Adaptec 5445 SATA SAS RAID Controller & MaxIQ SSD Cache Unboxing & First Look Linus Tech Tips
0 up · 0 down · 0 ratings
Description
I was very surprised to have an opportunity to have a look at this RAID card and SSD. It's very cool. The way it works is that the RAID array will actually use the 32GB Intel X25-E SSD as a giant disk cache.
The video opens with Linus presenting a boxed Adaptec 5445 SATA SAS RAID Controller as part of the MaxIQ SSD Cache unboxing. He explains that the MaxIQ kit uses an Adaptec RAID card paired with an Intel X25-E 32 GB SSD, pre-loaded with software to act as a large cache for the RAID array. Linus walks through the unboxing experience, showing the storage manager CD, drivers, and documentation on the included materials, and he highlights practical setup details such as connecting the drives to the controller and choosing the right cables. He then dives into the card itself, noting that this is a PCIe 8x card with a premium Intel RAID processor, a heat sink, and the option for full or half height mounting depending on the chassis. The host emphasizes the need for good ventilation due to heat generation and explains the core advantage of a dedicated RAID controller: higher bandwidth and better performance, especially when using SSDs. There is a clear focus on how the MaxIQ cache integrates with the RAID setup to provide fast access for frequently used data while allowing larger, slower storage to handle bulk data, effectively combining speed and capacity for server or enterprise workloads. The segment concludes with practical comparisons to other caching solutions and a general takeaway that this setup targets environments where speed and reliability for SSD-backed arrays are paramount, rather than consumer desktop use.
Topics · technology · hardware · storage · unboxing
Questions answered
- What is the Adaptec 5445 MaxIQ kit and how does it work with an SSD cache?
- The MaxIQ kit pairs an Adaptec 5445 RAID controller with an Intel X25-E 32 GB SSD that is pre-loaded with software. The SSD acts as a cache for the storage array, speeding up access to frequently used data while a larger hard drive array handles bulk storage.
- Can you use both the 8088 and 8087 ports at the same time on this card?
- No, you cannot use both data channels at the same time due to the internal routing of the card, which provides four data channels overall.
- What are the main benefits of adding a dedicated RAID controller like this with SSD caching for a server or workstation?
- A dedicated RAID controller offers higher bandwidth through PCIe 8x and improved performance for SSDs, enabling fast random reads/writes and efficient caching of hot data while still providing large, reliable storage for bulk data.