace my Promise Ultra100 card (modded to raid)

using HD Tach I did not see much difference between the two cards..

Running on 2 Maxtor 120gb 8m cache 7200 rpm drives.

 

[drewdogg808]

Originally posted by: hevnsnt
I bought this card to replace my Promise Ultra100 card (modded to raid)

using HD Tach I did not see much difference between the two cards..

Running on 2 Maxtor 120gb 8m cache 7200 rpm drives.

do you have any atto scores? or sandra (even though it's not too reliable)? i'm curious as to how this card would do versus a highpoint rocketraid 133.

 

[hevnsnt]

I can put up whatever you want.. Tell me what you would like to see.. I am not familiar with atto

 

[kevman]

so is this card a software raid card or hardware raid? is it better then trying to do a software raid via win XP? I just picked up two 120gb drives and I'm thinking about RAID'ing em with this card? any thoughts?

 

[fastman]

I asked the same question about being Software or Hardware based earlier in the thread and the answer was hardware.

 

[kevman]

sorry...I'm an idiot....and lazy too....thanks!

Kevin

 

[kyudrew]

Is there anyway I can use raid with my laptop (internal and external hard drive).
I haven't found any PCMCIA SCSI Raid controller yet. But I would have it and use raid
because it is more convenient than periodic back-up by using back-up software.

 

[BBQ]

To give you an idea of the speed of Raid 0. I combined two Western Digital 80gb special edition 8mb cache in a raid 0. The drive by itself ran about 31-33mb/sec read speed after a win xp clean install. After setting the two in a raid 0 I got about 51-52mb/sec read speed. Not twice as fast but faster. I basically browse the web and play games. The main difference I noticed was when loading games like EverQuest and Battlefield 1942. My machine would load almost twice as fast as my roomates OEM machine. Was it worth it...nah I dont think so. For video editing where you dont want skips(hic-ups) in the video quality maybe.

 

[kevman]

anyone know what would e the best stripe size to use for a workstation with this card?

EDIT: Does using an IDE drive for RAID, make it more suseptible to failure?

Kevin

 

[kevman]

bump

 

[rlc]

i might be wrong, but if you are going to spend money buying a separate raid controller, why don't you upgrade to a new mobo that have the raid controller build in?

isn't that the cheapest way to go?

 

[PELarson]

Originally posted by: rlc
i might be wrong, but if you are going to spend money buying a separate raid controller, why don't you upgrade to a new mobo that have the raid controller build in?

isn't that the cheapest way to go?

Depends.

I have it in a PIII-400 with two 30gb drives that I am using for a MP3 server. So $32 w/ shipping to do a hardware raid 0 and boost the data transfer speed up from 33mb/sec is worth it.

 

[chizow]

Does this card have a pin header for activity LEDs? I actually have the card, but I only see a capped jumper called "J2" or something like that. Is this the IDE header? I didn't see any indications from the skimpy manuals. My Adaptec has IDE clearly labeled......

Chiz

 

[kevman]

Originally posted by: chizow
Does this card have a pin header for activity LEDs? I actually have the card, but I only see a capped jumper called "J2" or something like that. Is this the IDE header? I didn't see any indications from the skimpy manuals. My Adaptec has IDE clearly labeled......

Chiz

yes,

that j2 one is for the HD LED. I had to figure out the polarity by trial and error. It's in the manual too. I can double check when I get home tonight.

BTW hows the lian li case? Are the fans quiet?

Kevin

 

[render]

anyone who is serious about raid should consider 3ware 7500 series. (FYI, 7500-4 costs 10 times of the one on the topic.)

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: kevman

Originally posted by: chizow
Does this card have a pin header for activity LEDs? I actually have the card, but I only see a capped jumper called "J2" or something like that. Is this the IDE header? I didn't see any indications from the skimpy manuals. My Adaptec has IDE clearly labeled......

Chiz

yes,

that j2 one is for the HD LED. I had to figure out the polarity by trial and error. It's in the manual too. I can double check when I get home tonight.

BTW hows the lian li case? Are the fans quiet?

Kevin

You didn't get yours yet?? :Q

The fans are actually pretty good. Quiet, but a little too weak for my tastes. I replaced the ones in the front simply b/c I didn't see too much difference with them using the front rheo switches. They are now running 2 Sunon 39CFM's...at L2, they are inaudible and push more air. The Adda fans are actually dual bearing; I think at some point LL realized people's feelings on these fans and upgraded them.
The single coolest thing though is putting in a TT Coolmod 2 Fan in there....this thing looks AWESOME hooked up to a RAID card in a windowed case.

Thanks for the update on the Koutech; How's the compatibility/performance? I'm using the Adaptec 1200A I got a week before from CompUSA (only $50), and its been a solid performer. I may have to try the Koutech now...hmm...

Chiz

Oh, overrall the case rocks. It makes it so much easier to organize and tidy up your case, as well as swap components out etc. The only thing I would change now is possible an SLK-800 instead of the 8045. Although its possible to remove the 8045 w/out removing the mobo, it certainly isn't as easy as an SLK or other clip-mounted HSF.

 

[kevman]

The koutech card is pretty good, very easy to setup and no problems whatsoever ( except firguring out what to do with all that space 240 gig!!)

Anyway, what fans came with the LL? are the sunon much quieter? also does dual ball bearing mean it's not good? sorot of confused about that fan stuff. MY LL is coming tommorow baby!!

Originally posted by: chizow

Originally posted by: kevman

Originally posted by: chizow
Does this card have a pin header for activity LEDs? I actually have the card, but I only see a capped jumper called "J2" or something like that. Is this the IDE header? I didn't see any indications from the skimpy manuals. My Adaptec has IDE clearly labeled......

Chiz

yes,

that j2 one is for the HD LED. I had to figure out the polarity by trial and error. It's in the manual too. I can double check when I get home tonight.

BTW hows the lian li case? Are the fans quiet?

Kevin

You didn't get yours yet?? :Q

The fans are actually pretty good. Quiet, but a little too weak for my tastes. I replaced the ones in the front simply b/c I didn't see too much difference with them using the front rheo switches. They are now running 2 Sunon 39CFM's...at L2, they are inaudible and push more air. The Adda fans are actually dual bearing; I think at some point LL realized people's feelings on these fans and upgraded them.
The single coolest thing though is putting in a TT Coolmod 2 Fan in there....this thing looks AWESOME hooked up to a RAID card in a windowed case.

Thanks for the update on the Koutech; How's the compatibility/performance? I'm using the Adaptec 1200A I got a week before from CompUSA (only $50), and its been a solid performer. I may have to try the Koutech now...hmm...

Chiz

Oh, overrall the case rocks. It makes it so much easier to organize and tidy up your case, as well as swap components out etc. The only thing I would change now is possible an SLK-800 instead of the 8045. Although its possible to remove the 8045 w/out removing the mobo, it certainly isn't as easy as an SLK or other clip-mounted HSF.