LSI 9211-8i versus LSI 9260-8i versus Areca 1231ML-2G

[SteveRo]

OK so here we go, I will have all three controllers and 12 days before I go back to work.

New vs old, faster h/w with still being worked out s/w vs old h/w with mature s/w - should be fun.

I plan on complete iometer, pcmark vantage HDD test and maybe everest testing (if needed) with four acard 9010s and maybe with some SLC mtron mobi's - if it looks like that would help clarify anything.

I will do all testing with W7x64 (beta 7100).
I haven't gotten around to buying W7 for my test machine yet.

So - please post back to me - what driver, f/w and controller settings should I use for each controller to gain maximum performance - both sequential and random?

For the 9211-8i - I recommend driver - 20270 dated 20Feb09 - driver that shipped with W7 beta bld 7100 (I think). F/W is what shipped on the controller - 2.00.50.00-IR, there is no new firmware (yet) that I can find. Controller settings are set to default as I have yet to figure out how to change any settings (any settings that make any difference in performance that is).

For the 1231ML-2G - For firmware - 1.47, dated 2009/8/19 (latest on the areca website).
For driver - I have been using storport driver 6.20.0.16 dated 8/19/2008. Is there a better driver? Anyone using the scsiport driver?
Tell me what you are using and what performance you are seeing.
On the areca website: The latest storport driver is v19 (I am using v16 up to now). The latest scsiport driver is also v19.
I have read that storport is supposedly newer than scsiport but I don't remember testing to see which might be faster.

For the 9260-8i - you tell me - what is best controller settings, f/w and driver!

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RESULTS -

Comparison results summary (links to the three way comparison - in this thread) –

Pcmark vantage HDD test for the LSI 9211-8i, Areca 1231ML-2G, LSI 9260-8i and intel ich10R (onboard raid) –

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=114

The vantage pcmark suite results –

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=116

Game level load times by controller -

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=229

Iometer results for the controllers –

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=235

Last but not least – FYI - AS SSD and CDM for all three controllers –

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=240

That is all for now.