Vertex LE vs Crucial C300

[Anvil]

Steve,
It was a fresh install which wasn't activated yet, I'll install Acronis tomorrow
It has never happened to me before.

The standard write cache (policy) is on but no wbc, wbc is only available on arrays.

[AceNZ]

Are you thinking of the 256GB C300 or the 128GB?
The 4R0 X25-M's are doable, in fact they are already done.

GullLars has got the iometer result files for 1-4 X25-M drives and has already created a few graphs.
He'll probably create a separate thread for the graphs.

I was thinking two of the 128GB C300 vs. four of the 80GB X25-M, with data shown on the same graphs (or in the same post), for easy A/B comparison.

You could also do two 256GB C300's vs. four 160GB X25-M's, but the cost isn't as close as the other setup, and I suspect the other one will likely perform nearly as well.

Cost for 128GB C300 (Newegg): $419 * 2 = $838
80GB X25-M: $225 * 4 = $900

256GB C300: $680 * 2 = $1360
160GB X25-M: $425 * 4 = $1700

The size differences don't bother me too much, since I would only use a 64GB partition on the X25-M 80GB drive anyway.

[SteveRo]

interesting - looks like more problems with f/w, this time ocz onyx - http://www.anandtech.com/show/3698/o...stop-shipments

[SteveRo]

Steve,
The standard write cache (policy) is on but no wbc, wbc is only available on arrays.

looking at the high numbers i autothink its an array, wow.

[Anvil]

Steve,

Based on the 4K numbers one could easily mistake it for an array

I'm swamped with work today so I'll have to postpone furher testing till tomorrow.

[F@32]

interesting - looks like more problems with f/w, this time ocz onyx - http://www.anandtech.com/show/3698/o...stop-shipments

Also looks like new C300 FW is bricking drives, Anand recommends to hold off on updates.

[SteveRo]

Also looks like new C300 FW is bricking drives, Anand recommends to hold off on updates.

Makes you wonder if they're doing much testing at all or just frantic to get the product out the door.

[mbreslin]

With average latency not improved and only minimal gains I'll wait until they figure the fw mess out. (I have a feeling it's mostly just user error but still)

[Anvil]

Well,

What can I say, just look at the benchmarks

ICH10R, 4R0 2xVertex LE + 2xCrucial C300, stripe size 64KB, OC 4.4GHz

CDM3_4R0_LEC300_44GHz_SS64KB_ICH10R.PNG CDM3_4R0_LEC300_44GHz_SS64KB_ICH10R_wbcOn.PNG

as-ssd-bench Volume_0000 09.05.2010 21-25-56.png

OC does improve ICH performance!

2dn run

as-ssd-bench Volume_0000 09.05.2010 21-36-50.png

[Anvil]

Hmmm,

Not quite sure whats going on.
I returned to 4GHz and it's still showing high scores. (still using PCIE@119 though)

RST_AS_SSD_OC-1.JPG

edit:

iometer 512B-256KB QD1-64 4KB aligned. (@4GHz PCIE@119)
512B_256KB_QD1_64_4KB_aligned.zip

[Tiltevros]

without any keys just 9260i4 and 4 intels

[Anvil]

Not bad Tilt,

Really looking forward to a few benchmarks using Keys
When can you post using Keys?

I'll be making a few calls tomorrow, I need a some keys.

[Tiltevros]

good luck
my drives are degraded so i need to hdderase them but no time now

[Anvil]

Is there a limit to the number of keys released?

I expect my 9211 will arrive tomorrow
Looking forward to trying both the LEs and the C300s on it but I'll probably start off using 4x Intel G1 80GB.

[BobyTT]

Anyone, how you perform TRIM on vertex LE?

[GullLars]

You let the OS passivly handle it, like it's supposed to for all SSDs supporting TRIM.
For this you need:
*Windows 7, Server 2008 SP2/3 (i don't remember wich one), or upcomming Linux kernels with TRIM support.

Under W7 you need 1 of the following drivers to be active: pciide, msahci, intel RST9.6.
The drive must not be in a RAID array.
You also need the HBA/controller to support TRIM forwarding, verified ones are Intel ICHx(R), and AMD SBxxx.

[BobyTT]

Thanks , so basically i shouldn't do anything?

Under W7 you need 1 of the following drivers to be active: pciide, msahci, intel RST9.6.

how do i find this by the way?

[GullLars]

Microsoft standard is pciide when SATA mode is set to IDE (not what you want). msahci is microsoft standard for SATA mode set to AHCI (what you want).
Alternatively, if you have Intel chipset (ICH/PCH) you can use intels latest Rapid Storage Technology driver RST9.6. It supports TRIM in AHCI and RAID non-member (i don't know if it does for IDE mode).
If you open AS SSD benchmark, it will say the driver name the same place as firmware revision and partition allignment.

[BobyTT]

Thanks , i installed my windows in AHCI mode, so i guess ist already set. Thanks for clearing that though.

[Computurd]

bobyTT--as long as your motherboard is set to ACHI mode and you are not using raid, it will be running perfect within a win7 setup.

[Anvil]

Continuing the pcie 119 OC thing,

More than once I've had to reset the raid from RST having booted the pc, no errors while running benchmarks.
It might be that pcie 119 is a bit too much?

Steve
Are you able to reproduce on your computer?
(except for the ACards)

A few more benchmarks,

atto_4r0.JPG cdm3tp_4R0_wbcOn.JPG

wbc On
WINSAT_4GHz_4R0_wbcOn.JPG

wbc Off
WINSAT_4GHz_4R0_wbcOff.JPG

[SteveRo]

good morning Mr Anvil - very nice runs! pcie 119 seems to work fine for me for both ich10 and 1231 using any number of x25v and acards - I had to drop back to 105 for the 9211/acards though.

[Anvil]

Good morning Steve,

I've done a few more tests and it seems the issue is gone as long as wbc is deactivated.

BTW, my 9211 was delivered an hour ago

Maybe its time for that raid card thread?

The changes that I've done since the last time I tested the 4R0 array.
- Updated BIOS on the UD7 to F7h
- Disabled EIST. (basically all power saving options in the BIOS)

That's it, I think.

[SteveRo]

Mr Anvil - yes, the controller tweaking thread is needed, very busy with work at the moment.

[Anvil]

good luck
(

I ordered FastPath today, 10 days delivery.
Well, by then I should have explored the 9211.