3Ware Escalade 7410

IOMeter Scores...

Base Scores...

IOMeter - Single Drive Baseline

File Server Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy
3Ware Escalade 6400, 1 Drive 65.77 66.60 75.80 84.57 96.91
3Ware Escalade 7410, 1 drive 65.09 65.55 74.76 82.76 95.59
Abit SL6, 1 Drive 64.11 66.91 76.83 86.75 94.68
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, 1 drive 63.79 65.55 74.46 82.32 95.46
Promise Ultra 66, 1 Drive 65.51 67.85 78.11 87.72 96.97

Workstation Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, 1 Drive 77.43 77.98 86.38 95.44 110.31
3Ware Escalade 7410, 1 drive 76.32 77.13 85.64 94.24 109.12
Abit SL6, 1 Drive 75.20 77.47 88.26 98.92 110.14
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, 1 drive 74.83 77.59 85.07 95.46 111.00
Promise Ultra 66, 1 Drive 76.05 77.96 88.49 99.85 110.34

Database Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, 1 Drive 70.04 71.18 78.72 87.25 97.45
3Ware Escalade 7410, 1 drive 69.83 70.46 77.99 85.21 96.46
Abit SL6, 1 Drive 68.64 70.33 79.27 87.89 95.50
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, 1 drive 68.74 70.82 80.66 86.70 98.05
Promise Ultra 66, 1 Drive 76.05 77.96 88.49 99.85 110.34

Random Write Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, 1 Drive 109.01 108.73 108.94 109.37 116.02
3Ware Escalade 7410, 1 drive 106.99 106.91 106.81 107.17 114.15
Abit SL6, 1 Drive 104.48 104.36 104.33 105.80 114.16
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, 1 drive 131.43 131.07 130.91 130.61 131.04
Promise Ultra 66, 1 Drive 105.25 105.17 105.12 106.68 115.36

Sequential Write Pattern - Total MBs per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, 1 Drive 27.64 27.66 27.68 27.69 27.37
3Ware Escalade 7410, 1 drive 27.52 27.50 27.48 27.50 27.08
Abit SL6, 1 Drive 27.54 27.48 27.48 27.49 27.15
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, 1 drive 26.32 26.31 26.35 26.39 26.11
Promise Ultra 66, 1 Drive 27.60 27.63 27.64 27.62 27.36

The Escalade 7410 delivers the expected single drive performance.

RAID 0...

IOMeter - RAID 0 with 2 Drives

File Server Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 2 Drives 71.71 109.55 122.64 135.94 157.68
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 2 drives 71.70 108.91 121.16 135.26 157.58
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 2 drives 70.84 109.12 116.24 139.95 157.76

Workstation Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 2 Drives 84.93 130.58 144.55 158.87 183.84
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 2 drives 84.11 129.07 143.26 157.34 184.41
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 2 drives 82.85 130.44 137.74 168.92 186.64

Database Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 2 Drives 82.21 121.60 133.57 146.21 165.85
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 2 drives 81.55 119.73 131.70 145.12 166.58
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 2 drives 82.34 121.68 131.35 153.51 168.13

Random Write Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 2 Drives 191.39 191.77 191.68 192.77 199.15
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 2 drives 188.66 188.68 189.16 190.10 195.83
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 2 drives 223.87 223.23 223.29 223.70 222.86

Sequential Write Pattern - Total MBs per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 2 Drives 55.28 55.37 55.37 55.39 55.13
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 2 drives 54.95 54.88 54.94 54.79 49.67
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 2 drives 46.63 52.63 52.81 52.90 52.03

IOMeter - RAID 0 with 3 Drives

File Server Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy
3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 3 Drives 73.46 146.34 174.30 194.35 227.12
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 3 Drives 74.00 146.36 173.98 195.31 227.42
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 3 drives 72.20 150.71 166.38 203.78 227.37

Workstation Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 3 Drives 86.20 166.87 205.43 227.60 263.69
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 3 Drives 86.77 167.64 205.88 228.66 266.08
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 3 drives 83.31 174.56 198.25 242.50 269.35

Database Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 3 Drives 84.31 170.70 190.08 209.49 235.98
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 3 Drives 84.63 172.11 190.77 210.96 242.41
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 3 drives 84.23 173.84 186.01 224.89 242.12

