Actual striping controller recommendations (read for explanation)

J

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Ok, I'll admit, a pet-peeve of mine is calling RAID 0 RAID so I prefer not to say it, but we all know what I'm looking for. I've got 2 80GB Velociraptors courtesy of FLECOM, one of the Mods here, and while I love the performance (111MB/s average reads, 6.2 ms access time as measured by HDTach, HDTune offers similar results), I would love to get them in a strip--- errr... RAID 0 setup for that solid 200MB/s reads and writes.

I've got a nice Gigabyte EP45-DS3L board, running a Q6600 at 3 GHz without issues, with 8GB of DDR2 800 at 4-4-4-12 smoothly. I'm kinda peeved because as usual Intel builds chipsets that have one or the other, and it irks the hell outta me that Gigabyte actually makes this board I have and the EP45-DS3LR because of it - the same board but with the ICH10R chipset.

I was hoping it was something really stupid simple like being able to crossflash the proper BIOS to enable the features, but alas, it's not that easy. Since I want to use these striped as the system drive, I can't use a software-based solution.

And Fry's doesn't carry the R board locally or online, so... I'm stuck for a proper striping controller.

I'm looking for some recommendations for a dirt cheap but workable striping controll--- ok dammit, RAID 0 controller with at least 4 ports on it, SATA only of course.

So, whatever you folks can recommend, be it Promise, HighPoint, or something better is ok with me, as long as it's workable across all versions of Windows from 2K through Windows 7 (probably using the Vista drivers), 32 and 64 bit necessary. I know the truly Hardest-core folks will recommend something I've probably never even heard of (Areca I know of, some others, etc) but cost is the issue at this point. I'm thinking about grabbing a 3rd, possibly a 4th Velociraptor from FLECOM if he has any more before they totally dry up and disappear, so 4 ports... SATA... RAID 0 will be the primary use, but RAID 5 support for testing purposes would be fantastic also.

These drives using software striping in Windows 7 gave me ~225MB/s average reads and ~220MB/s average writes, so... and yes, that's software striping, seriously, so I would expect true hardware striping to be the same or even slightly faster. I paid for 'em, I might as well use 'em as intended and stripe 'em...

Any recommendations or suggestions are welcome. Thanks...
 
Could put one of those x1 slots to use with this
This is the best x1 card IMO

Or you can grab like a Perc5/i but for 4 ports pci-express ~$100 is kinda the price minimum. It is x4 and will require you to use a graphics slot.

If you want something nicer, you could go with a Areca 1210 but its x8 and will require you to use one of your graphics slots.

You could use a PCI card but will be limited by the controller bus at 133MB/s.
 
DOH!!! Yes, PCI-E, of course. This board has 4 PCI-E 1x slots on it wide open soooo... that was the plan. It has 32 bit PCI slots also but obviously I'd prefer to use the PCI-E ones. I'm thinking I should just return this board and get the R model even if I have to order it from Newegg or someplace.

I want an actual Intel retail board since that's my preference and most of 'em will get me to 3 GHz without issues, but of course finding a brand new unopened Intel mobo at Fry's is like the proverbial needle in the haystack. I went through every Intel boxed retail board they had last week - over 125 of 'em - and every box had that dreaded orange board sticker on 'em denoting they'd been used and returned or opened.

Damned shame too... bleh, maybe I'll take another trip out there and see if they got some actual NEW product in the past few days.
 
Yah, I just have this entire machine wired up so clean and nice, I put a lot of work into it and it's beautiful for lack of a better word... dammit. Now I gotta gut it all out and start over again... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA... hehe

And Fry's online selection is absolute crap too, they carry a far wider variety in the actual store. Just gotta find one that can handle the 8GB I have with 16GB max (yes, I'm already looking to push to 16GB) and 6 SATA ports with striping capability too.

That Gigabyte EP45-UD3P has been getting some damned fine reviews and it's a gorgeous solid board too, I just don't think Fry's stocks it in store. Hrmmm... can't hurt to find out I guess. Bleh, that thing is overkill for me, no need for Crossfire support, waste of space on the mobo to me.

So the search is on for another rock solid board to get the job done twice as fast with striping... (ok, not twice as fast but damned close). :D
 
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