Windows RAID Solution?

[Derek Morrison]

I'm rebuilding a windows machine after having spent almost 10 years on Mac not even touching windows, let alone the hardware. So I'm looking to find a RAID controller and storage array that I can build into. Start with 10-15TB and build on to that. I've been looking ATTO, for the controller. I'm trying to be cost effective, and I don't work in a shared storage network, so I was leaning more towards a SAS set up.

Would it be better to have a hardware RAID controller, or just the interface and run a software RAID?

I've always either used a software RAID in the old Mac Pro or the new thunderbolt setups have been pre-built.
Is there an affordable kit possibly?
What do you recommend if I'm trying to stay under $3k?

My setup:

3.4GHz AMD Phenom II X4
256GB Raid 0 boot RAID
16GB Ram
R9 290x GUI Card
R9 295x2 (when it arrives)
R9 295x2
BM Decklink Studio 4K Extreme

 

[David Kuhn]

- Software raid on windows machines is not generally good for much other than RAID0/RAID1 setups... though there are exceptions (look at the mobo spec's).
- You could get a thunderbolt card and stay with what you know if you'd like (you'd have to verify everything is compatible, I don't have any experience wiht TB on Windows - not sure if it's a problem or not)

 

[Shiblon Wixom]

Atto, Areca, or on windows LSI are all good, get something SAS/SATA and that has RAID5 options, not just JBOD options. You'll be much happier with an HBA controller of some kind vs a software RAID. Of course if you're a bit more selective you can get hardware that runs Windows and the Mac OS, which unfortunately is not AMD.

 

[Bill Sepaniak]

Here is what I use on my windows box: Two (2) G Speed es Pros / Atto R680 / mini sas / raid 5. So far, no problems. However, the Atto needs a lot of air / cooling. However, keeping it under 3K may be a problem.

________________________________
Scarlet X # 1859 “Bettie Page”
“… preparing to ‘whip’ the competition …”

Leitaxed Zeiss Lenses:

CY 21/2.8
ZF 28/2.0
CY 35-70/3.4
CY 50/1.4
ZF100/2.0
CY135/2.8

Nikon Lenses:
G 14-24/2.8
G 24-70/2.8
D 80-200/2.8

Tokina Lenses:

11-16/2.8

 

[Derek Morrison]

Bill, what do you think would be a reasonable number while remaining cost effective?

 

[Bill Sepaniak]

You might make it for around 3K. The least expensive G Speed es Pro's listed on flea-bay are $1,180 for 4TB. I would assume that you would want 2 for a total of 8TB. (You can always replace the drives with higher capacity drives, if need be.) The least expensive R680 on flea-bay is $700.00. So, that is just a shade over your 3K budget.
________________________________
Scarlet X # 1859 “Bettie Page”
“… preparing to ‘whip’ the competition …”

Leitaxed Zeiss Lenses:

CY 21/2.8
ZF 28/2.0
CY 35-70/3.4
CY 50/1.4
ZF100/2.0
CY135/2.8

Nikon Lenses:
G 14-24/2.8
G 24-70/2.8
D 80-200/2.8

Tokina Lenses:

11-16/2.8

 

[Stacey Spears]

Adaptec and LSI are popular. I just upgraded to an Adaptec 8885 myself.

 

[Eric Bowen]

Areca and 8 bay SAS units would be in the price range you are looking for. I would suggest you start there. Enhanced Technology/Pro Avio SAS storage units are the ones we deal with. They would be in your price range.