Solved SSD Question

[essenbe]

I hope I am posting in the right place. This is a real Noob question, but... I am considering installing 2 40GB Intel V-25 SSds in raid with a spinner as a data drive. My main question - is there any implications or problems I will encounter and is this a feasible plan?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[pparks1]

That will work fine. However, I must ask why you want a RAID setup with SSD drives?

If simply to make more capacity, ok
If simply to gain more performance....most likely unnecessary as the higher throughput won't benefit the mostly small random reads/writes done by the OS.

 

[essenbe]

Actually, I was doing it for both. I did want the performance increase - Plus I could afford it. The only other one I could get was the 80GB X25-M. I am just not sure what the difference between the V and the M. It seems that the V has been around for awhile and is quite stable but the M is a more recent version and I don't find much info on it.

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[pparks1]

Actually, the M has been around longer as far as I know. It's the "mainstream" version of the drive. The V is the value series.

I have a 80GB Intel X25-M g2.

 

[tw33k]

The M series have been around longer than the Value drives. If it's in within your budget, go with the M series.

 

[thehappyman]

You'll be Happy with your SSD !!!!

 

[Dave76]

Two Intel X25-V's (40GB each) in RAID are a little bit faster than a Intel X25-M (80GB) but, with RAID you loose the TRIM function.

The speed would likely not be noticeable, as both are pretty fast, the X25-M is faster.

Here is an article comparing the X25-M and two X25-V in RAID.
Intel X25-V in RAID-0: Faster than X25-M G2 for $250?

I would get the X25-M single SSD, unless you have a specific reason for the RAID.

 

[Wishmaster]

Do the newest Intel AHCI drivers not pass TRIM commands to the RAID?

I've been reading they do however have not actually tested them. I only run a single SSD for the OS.

At any count, I too am in the same camp of running just a single SSD for the OS.
Less headache and chance of issues.

Besides, a SSD is fast enough a RAID array really isn't necessary.

 

[Dave76]

Agree that one SSD is fast enough for most people.

I've read rumors that the Intel beta drivers might pass the TRIM command, but haven't seen it confirmed.

 

[essenbe]

I was on the Intel forum last night. The way they explained it was that you can confirm that the OS is passing the trim command to the SSD. What they can not confirm is that the SSD is accepting that command.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Add me to the people suggesting one single larger SSD, over RAID.

 

[Dave76]

I was on the Intel forum last night. The way they explained it was that you can confirm that the OS is passing the trim command to the SSD. What they can not confirm is that the SSD is accepting that command.

That is correct, makes it a bit difficult to tell.

I've seen some people add then delete a big enough file to notice, I don't think that works, when it's marked for deletion then you will no longer see it.

Hopefully someone will come up with a way to check it soon.