Intel to Add TRIM Support for RAID 0
by Kristian Vättö on November 21, 2011 2:35 AM ESTIntel's release notes for Rapid Storage Technology (RST) 11.5 Alpha version reveal that they have plans to add TRIM support for RAID 0 arrays in the next version of RST. Windows 7 and Intel's RST have supported TRIM for quite a while, but the support has always excluded RAID 0 arrays. We don't know when the RST version with TRIM will arrive but given that the Alpha version dates back to August 5th, a newer version with TRIM should be expected sooner than later.
The benefits of TRIM are obvious because the write performance of an SSD will degrade in the long run without TRIM (or good garbage collection). Here is a quick brief on what TRIM is and what it does. TRIM is a simple command that allows the OS to inform the SSD controller what files are no longer in use (i.e. have been deleted). NAND flash doesn't allow individual pages to be erased; only a block can be erased. This causes problems because without TRIM, the OS just marks the deleted files as empty space, meaning that the actual data is not erased from the drive. When you run out of free blocks, you first have to read the whole block to cache before you can erase and then re-write the block. That means instead of a simple write, the SSD has to do a read, and erase, and then a write, which is why the write speed in degraded mode is much slower. For more detailed explanation on TRIM, take a look at our The SSD Anthology article.
For users who run SSDs in RAID 0, this is great news. While RAID 0 always introduces reliability concerns, the lack of TRIM is another obstacle for many. High capacity SSDs still cost a hefty premium, and putting two smaller SSDs in RAID 0 can save you a few bucks, plus you get increased read and write speeds.
Source: Intel via StorageReview
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QQuxa - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
you're right, sorry, i've mixed up :)SlyNine - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
Like Slash3 said, 2 120 drives in Raid-0 gives you 240, which is exactly what I'm doing with 2 G2 120 SSDs. The speeds are great, of course they are about your average current Generation Sata3 SSD. But hey I've had these since they came out.And Honestly I havent been able to benchmark a loss in performence after useing them for months on end under normal useage (except I demux a blu-ray disk to it, which is about a 40 gig Seq. write. which helps it regain any performence it might have lost)
But for everone wondering what boot times are like, well my Acer laptop with a WD 120gig, 4 gigs of ram, Core I5 @2.4ghz SSD boots faster, In fact it boots faster then any phone ipod,pad, Itouch or anything I've ever seen( about 14 seconds from power button to opened IE). This system boots in about 40 seconds at least, but havent timed it. but opening programes is instant.
SlyNine - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
Just to clairify. The Acer has a WD 120Gig SSD. not a regular HD and that boot time is counting logging in, and from a full shutdown.Samoht - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
"Here is a quick brief on what TRIM is and what does it do."Kristian Vättö - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
What is wrong with it?futrtrubl - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
"what it does" is correct. "what does it do" is a question.Kristian Vättö - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
Thanks, fixed. I had Jarred read it through for grammar errors but maybe he missed it.JarredWalton - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
It was late at night. LOLSunrise089 - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
I'm going to assume that's code for "writing an awesome performance midrange buyers guide."[hint]
jgv115 - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
Will this include G1 drives?