Yes absolutely. The only question is whether a 2nd boot partition on the X25-M would boot Windows, to which I'm not sure.
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2 x Intel SSD as boot volume (RAID0) configuration for March 2009 Mac Pro?
- Thread starter hubiedubie
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Yes absolutely. The only question is whether a 2nd boot partition on the X25-M would boot Windows, to which I'm not sure.
The previous model RAID card was also incompatible with boot camp, or even windows. It wasn't designed to work.
A separate drive for each OS will work. (A RAID card isn't needed for this).
The traces would have been run from the SATA ports on the board to the unused connectors in at least one fo the 4x PCIe slots.
Interesting... however something still needs to flip a switch so that the traces don't go to both places while the RAID card is installed.
At any rate, using a 3rd party card should be simple... just avoid the built-in sata connectors and cable your drives directly to the card. Likely means installing them in the optical bay area then and using the 2nd optical SATA power cable and splitting it for a pair of drives.
Boot Camp is just a partition tool meant to allow multiple OS installations on the same drive.
So you won't need it.
Drop a switch function in the firmware. Enables PCIe data transfer/disables SATA controller access once the RAID card ID is recognized.
Apple's RAID card wouldn't be so bad, if they at least created Windows drivers, or better yet, Boot Camp support as well. They managed to elliminate 3rd party products from using the internal bays, but left few alternatives for users that need Windows.
It seems an adapter with external ports is the best alternative, but carries the cost of at least one 4 bay enclosure with it (matching drives and ports @ 1:1). It's a clean installation at least.
An internal model could actually be used, but the cables (internal MiniSAS to either external MiniSAS or MultiLane) are harder to find, and are more expensive. Then top it off with having to run the cables through an unused PCIe slot.
Doesn't seem the best way to go, but seems to be the only way existing 3rd party RAID card owners can continue to use their gear. Especially if it's not an inexpensive card.
Thanks greatly for that info. I was under the impression that boot camp was always required for a windows install (new to Mac). Are any special steps required to install XP on its own disk, or is there any reason why it should not work on the X-25M?
Thanks for your patience.
Just make sure to select the drive you want during the install process.
Once installed, remember to select the OS you want to boot. You could even use REFit if you want some graphics. Meh... It's prettier than a keyboard.
There's nothing I'm aware of that would prevent you from using the X-25M. Except maybe your wallet.
Just make sure to select the drive you want during the install process.
Once installed, remember to select the OS you want to boot. You could even use REFit if you want some graphics. Meh... It's prettier than a keyboard.
There's nothing I'm aware of that would prevent you from using the X-25M. Except maybe your wallet.
Thanks,
I am embarrassed to say that I did not understand this part of your answer:
"You could even use REFit if you want some graphics. Meh... It's prettier than a keyboard."
I appreciate the help.
4 x Samsung 256 ssd, software raid feasible?
Am considering 4 Samsung 256ssd, 1 boot, 3 Raid0 for data, already referenced replacement sleds for mac pro March 2009.
Is this doable without a raid card? can raid built into mac pro and Leopard 10.5.6 handle four ssd, with three striped drives?
If anyone has any thoughts on this, please let me know.
Yes, I know it's outrageously expensive. That's the second bridge to cross and all the backup issues as well. The feasibility issue in using 4 ssd is the first bridge I want to cross.
What say, genii?
Am considering 4 Samsung 256ssd, 1 boot, 3 Raid0 for data, already referenced replacement sleds for mac pro March 2009.
Is this doable without a raid card? can raid built into mac pro and Leopard 10.5.6 handle four ssd, with three striped drives?
If anyone has any thoughts on this, please let me know.
Yes, I know it's outrageously expensive. That's the second bridge to cross and all the backup issues as well. The feasibility issue in using 4 ssd is the first bridge I want to cross.
What say, genii?
Yes, unfortunately this seems to be the case. On my 2009 mini the XP install does not even see the X25-M. It is like nothing is connected to the SATA port as far as the installation application is concerned.