Random Write Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 3 Drives 280.47 281.26 281.78 284.74 289.87
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 3 Drives 281.99 282.63 282.69 284.88 291.77
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 3 drives 322.94 321.84 322.43 322.76 321.90

Sequential Write Pattern - Total MBs per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 3 Drives 57.87 61.93 61.89 61.83 61.71
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 3 Drives 63.07 65.71 65.72 65.74 65.45
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 3 drives 5.77 5.18 4.92 5.19 5.19

IOMeter - RAID 0 with 4 Drives

File Server Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy
3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 4 Drives 74.87 169.28 225.49 251.12 293.66
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 4 Drives 74.74 168.94 224.15 251.67 296.02
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 4 drives 73.23 172.93 214.46 261.87 296.13

Workstation Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 4 Drives 87.28 188.96 265.44 294.50 338.69
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 4 Drives 88.06 189.49 265.57 296.22 344.50
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 4 drives 85.30 196.68 253.88 313.81 346.24

Database Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 4 Drives 85.71 192.41 245.70 272.60 308.59
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 4 Drives 87.28 192.80 245.28 274.34 312.80
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 4 drives 82.73 208.56 240.27 294.58 317.20

Random Write Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 4 Drives 372.29 372.26 374.17 375.69 381.89
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 4 Drives 367.00 368.86 365.54 373.11 378.17
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 4 drives 416.83 415.66 416.07 417.31 416.69

Sequential Write Pattern - Total MBs per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 0, 4 Drives 57.97 62.07 62.08 62.09 62.02
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 0, 4 Drives 61.44 65.78 65.77 65.78 65.48
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 0, 4 drives 3.75 3.14 3.16 3.14 3.15

The 7410's RAID 0 scores are very, very similar to that of the Escalade 6400. In 2 and 3-drive configurations, scores remain virtually identical save for the 7410's slight lead in sequential write performance with 3 drives. With 4 drives, the 7410 is 1-2% faster than the 6400 under the Workstation, File Server, and Database tests. In Random Write tests, the 7410's performance is actually a bit worse, while its Sequential Write performance comes in about 3MB/sec higher.

The Escalade 7410's 1-2% performance increase relative to the Escalade 6400 - a minor one - is enough to tie the Adaptec 2400A for the ATA RAID 0 performance crown. Scores for the two cards are nearly identical in the Workstation, File Server, and Database tests, with the 2400A pulling ahead in the Random Write test while the 7410 returns the favor in Sequential Writes.

RAID 1...

IOMeter - RAID 1 with 2 Drives

File Server Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy
3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 1, 2 Drives 74.43 116.88 126.98 135.37 152.29
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 1, 2 Drives 74.19 116.26 125.48 131.86 152.15
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 1, 2 Drives 65.78 115.10 119.16 138.96 151.85

Workstation Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 1, 2 Drives 87.17 131.54 137.33 149.93 169.88
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 1, 2 Drives 87.38 130.60 135.79 146.33 169.10
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 1, 2 Drives 68.70 117.66 123.59 146.68 159.35

Database Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 1, 2 Drives 81.77 109.63 113.54 122.89 139.90
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 1, 2 Drives 80.60 109.01 112.13 120.13 140.01
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 1, 2 Drives 70.95 115.48 121.78 137.32 145.32

Random Write Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 1, 2 Drives 106.62 106.59 106.78 107.48 113.70
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 1, 2 Drives 104.88 105.10 105.13 105.57 112.46
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 1, 2 Drives 131.55 130.66 130.58 130.32 129.33

Sequential Write Pattern - Total MBs per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 1, 2 Drives 27.71 27.70 27.71 27.71 27.40
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 1, 2 Drives 25.18 27.40 27.33 27.09 27.09
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 1, 2 Drives 25.16 26.29 26.37 26.40 26.09

The 7410's scores again virtually match those of the 6400. The only difference is the 7410's extremely high CPU utilization in the Sequential Write test. As outlined the table below, there's some type of issue (a driver issue, most likely) with CPU usage in this particular test.

