Storage thoughts for new workstation build

[riggles]

Somehow my first post here is a hardware question. Go figure.

After 10 years of only owning Macs, I'm building a PC, testing out Max + Corona (current MODO user), and wading thru all the new hardware choices (Apple takes a lot of the decision making out). My question is in regards to storage technology, but here's my current build parts list for context:

Asus X99-A motherboard
i7 5960X (mild overclock)
Noctua ND-15 air cooler
32GB G.Skill Ripjaw 2400 DDR4 RAM
GTX Titan Black (transplant from my current 2010 Mac Pro)
Samsung SM951 256GB M.2 module for boot/app drive
(2) Samsung 850 Pro 256GB or 512GB SSD in RAID0 for project data drive
2TB HDD for backup/restore and misc.
750W Corsair PSU (transplant from Mac Pro dual Titan hack)
Fractal Design Define S case

So I'm trying to balance cost with investing in the future. One of the things I'd like to improve over the single SSD in my current Mac Pro is app launch time, scene saving time, and image browsing time (previewing hi-res textures). I figured the new M.2 storage type would help w/ launch times and a RAID0 of 2 SSDs (could be Samsung Pro's or EVO's) would be pretty quick for scene data. But storage speed seems highly dependent on the task, and looking over synthetic benchmark reviews is a bit confusing (does my scene save use high IOPS, involve lots of 4K read/writes, compressed, random, sequential??).

With NMVe and M.2 coming to market, I'd like to not invest older tech from the start, but I don't want to spend money on something that won't bring performance improvements for my use-case (i.e. I'm not building a web server).

Anyone with thoughts or experience with newer storage technology? Comments on other parts of the build list are welcome as well. My next test after this build is to BootCamp my 12-core Mac Pro and see what all these cores can do together in Corona. Exciting changes ahead..

[Juraj]

Hi,

ignore synthetic benchmarks (esp, all in sequential readings used to market these drives. 1800MB/s my ass)

I have numerous different SSDs here, ranging from 512GB 840Pro/850Evo in workstations and 4 TB (4x 1TB 840EVO ) in fileserver (plus few times that in conventional HDDs)

I also tested at home single NMVe drive recently (it doesn't matter if it's m.2 or PCI Express, I know that you know but I had a look at ChaosGroup forums and people think even regular SSDs in m.2 are faster...I cannot help myself there....),
namely 400GB Intel 750, which is either as fast as SM951 or roughly equal counterpart based on available benchmarks. Mark that these drives area already much better in performance than any Raid setup (or internally raided SSDs like Revo).

Real-life results ? Bootup and app starting times are slightly....slower. Expected since it's consistent with benchmarks. Sequential writting is massive...but we're not doing that in workstation. I am only starting PC (one a month), 3dsMax and Photoshop.
Now this is 400GB (equal to 512 SM951). You're looking to buy only the 256GB SM951 which is worse.

My takeaway is it's not worth at all, or even good as system drive. In my most recent workstation, I didn't even bother with 850Pro, and went with 850Evo directly because I could buy 500GB cheaper (installed in 8.1 with 64GB memory swap it's only meager 380GB available).

Regarding Raid 0 Setup of SSDs. Just shortly no. You won't improve anything at all past sequential reading, and scene data aren't large enough to benefit at all either. It's wasted money and potential risk for data safety due to stripping.
And what sort of project data are we talking that you would only need 256-512GB in Total capacity ?

If you want speed, buy 840/850 Evo 1TB, if that's enough for you. It costs just as much as your above scenario but gives you twice or quad capacity.

TL,DR:

There is no magical new technology in storage hardware for workstation purposes. Single layered SSDs are not 'old technology'. Raid0 is still stupid in 2015 as it was in 1995. But twice so with SSDs. 256 is not enough for system disk anymore, 512GB is definitely not enough for storage. Invest money where benefits are reaped (capacity), not snake oil (synthetic numbers).

[riggles]

Thanks Juraj for your reply. Exactly the kind of input I was looking for. Glad you have had some NMVe experience yourself.

Looks like I'll stick with the standard setup SSDs.