Which RAID Controller?

[AGampher]

I want to buy a new RAID controller. I don't want to drop $75 for a promise controller, so I thought maybe since I have the 8kha+ I could go for the epox controller. I'm just looking for a cheap RAID 0 configuration for faster load times. I don't need it for anything important, so no RAID 1, 0+1 etc......

Just wanted a few opinions.... Thanks guys....

~A

[Warlord2]

I pm JON about this question and this is the response I got

I'm assuming you're comparing between an HPT370-based controller and the $70 controller is from Promise.

Personally, Promise makes a little better controller...I don't own one though. As far as benchmarks go, I don't see any performance worth more than double the price of a decent HPT370 controller. We're actually only talking about MAYBE 5MBps on average of throughput...this is nothing you could ever notice, let alone miss having.

I would like to have a Promise controller simply because it's about the only IDE RAID controller I don't have, haha. Based on a money issue, I'd much rather pocket the extra $40 and spend it on something else.

Depending on the level of overclocking you're doing, a Promise controller may hold up to higher FSB than would a generic HPT370, but this is not always true. I've got my onboard RAID controller sitting on a 166MHz bus now with my 8K7A+. No trouble at all. My VP6 controller would begin crapping out at about 155MHz though. It's really a crap shoot as with any PCI device.

Just get a decent brand HPT370 and it will be just fine. They are quick to get drivers and BIOS updates out as well.

[AGampher]

Thank ya sir.