IOMeter - Sequential Write Pattern - CPU Utilization

RAID 1 with 2 Drives
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 1, 2 Drives 3.83 % 4.30 % 4.26 % 5.66 % 5.83 %
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 1, 2 Drives 30.36 % 35.03 % 42.00 % 100.00 % 100.00 %
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 1, 2 Drives 2.41 % 4.31 % 3.27 % 3.23 % 3.39 %

The 7410's 6400-like RAID 1 performance may disappoint some, yet it's probably unreasonable to expect significantly higher RAID 1 random IO performance than that delivered by these two cards. It may seem that the optimal case would be a 2x performance improvement relative to a single drive; however, this is an impossibility since all SR IOMeter tests include a certain percentage of writes. Before a write can occur in a RAID 1 array, both drives must seek to the location of the write. This is an issue since, when a given write isn't preceded by a write (the usual case in our IOMeter tests since a large majority of IO's are reads), each drive's read/write head sits at a different location before the write. Therefore, since the write cannot complete until 2 separate read/write heads seek to the proper location (as opposed to a just single head in a single-drive configuration), the average access time for such a write in a RAID 1 array is higher than that of a single drive.

With the above in mind, the Escalade 7410 scores no better than the 6400 in RAID 1 due to the very nature of RAID 1 itself as opposed to any shortcomings of the adapter. Testing this theory, we took our Workstation access pattern (normally 80% reads and 20% writes), changed it to 100% reads, and ran it on a both a RAID 1 array and a single drive. Comparing these results to the Workstation results given above (which, of course, used an 80/20 read/write ratio) should shed some light on this issue.

Intel IOMeter - 3Ware Escalade 7410

Baseline - Workstation Access Pattern 100% Read
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

Workstation Access Pattern 100% Read StorageReview.com
Total I/Os per second 78.24 78.67 92.38 104.16 128.77
Total MBs per second 0.61 0.61 0.72 0.81 1.01
Average I/O Response Time (ms) 12.77 50.84 173.18 614.22 1986.29
CPU Utilization (%) 0.87 0.92 1.05 1.22 1.85
I/Os per % CPU Utilization 85.80 85.92 88.33 85.41 69.46

RAID 1 with 2 Drives - Workstation Access Pattern
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

Workstation Access Pattern StorageReview.com
Total I/Os per second 87.38 130.60 135.79 146.33 169.10
Total MBs per second 0.68 1.02 1.06 1.14 1.32
Average I/O Response Time (ms) 11.44 30.62 117.81 437.21 1512.71
CPU Utilization (%) 1.08 1.82 1.99 2.24 3.08
I/Os per % CPU Utilization 80.91 71.76 68.24 65.33 54.90

RAID 1 with 2 Drives - Workstation Access Pattern 100% Read
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

Workstation Access Pattern 100% Read StorageReview.com
Total I/Os per second 90.10 156.42 185.50 206.55 242.35
Total MBs per second 0.70 1.22 1.45 1.61 1.89
Average I/O Response Time (ms) 11.09 25.57 86.24 309.77 1055.61
CPU Utilization (%) 0.95 1.68 2.06 2.26 3.07
I/Os per % CPU Utilization 96.30 93.02 90.01 91.56 78.97

Results above confirm our suspicions. Note that when all IO's are reads and multiple IO's are outstanding, the Escalade 7410 performs twice as well in RAID 1 than it does with a single drive. This indicates that the 7410's RAID 1 load balancing feature (a.k.a. TwinStor) is capable of delivering a "perfect" 2x performance increase in RAID 1. Adding writes to the access pattern, however, reduces the card's RAID 1 performance significantly.

RAID 10...

IOMeter - RAID 10/01 with 4 Drives

File Server Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy
3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 10, 4 Drives 75.01 176.90 197.87 216.07 247.23
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 10, 4 Drives 75.71 175.31 198.03 212.61 248.84
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 01, 4 Drives 65.75 174.74 191.14 226.44 247.90

Workstation Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads Linear Very Light Light Moderate Heavy

3Ware Escalade 6400, RAID 10, 4 Drives 86.34 198.34 228.41 249.93 283.44
3Ware Escalade 7410, RAID 10, 4 Drives 86.41 196.96 227.13 245.82 284.57
Adaptec ATA RAID 2400A, RAID 01, 4 Drives 68.41 179.67 198.49 237.18 258.64

Database Access Pattern - Total I/Os per second
All Loads