"Steve Wechsler" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm looking to run a 5-6 drive (120 GB each, 7200RPM) RAID 5 array. At
> about $100 shipped, the Rocketraid 454 seems to be the most reasonably
> priced RAID 5 controller (the 404 does not do RAID 5). I'm aware that
> RAID 5 has a write performance penalty relative to RAID 0/1 (due to
> the parity calculation), but I want to maximize storage space at
> minimum cost (the drives are already purchased), with some security
> (thus RAID 5).
>
> Has anyone implemented this controller on an NT based OS (I'm using
> Win2K server, but I'd be interested in hearing from anyone running NT
> on up, either server or workstation)? I'm wondering what kind of write
> performance you're seeing.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve
I've been looking at IDE RAID solutions myself for the last several months
and although I cannot help you with the 454 RocketRaid card, I can help fill
information on the other choices. During my search, I was not able to find
any real user or review information on the RocketRaid 454, I think simply
because it is so new. BTW, I did read several places that 404 does support
RAID5 but BIOS needs to be updated.
Here is a good site to get information on IDE RAID:
http://www.ebabble.net/index.html
I tried the Promise SX4000 but found I could not use it because it does not
work with my onboard Promise Fastrack 100 Lite RAID controller. (Anybody
want to buy a less than 1 week old SX4000 + 256mb SDRAM?) Promise makes a
controller that does not work with its own product - go figure.
I settled on a 3ware 7500-4 because I could buy it on eBay for less than
what I paid for the Promise SX4000. I'm waiting on this now so I have not
built my RAID5 array yet.
There is the issue of software vs hardware RAID5 implementation. If you
truly want to use the RAID controller in a server environment, then you will
be better off to use a hardware implementation. But if you are using this f
or your own personal PC, then it does not make much difference whether you
use hardware or software RAID implementation.
Hardware implementation uses its own processing power on the RAID card and
therefore offloads the RAID5 checksum calculation from your CPU. 3ware and
Adaptec (2400) both are hardware implementaions.
Software implementation uses your PC's CPU power to do the RAID5 checksum
calculation. Both the Highpoint and the Promise are in this category
although the Promise has a hardware "XOR" chip which is supposed to help
with the checksum calculation. Maybe that is why it seems to keep up with
the hardware RAID controllers. In fact you may get better throughput with a
software RAID solution because your PC's CPU will usually be a faster
processor than the onboard processors on the hardware RAID cards.
So if you are looking for the cheapest implementation, the Highpoint is the
cheapest in terms of official price list. But there is no history and no
real information available on this board.
For a little bit more, the SX4000 seems to be a good compromise but again
depending on your intended use. Good choice if you are using it for
personal computing.
For a lot more in terms of official new pricing, a hardware RAID like the
3ware or Adaptec is better for server implentations since it offloads the
server's CPU. I've seen the 3ware 7500-4 selling on eBay for $125.
Adaptecs when available sell for considerable more.
Good luck.
Similar Threads
