4X SSD Raid-0

[LORESFX]

Problem: I dont know much about raid and SSD, all i know is i raided them and i dont seem to be doubling up the performance as i should.

4X Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CW080G310 2.5" 80GB SATA into a Hardware RAID-0

I have a partitioned RAID-0 split to two.
C: 120GB
D: 166GB

I have them Partitioned because i'd like to organizing only Temporary/Cached files into D drive for video stuff. don't know if by doing this may affect performance?

My performance, seems shitty.

Here is C:

AS SSD Benchmark 1.5.3784.37609
------------------------------
Name: Intel Raid 0 Volume SCSI Disk Device
Firmware: 1.0.
Controller: iaStorA
Offset: 103424 K - OK
Size: 283.20 GB
Date: 1/9/2012 1:20:50 PM
------------------------------
Sequential:
------------------------------
Read: 260.15 MB/s
Write: 47.54 MB/s
------------------------------
4K:
------------------------------
Read: 18.59 MB/s
Write: 9.33 MB/s
------------------------------
4K-64Threads:
------------------------------
Read: 78.06 MB/s
Write: 31.50 MB/s
------------------------------
Access Times:
------------------------------
Read: 0.216 ms
Write: 0.146 ms
------------------------------
Score:
------------------------------
Read: 123
Write: 46
Total: 228
------------------------------

D: is way slower read.

AS SSD Benchmark 1.5.3784.37609
------------------------------
Name: Intel Raid 0 Volume SCSI Disk Device
Firmware: 1.0.
Controller: iaStorA
Offset: 122880000 K - OK
Size: 283.20 GB
Date: 1/9/2012 1:30:37 PM
------------------------------
Sequential:
------------------------------
Read: 102.76 MB/s
Write: 40.27 MB/s
------------------------------
4K:
------------------------------
Read: 18.03 MB/s
Write: 6.30 MB/s
------------------------------
4K-64Threads:
------------------------------
Read: 50.52 MB/s
Write: 34.27 MB/s
------------------------------
Access Times:
------------------------------
Read: 0.208 ms
Write: 0.160 ms
------------------------------
Score:
------------------------------
Read: 79
Write: 45
Total: 169
------------------------------

Anyone know what noob thing im doing here? Any help is much appreciated,

Thanks

 

[armand_h]

Hi loresfx!
pc specs?

when you split your ssd drive you will get less performance!
how did you make raid 0 array? stripe size?

first update your bios, chipset driver...
do not split them, run benchmark and write the results here!

 

[LORESFX]

Hey Armand,

Thank you for your reply!

I just formatted my machine with a single partition. So far I've gotten better results. Still by having a raid of 4X SSD i'm getting at least decent read speeds (seq 788mb) but write are low Seq 36mb.

AS SSD Benchmark 1.5.3784.37609
------------------------------
Name: Intel Raid 0 Volume SCSI Disk Device
Firmware: 1.0.
Controller: iaStorA
Offset: 103424 K - OK
Size: 283.20 GB
Date: 1/9/2012 10:36:47 AM
------------------------------
Sequential:
------------------------------
Read: 788.45 MB/s
Write: 36.09 MB/s
------------------------------
4K:
------------------------------
Read: 17.32 MB/s
Write: 4.39 MB/s
------------------------------
4K-64Threads:
------------------------------
Read: 54.28 MB/s
Write: 30.69 MB/s
------------------------------
Access Times:
------------------------------
Read: 0.337 ms
Write: 1.245 ms
------------------------------
Score:
------------------------------
Read: 150
Write: 39
Total: 235
------------------------------

Here's my computer specs.

Intel Core i7-3930K
2X CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
ASUS Sabertooth X79
4X Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CW080G310 2.5" 80GB SATA


Thanks again for the help!

 

[armand_h]

try 64K and 128K stripe size!

secure erase your SSD's and update your SSD firmware with Intel toolbox!

update your bios!

make sure all of your ssd's connected to black ports ( sata II )

then post the results! if there is any difference!

 

[LORESFX]

To be able to update using Intel Toolbox do i have to remove the raid of the drives? Im currently using it for windows.

 

[LORESFX]

Also, Raid was setup with 128k stripe size
All SSD's are connected to black ports (Sata II)

Just have to update my bios

 

[armand_h]

To be able to update using Intel Toolbox do i have to remove the raid of the drives? Im currently using it for windows.

if toolbox can not update the firmware then you have to separate them!

and you can not secure erase your SSD's if you have windows on them! it will wipe all of your data..!

you can use intel data migration software and save your windows if you have another storage (empty drive! )

 

[LORESFX]

I was able to update the firmware of the SSD's

I started to benchmark each one individually...

I REALIZED i had a messed up SSD!!!! my mobo wouldn't detect it. I removed it and tried externally and it just got stuck trying to read! Would i be able to return this if its under warranty?

Also After raiding all 3 SSD's RAID-0 @ 64k I noticed a greater improvement in performance.

I'm not completely satisfied with the results but this is much better than it was. Thank you armand for the help thus far.

 

[LORESFX]

Best answer selected by loresfx.

 

[armand_h]

the performance is good! you can not expect more of 3x80gb intel 320series!
its almost 3times ( ~2,7X )faster than single SSD!

if you want more performance buy raid controller!

 

[LORESFX]

the performance is good! you can not expect more of 3x80gb intel 320series!
its almost 3times ( ~2,7X )faster than single SSD!

if you want more performance buy raid controller!

Maybe i WILL!!! my job requires loads of bandwidth! if i had more the better.

Would you recommend a raid card?

Thank you again my friend!

 

[armand_h]

if you want more bandwidth then i suggest you to buy sata 3 ssd!

while good raid controller costs around 400$ you can buy 2x 128gb sata III SSD's then if you feel that you need more then buy raid controller!

some review:
LSI 9260-8i:
http://thessdreview.com/our-reviews/lsi-megaraid-9260-8i-6g-review-2-5gbs-speed-through-8-ssds/

corsair performance pro 128gb and 256gb:
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/storage/32900-corsair-performance-pro-ssd-256gb/
http://www.pureoverclock.com/article1415.html