I really hope this can be fixed.
No Mac Pro should be without this when it comes out (though it looks like OS X may not be supported Oh well I don't have 10s of thousands anyway):
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/11/fusion-io-breaks-out-roomy-nimble-iodrive-duo-ssds/
Oh well I don't have 10s of thousands anyway): http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/11/fusion-io-breaks-out-roomy-nimble-iodrive-duo-ssds/
No Mac Pro should be without this when it comes out (though it looks like OS X may not be supported
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/11/fusion-io-breaks-out-roomy-nimble-iodrive-duo-ssds/
:drool:
I sold off my intel x25-m due to defragmentation and prolonged usage causes much slower in rewrite cycles.
http://arstechnica.com/news/2009/02/sector-remap-fragmentation-slowing-intel-x25-m-ssds.ars
There is a whole article about it, their not too sure if the intel x25-e is effected as well.
http://arstechnica.com/news/2009/02/sector-remap-fragmentation-slowing-intel-x25-m-ssds.ars
There is a whole article about it, their not too sure if the intel x25-e is effected as well.
And you've actually experienced this first hand... or just read about it, freaked and quickly banished it from the village?
Been running two of these in my mac pro for almost 2 months solid and haven't had a single blip of slowdown or anything. My benchmarks are as fresh as day one
And you've actually experienced this first hand... or just read about it, freaked and quickly banished it from the village?
Been running two of these in my mac pro for almost 2 months solid and haven't had a single blip of slowdown or anything. My benchmarks are as fresh as day one
They did test it out after a speed up of rewrites. Only the writes wear out over time on an SSD drive and in this case after prolonged usage the write slows to a crawl around 25 MB/s and below. Try reading the article its inevitable. 2 months is still not "prolonged use."
Give it about a year or so.
No one has been able to reproduce the results of that test. Not even Intel, who says it's very unlikely the test reflects conditions of real-world usage. Nonetheless they will continue to investigate and issue a firmware update if necessary. Your "give it a year" statement is pure speculation on your own part.
Perfect. I'm a little obsessive compulsive and do a fresh re-install of my boot drive about once every 1-2 months. I just love the sparkly fresh feeling
According to the article you can restore your drive to factory fresh by simply doing a full format (write zeros to the drive). 2x 80GB will be quick and by the time the drives start wearing out there'll be a new SSD king that'll be on my shopping list.
Hey, I'm curious about some benchmarks with Intel or Vertex drives running via software RAID0... can someone post some benchmarks? Mr. More?!
What are some good benchmarking tools under OSX?
What are some good benchmarking tools under OSX?
Every review site, and every person who's tested the drive has not experienced the "slowdown" claimed in that review. As Ars said, The fact that Intel felt it necessary to make public comment on the matter is significant in and of itself; and that they've tried to replicate the same results unsuccessfully, speaks volumes that
a) the PCPerspective testing method was flawed
b) The results are not indicative of what any user has ever or will ever actually experience
c) Intel is on top of their **** and investigates when someone thinks they've found a flaw in their SSDs in order to fix the problem if there is one
So you've read every review and interviewed every person who has tested the Intel SSD? That's remarkable. How do you still find the time to post on here.
a) Intel says the testing method was flawed.
b) You are just guessing
c) Do you work for Intel?
I guess you were so busy reading every other review and interviewing every person who tested an Intel SSD that you forgot this one:
http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3531
what size
I was wondering, what size do you all get? What is a good size for a startup disk and apps? would the 80 GB model be enough? Of course it all depends what apps I need to install. But I was just wondering...
And then when time machine makes a backup and your home folder is on a seperate disk, does time machine include the home folder or does it just backup your startup disk?
Thanks in advance...
I was wondering, what size do you all get? What is a good size for a startup disk and apps? would the 80 GB model be enough? Of course it all depends what apps I need to install. But I was just wondering...
And then when time machine makes a backup and your home folder is on a seperate disk, does time machine include the home folder or does it just backup your startup disk?
Thanks in advance...