Newbie SSD Advice Needed

[mmarsh]

Ok, I am thinking of making the Switch to SSD. I am reading up on previous posts but there are some points that still confuse me.

I currently have a ASUS Rampage III running 2x300GB HD disk in a RAID 0

I also have questions concerning RAID and TRIM. I have read that TRIM doesnt support RAID however that firmware 1.5 for OCZ VERTEX 2 does allow it.

If I am forced to choose between RAID 0 and TRIM which should I choose?

I am thinking about either a Crucial C300 or a OCZ Vertex 2. Both support TRIM but only the Crucial supports SATA III. Then again I heard that the latest OCZ firmware supports TRIM and RAID.

What should I do?

Many Thanks.

 

[ToddW2]

I think you`ll be happy with 1 SSD, and see no need for RAID0.

I would say go with the Crucial C300 or the Intel X25-M.

 

[drescherjm]

I second the above recommendation..

 

[mmarsh]

Thanks Guys

Bad News. I made a mistake its the Rampage II not III I have. That means no SATA III.

1. Probably not worth upgrading the MB...correct?

2. Since I cannot have the 6.0GB pipe and am stuck with 3.0GB should I go with the OCS Vertex II or the Crucial C300. I suppose C300 can run on older SATA II controllers?

I suppose I could always upgrade the MB later but who knows what technology we will be on then?

Whats the best option?

 

[KILLER_K]

Sata 6.0 is backwards compatible with sata 3.0. So there will be no issues there.

 

[vr.]

According to OCZ, a Vertex 2 is not a Vertex so their firmware releases are not interchangeable.

Just keep that in mind when you're reading changelogs of what's available for which while you go shopping.

 

[Old Hippie]

You could always go with something like this card if you have a PCIe 2.0 slot open.

The only caveat is the need for a fast SATA 6Gbps port, as we’ve found the on-board SATA 6Gbps controllers on many motherboards, and even SATA 6Gbps expansion cards, just aren’t up to standard. In the end Crucial supplied us with a £40 Highpoint Rocket 620 card which was finally able to unleash all the C300’s speed.

That'll fix ya up!

 

[mmarsh]

Old Hippy


Interesting option...and 40 pounds is a minor investment for a 700 Euro card.

I'd have to check if I have the space inside the Box.

 

[Old Hippie]

Interesting option...and 40 pounds is a minor investment for a 700 Euro card.

Kinda what I was thinking.

From my last 1.5 years of experience with 2 Intel SSDs in RAID0 I would venture a good guess that you're going to missing little if any by running a C-300 in SATAII mode.

The SSDs are so fast there's very little perceived difference between a single or 2 in RAID0 and the difference between the C-300 and the SATAII spec is much less....I doubt you'd ever notice.

That being said, there's no way I'd buy a C-300 without buying that card.