How fast are your RAID arrays???

[TJM]

I just got my new RAID-0 striped array up & running.....using (4) Maxtor
DiamondMax Plus 9 (7200 rpm, 8MB cache) and SIIG ATA-133 RAID PCI card.

Using HD Tach 3.0, I'm getting about 82-85 MB/sec. transfer rates. However,
only about 45% faster than a single Maxtor drive (not like the 2X speed
increase claimed for RAID-0 arrays). I am using a 512KB stripe size.

I'd like to know what other folks are getting with their arrays. How do the
SATA RAID cards compare in transfer speed to IDE?

 

[dg]

These are my read speeds, I didn't run the write tests.

I have 2 arrays in my system. The first is for OS and programs, it is RAID
0, uses 2 74GB Raptors. 128KB stripe size. This array runs off of the
Intel D875pbzlk using ICH5R hardware. CPU Util: 4.5%, Burst: 114.9,
Maximum: 101.8, Min: 41.8, avg 69.2. I know a guy who always uses ATA133
specs when arguing PC stuff, as if they really go 133MB/sec. Here I have a
pretty hot array the never touches 133MB/s even on a burst.

Array 2, RAID 5. 64KB stripe size. This array uses an LSI Logic megaraid
150-4 SATA card. Drives are WD2500?? SATA, x 3. This drive houses data
that I don't want to lose. The real important stuff gets backed up to
DVD/CD too. Results are somewhat disappointing, I may get another drive and
go RAID 10 just for kicks. I should also check to see if there is anything
I can change to improve things. This drive doesn't need to be super fast
just a little more safe. CPU Util: 0.6%-WOW, Burst:64.6, Max: 26.4, min:
11.9, Avg:16.7MB. Seems like it should read a bit faster than that, but I
haven't seen any similar setups to compare it too.

--Dan

 

[TJM]

I have 2 arrays in my system. The first is for OS and programs, it is
RAID

0, uses 2 74GB Raptors. 128KB stripe size. This array runs off of the
Intel D875pbzlk using ICH5R hardware. CPU Util: 4.5%, Burst: 114.9,
Maximum: 101.8, Min: 41.8, avg 69.2. I know a guy who always uses ATA133
specs when arguing PC stuff, as if they really go 133MB/sec. Here I have a
pretty hot array the never touches 133MB/s even on a burst.

Those are similar numbers to what I am getting, although with 512K stripe
size. I agree about the 133MB/sec, although I bought into the myth and
upgraded to my SIIG ATA-133 RAID card. Probably would have been just as
fast with ATA-100 RAID.

 

[jpsga]

Not sure that I should report in on this one. I didn't like the earlier HD
Tach for RAID because it uses a fixed test data size of 64 kB.
I use HD_Speed and set the data block size to 512kB.

On the Raptors ( small ones ) I get just a little over 100mB/s
For bulk storage, the Maxtor Max 8's, I get in the mid 90's.

These readings at taken near the outside of the disk.

Storage Review did a nice write up on your MaxPlus 9's.
As I suspect you know, you will never get to marketing hype of 150 mB/s as
the bus will only handle 133mB/s. Too, you will never get 100% of the very
busy PCI bus.

Aida32 ( in the Disk bench Mark plug-in) will give you a picture of what is
going on.

I believe you will find that you have as good or better than any one else
has. These are rates that we will live with until we get a 64 bit Super PCI
bus.

Jim

 

[Jonski]

As I suspect you know, you will never get to marketing hype of 150 mB/s as
the bus will only handle 133mB/s. Too, you will never get 100% of the very
busy PCI bus.

What about SATA-150? Frees up the PCI bus.

I'm looking at 2x Seagate Barracudas, 120Gb, 7200rpm, 8Mb cache.
Should I RAID-0 them, or leave them seperate? Planning to encode TV to
DVD.

Cheers
Jon