Block Size - RAID0

Terrier_Jimlad · 25 Aug 2010 at 19:41

Always used RAID1 myself, but just setting up a RAID0 with 2 x Samsung F3's and was wondering what you guys recommend the block size to be? By default, the RAID controller has put in 128 KB

Any recommendations? The RAID array will be housing large games (steam apps) and a largeish mp3 collection

Thanks
Jimlad

Zarf · 25 Aug 2010 at 21:57

Go for a 32KB stripe, most SSD's are as quick at 32KB reads as at 128KB, and reducing Stripe Size means that smaller file operations can be faster.

Ziggy4 · 25 Aug 2010 at 22:37

Choosing a strip size depends on your usage. If this is your boot drive, which I'm guessing is the case, then a strip size of 32k (or 64k) as posted above should be good. For secondary storage drives the larger strip size is more appropriate.

Terrier_Jimlad · 25 Aug 2010 at 22:50

Nah, I use my Vertex 2E as boot drive, this is just a larger storage area for games and stuff

3 screenshots, they seem ok?

1) F3 on it's own

2) 2 x F3 RAID 0 - 128 KB Stripe

3) 2 x F3 RAID 0 - 64 KB Stripe

Cheers

jbloggs · 25 Aug 2010 at 23:31

3 screenshots, they seem ok?

Something not right there...

Your 2 F3 RAID0 setups are (nearly) performing worse than your single F3 HDD...in an ATTO bench they both should perform significantly better than a single F3...

Terrier_Jimlad · 25 Aug 2010 at 23:38

My thoughts exactly, not quite sure what's up. I originally thought it was due to the stripe size so I re did the array with 64k and it wasnt much better.

Any suggestions what to check? Both disks are physically fine and are performing ok according to Samsung's ES Tool

**stumped**

Terrier_Jimlad · 26 Aug 2010 at 00:17

Interesting, I've just updated the RAID drivers to the latest, and noticed a significant improvement in the READ times in ATTO, whilst Write times remaining similar

Compare these two ...

1) old drivers

2) new drivers

That look about right or still under performing?

jbloggs · 26 Aug 2010 at 03:01

That look about right or still under performing?

That is heading in the right direction, but I would still expect better reads/writes...

In Device manager, under HDDs do you have Write Caching enabled?

Also, does it indicate that it is enabled in the Intel Rapid Storage manager, look under, Advanced, Disk data cache?

Terrier_Jimlad · 26 Aug 2010 at 07:39

Write Cache seems to be Enabled

MooMoo444 · 26 Aug 2010 at 09:32

Are you using hardware raid or windows software raid?

If hardware, try using windows software raid. I'm using it and it's pretty wicked. Just go to disk management in windows, select the drives you want and create new striped array. Rather than using a dedicated controller chip for it, it uses your own CPU, as you have a good one, it might be better.

Terrier_Jimlad · 26 Aug 2010 at 09:56

Yeah its a hardware controller, i'm going to try a RAID card rather than the second controller on the motherboard.

I've never trusted Windows Mirror's lol - might need to eventually though!

Terrier_Jimlad · 26 Aug 2010 at 10:40

Some others on the Gigabyte forum have mentioned the same issue. Apparently the Onboard Gigabyte RAID Controller uses JMicron and that bottlenecks the RAID. They say you have to use the other controller which is the Intel one, but then that means i'd have to put my SATA mode into RAID (currently on AHCI) which I can only assume my SSD will suffer (works fastest in AHCI)

I think I have a PCI Silicon based RAID card at home that i'm going to try

Temi_D · 26 Aug 2010 at 11:05

+1 for software raid since you already have an SSD boot drive

My 2 x 500GB F3s:

Atto added:

jbloggs · 26 Aug 2010 at 12:30

If you put the ICH10R into RAID mode in the BIOS, your SSD will run in AHCI mode and performance will not suffer...

PCI Silicon based RAID card

The PCI will be a bottleneck...

What hardware RAID card are you using now?

Terrier_Jimlad · 26 Aug 2010 at 12:39

I am using the Gigabyte RAID Controller on the motherboard (the blue ports) as I keep the Intel Controller for the SSD (white ports)

If what you're saying about SSD not suffering when the ICH10R is in RAID mode as oppose to AHCI is true, then that could be my perfect solution. I just didnt want to degrade the performance of the SSD

Failing that, I can try Windows RAID and see how that performs

Cheers
Jim

jbloggs · 26 Aug 2010 at 12:45

Gigabyte RAID Controller

This is a jmicron implementation, which is pretty dire...

At the moment I run my Intel 80GB X25-M G2 (with Win 7 installed) on the Intel ICH10R controller which is set to RAID mode in the BIOS, the (Intel) SSD runs in AHCI mode and there is absolutely NO performance degradation...it is just the same as having the ICH10R set to AHCI mode in the BIOS...

Terrier_Jimlad · 26 Aug 2010 at 12:52

Sweet, that'll do ... will try it later and post new results!

raralis · 26 Aug 2010 at 13:45

Sorry to hijack the thread but is it possible to create a windows software raid using only 2 hard drives with the OS already installed on them?

Stelly · 26 Aug 2010 at 13:54

Didnt think that you could boot using Windows Software RAID

Stelly

MooMoo444 · 26 Aug 2010 at 14:19

You cannot boot from software raid - but you may be able to boot from one of the two drives if you have a seperate partition for the OS.

You'd end up having a white elephant of a partition on the other HDD though which the RAID 0 wouldnt be able to use.

Easier to just get a seperate drive for the OS, ideally a SSD.