Raid controller question

[bestlink101]

I have a z68 motherboard, will raid 0 sata 6 ssds on this motherboard effect performance on the motherboard controller,
If i get a raid controller will it increase performance, and if is it good to get a raid controller with cache memory, does this increase performance?
do raid expanders increase performance?

 

[a4mula]

I'm not sure there is a Z68 motherboard that supports 6x SATA 6gb/s in RAID0. I'd be very impressed.

A discrete controller typically has its own processor and cache which not only increases performance but takes the load off your cpu. Of course with that being said You're looking at cards that start at around $400 and scale up from there.

Start here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sas-6gb-raid-controller,3028.html

 

[bestlink101]

ooo i didnt meen 6 ssds
i ment 2 sata 3.0 ssds in raid
2 serperate sorry for confusion

 

[a4mula]

Oh, duh. If it's the newer Marvel (or better Intel) controller no problem, if it's the older SE9128 then you're going to get punished in RAID0 as these controllers were notoriously bad. The SE9220 and SE9172 controllers seems to have worked out what ever the issue was.

Which motherboard do you use?

 

[bestlink101]

gigabyte ga-z68x-ud3 b3

 

[a4mula]

via the Gigabyte website:

Chipset:

3 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATA2_2~SATA2_4) supporting up to 3 SATA 3Gb/s devices
2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (SATA3_0, SATA3_1) supporting up to 2 SATA 6Gb/s devices
Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10

* When a RAID set is built across the SATA 6Gb/s and SATA 3Gb/s channels, the system performance of the RAID set may vary depending on the devices being connected.
1 x eSATA 3Gb/s connector on the back panel supporting up to 1 SATA 3Gb/s device

Marvell 88SE9172 chip:

2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (GSATA3_5, GSATA3_6) supporting up to 2 SATA 6Gb/s devices
Support for SATA RAID 0 and RAID

So, SATA3_0 and SATA3_1 are the Intel board controllers. GSATA3_5, and GSATA3_6 are the Marvel 9172 (decent for RAID0, but I'd still stick with the Intel controller)

Use SATA3_0 and SATA3_1 and you should be fine.

 

[FireWire2]

Marvell 88SE9172 chip:

2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (GSATA3_5, GSATA3_6) supporting up to 2 SATA 6Gb/s devices
Support for SATA RAID 0 and RAID

This is what I call Firday night design. lol

Stuck TWO 6Gb port to a 1x lane PCIe bus... What a dump engineering!

You would have much better perfromance using 2x 3Gb port....

Just try it out to see what give you the best performance... I bet 2x 3Gb will outshine the 2x 6Gb (88SE9172)