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

[Computurd]

ty anvil
it will be interesting to see how some of the newer games use the system.
for instance supcom2
RTS is historically very demanding for CPU usage during gaming, so they have really focused on multithreading the app and running it across several cores. i dont know how much it will affect its utilization of the storage system but it is indicative of the forward movement towards better utilization of our systems as a whole. comes out in april i cant wait. of course im also a supcom nerd...

[Ao1]

You're not going to believe this. (But I can assure you it is true).

New install of Crysis. Open for the first time. First level. Once the loading bar starts it took 16 seconds to load. (I timed only the period it took for the loading bar to complete.)

I closed it, re-opened it and it took 13 seconds to load.

I rebooted and opened again and it took 13 seconds again.

My system is nothing special. Far from it. ICH9. QX6850@ 3.6. 6GB RAM @ 1600mhz and a 4870x2.

The maximum read was 67mb/s.

[Computurd]

what are you loading within the game? what level? measure using the tilde button. it has a built in timer it will tell you the load time.

[Ao1]

what are you loading within the game? what level? measure using the tilde button. it has a built in timer it will tell you the load time.

I manually timed the first level. I started when the loading bar appeared and finished when the loading bar finished. How to I set the built in timer? I can't see an option to do that.

[Computurd]

if you hit the tilde button, it is the button next to 1 on your keyboard...the little squille one.~~~~~ if you hit that button once the load is done it will bring up the mangament window which will tell you the load time automatically. does not need set up.
also type this in r_displayinfo=1 that will show you real time fps etc...
also are you loading into multiplayer maps or the actual levels?
i load mine with very high set on all options in video and also DX10

[Ao1]

Level Island loading time 14.14 seconds. I managed to get a screen shot if you want to see it.

[Computurd]

okay that rocks. is that in the multiplayer or the acutal single player? load up a multiplayer game then run it with the different maps see what you get?
my load time for the level island is 15.80 with the 9211, that is what i have on the computer now. i have not tested normal game levels when i did my runs i hosted multiplayer games and loaded the stages there. my chart is ^^^^^^
i will have the 9260 back on later today i can check with that.

[Ao1]

level Multiplayer/ps/shore
First load = 16.02
Second load = 11.04

[Computurd]

these are my multiplayer level loads. i think that they are the best indicator of true level load times because they are the same no matter what. i believe there is info attached to your level loads in single player like certain points, progress etc. i dunno. i DO know the multiplayer maps are the same always. thats why i use them
*cons are consecutive loads 1 2 and 3
*avnon is average of nonconsecutive loads (reboots inbetween)
*avcon is average of repeated runs
one side is with cache and the other is Direct (no cache)

[Spoiler]

Question for SteveRo, or for whoever knows the answer:

What is the boot initialization time of each of the three cards? I don't need the entire system boot time, just the time for each card to initialize?

[SteveRo]

Question for SteveRo, or for whoever knows the answer:

What is the boot initialization time of each of the three cards? I don't need the entire system boot time, just the time for each card to initialize?

From bios start to controller booted for the 1231ML is approx 35s, the LSI cards are certainly no worse than that.

[SteveRo]

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 each controller –

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

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

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

I will also put this in the first post of this thread.
That is all for now.

[XS Janus]

THANK YOU for the summary! lol
I was just about to post that I cant find gameload times if my life depended on it!


And WOW the differences are almost non-existent if looked on average.
ICH still best way if you don't need huge sequentials.

Wold be interesting if you would OC at least one of the setups to see if it would do better. But I know it's probably to late.

[SteveRo]

THANK YOU for the summary! lol
I was just about to post that I cant find gameload times if my life depended on it!


And WOW the differences are almost non-existent if looked on average.
ICH still best way if you don't need huge sequentials.

Wold be interesting if you would OC at least one of the setups to see if it would do better. But I know it's probably to late.

Your welcome,
Remember this is for one game and for one set up - YMMV,
The pcmark vantage suite runs were oc'd:
i7-965 @ 4.35 ht on,
mem @ 1848 8-8-8,
2xGTX295 (quad sli) oc'd to 690/1190

[XS Janus]

^even one game goes to prove: don't buy until you try!
Anyway investing that much cash should at least be accompanied by 30% better times to be worth while
Or you better make money by playing games on that setup and officially promote the hardware to sucker others to buy!

[Computurd]

for these types of setups yes at this point ich10r is better, however the 9260 and 9211 are designed with 6gb/s interface, which will toast the ich10r once the devices are there. also there is much room for improvement with these devices via firmware, the 9211 is still on virgin fimrware and drivers, there is a lot of possibilities there. do not hold your breath for ich11r either, they are already pushing back sandy bridge and associated chipsets, and you wont see ich11r until then at the earliest.

[Anvil]

Computurd,

Have a look at this, the Crucial RealSSD C300 6Gb will be available for sale sometime in February.

Link to DailyTech

[Computurd]

yes i know it is an exciting prospect i wish they would release pricing...also interested in a few others coming soon...microns...
did you happen to have a link btw?

[Anvil]

Computurd,

I added the link to my previous post.

It is the Micron RealSSD C300 btw. (according to the article, Micron = OEM, Crucial = Consumer)

The price/GB should be on par with the Intel G2's, it's the same 34nm technology, well, time will tell

[Computurd]

thanks anvil. i am holding my cards when it comes to the next gen drives...i dont think we have seen the best of them yet....jetstream where are you???

@stevie-
hope ya still got the 9211....this just in with the mail....

Paul,



New firmware should be posted either this week or early next week.





Best Regards,

Michaela Koert
Technical Support Engineer
Global Support Services

LSI Corporation
3718 N. Rock Rd.
Wichita, KS 67226
Phone: 1-866-625-3993
Fax: 1-316-636-8373
Email: support@lsi.com


im tellin ya this is gonna be it!!! this is gonna be the one to unlock this here card i can FEEL it!!

[SteveRo]

thanks anvil. i am holding my cards when it comes to the next gen drives...i dont think we have seen the best of them yet....jetstream where are you???

@stevie-
hope ya still got the 9211....this just in with the mail....

Paul,



New firmware should be posted either this week or early next week.





Best Regards,

Michaela Koert
Technical Support Engineer
Global Support Services

LSI Corporation
3718 N. Rock Rd.
Wichita, KS 67226
Phone: 1-866-625-3993
Fax: 1-316-636-8373
Email: support@lsi.com


im tellin ya this is gonna be it!!! this is gonna be the one to unlock this here card i can FEEL it!!

I sent it back but easy enough to get another one.
Figures the day after I take it to UPS they finally release an update.

[XS Janus]

^hahaha, classic!

[Computurd]

dont worry steve-o i will boldly go where no nerd has gone before...
ermm..
i mean test it!

[Spoiler]

Computurd,

Have a look at this, the Crucial RealSSD C300 6Gb will be available for sale sometime in February.

Link to DailyTech

Of course they have to say February! I finally get some money to pour into some more SSD's and I have to wait some more. Who knows though...those drives might not even be ready then.

[zalbard]

Of course they have to say February! I finally get some money to pour into some more SSD's and I have to wait some more. Who knows though...those drives might not even be ready then.

I suppose waiting for firmware updates wouldn't hurt, or at least it seems to be a trend nowadays...