Toshiba PX02SMF020 12 Gb/s – 1057 MB/s from a single drive!

Computer Hardware SSDs, Hard Drives and NAS
#1

We’ve just posted the following review: Toshiba PX02SMF020 12 Gb/s – 1057 MB/s from a single drive![newsimage]http://static.myce.com//images_posts/2014/02/PX02-95x75.png[/newsimage]

A few months ago we reviewed the Toshiba PX02SMF020 SAS Enterprise SSD in its 6Gb/s form – Toshiba PX02SMF020 6Gb/s. We are delighted that we are now able to review the same drive in its 12 GB/s form.

We are also delighted to confirm that the myce.com OakGate Test Unit has been upgraded to support SAS 12 Gb/s drives.

I must give some thanks:

Firstly, a big thank you to LSI for providing a new LSI 9300-8e HBA to support SAS 12 Gb/s.
Secondly, a big thank you to OakGate Technology for providing a new external Mini SAS HD to 4 x SAS connector and for the excellent support provided during the upgrade process.

            Read the full article here: [http://www.myce.com/review/toshiba-px02smf020-12-gbs-1057-mbs-from-a-single-drive-70592](http://www.myce.com/review/toshiba-px02smf020-12-gbs-1057-mbs-from-a-single-drive-70592)

            Please note that the reactions from the complete site will be synched below.
#2

Congrats on a great review JR. This was some of the best review reading I have done since Wendys last review. One question, do you think there will be motherboard support for this in the near future so the $400.00 LSI card is not needed, or maybe I didn’t understand completely.

#3

[QUOTE=alan1476;2720284] One question, do you think there will be motherboard support for this in the near future so the $400.00 LSI card is not needed, or maybe I didn’t understand completely.[/QUOTE]

Hi Alan,

To avoid confusion, it’s important to remember that we are looking at a SAS controller here and not native SATA ports as included on Consumer motherboards.

Most Enterprise Server mobos do include an ‘on-board’ SAS controller but I’m not aware of a Consumer mobo that does or will.

As I understand it ‘SATA Express’ is the route to providing 12 Gb/s for SATA drives - though I must admit I’ve lost sight of the timeframe/plan for this to happen.

Regds, JR

#4

[QUOTE=JReynolds;2720297]Hi Alan,

To avoid confusion, it’s important to remember that we are looking at a SAS controller here and not native SATA ports as included on Consumer motherboards.

Most Enterprise Server mobos do include an ‘on-board’ SAS controller but I’m not aware of a Consumer mobo that does or will.

As I understand it ‘SATA Express’ is the route to providing 12 Gb/s for SATA drives - though I must admit I’ve lost sight of the timeframe/plan for this to happen.

Regds, JR[/QUOTE]

Hi JR:
Thankyou for your explaination but Asrock makes a motherboard with SAS ports, Would this motherboard make the use of the LSI card not needed.?
[B]16 x SAS 12.0 Gb/s /SATA 6.0 Gb/s Connectors by LSI SAS 3008 controller + 3x24R expander[/B]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157470

#5

Hi Alan,

I stand corrected.

That’s one humdinger of a ‘Consumer’ mobo :slight_smile: and it uses the same LSI SAS 3008 IO controller as the 9300-8e HBA. So yes, with that mobo you wouldn’t need a plugin card.

Cheers, JR

#6

[QUOTE=JReynolds;2720299]Hi Alan,

I stand corrected.

That’s one humdinger of a ‘Consumer’ mobo :slight_smile: and it uses the same LSI SAS 3008 IO controller as the 9300-8e HBA. So yes, with that mobo you wouldn’t need a plugin card.

Cheers, JR[/QUOTE]

You just made my day, thanks JR. Now to get my hands on what you just reviewed. LOL. I am putting a lot into my new build, its all going into a Silverstone Mid Tower Case.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163189 I pan to have at least 8 SSDs in this rig with a lot of RAM and great w/c. :bigsmile:

#7

I guess it will depend on how AsRock have connected that LSI SAS controller.
Z87 has 16 PCIe3 lanes, and 8 PCIe2 lanes which connect to the PCH.

If you have a single graphics card installed in one of the PCIe3 x16 sockets, even if they use a PLX Technology Gen 3 switch such as the PEX8780, you’re going to be sharing bandwidth and adding latency.

Go to a crossfire or SLI graphics card setup then you lose even more bandwidth.

I would have to assume that the LSI controller on that board would connect to x16 PCIe3, as the PCH doesn’t have enough bandwidth.

I would wait for SATA Express, which should appear in some form on Z97 motherboards, most likely from a 3rd party, but we’ll have to wait and see.

#8

[QUOTE=Dee;2720302]I guess it will depend on how AsRock have connected that LSI SAS controller.
Z87 has 16 PCIe3 lanes, and 8 PCIe2 lanes which connect to the PCH.

If you have a single graphics card installed in one of the PCIe3 x16 sockets, even if they use a PLX Technology Gen 3 switch such as the PEX8780, you’re going to be sharing bandwidth and adding latency.

Go to a crossfire or SLI graphics card setup then you lose even more bandwidth.

I would have to assume that the LSI controller on that board would connect to x16 PCIe3, as the PCH doesn’t have enough bandwidth.

I would wait for SATA Express, which should appear in some form on Z97 motherboards, most likely from a 3rd party, but we’ll have to wait and see.[/QUOTE]

Thank you Wendy, that board was going to set me back over 500USD, now I am going to think twice, I am only going to use I GPU card and maybe none if the Graphics are good enough on the 4770K. But your advice is sound and I will absolutely have to think about this again.
Thanks:bow:

#9

Hi Alan,

If you are going for water cooling and all that storage I’d go for a bigger case. The Silverstone TJ11, for example. I chose between the TJ11 and the Lian Li PC80 http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-p80n/

I went for the PC80 in the end as I didn’t need space inside the case for water cooling (I have a Zalman Reserator XT, which sits outside) and it was on special offer from Scan at the time.

The bigger the better in my book - otherwise it gets to be a nightmare to work in.

Regds, JR

#10

[QUOTE=JReynolds;2720330]Hi Alan,

If you are going for water cooling and all that storage I’d go for a bigger case. The Silverstone TJ11, for example. I chose between the TJ11 and the Lian Li PC80 http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-p80n/

I went for the PC80 in the end as I didn’t need space inside the case for water cooling (I have a Zalman Reserator XT, which sits outside) and it was on special offer from Scan at the time.

The bigger the better in my book - otherwise it gets to be a nightmare to work in.

Regds, JR[/QUOTE]

My first choice was the new Corsair 900D but its so heavy and I am old, so I went for a midtower that I can fit my Swiftech H20-320 Edge Kit into.