Brighttail wrote:
The question is will the x299 allow you to NOT use VROC but still use a bootable RAID drive off the chipset like the z270 for non-Intel drives?
I have no answer until I see X299, lol either firsthand or (reliable) online reports.
But bootable M.2 RAIDs have been supported on previous chipsets. Most mobos have an M.2 slot these days, but very few have multiple M.2 slots. I've never personally seen one of these RAIDs implemented straight off mobo, although I've seen several implemented with PCIe adapter cards.
I expect X299 to natively support 1-2 M.2 devices, I'd be surprised if there's more. I don't expect VROC will have any real advantages vs RAID across just two drives, I wouldn't purchase (Intel 750) drives based solely on X299 VROC support unless their performance advantage was demonstrably superior and truly epic. PCIe adapter cards are always available, of course, but discrete PCIe SSD devices are available with similar prices and performances. A Seagate Nytro XP7200 PCIe SSD would have roughly same performance, definitely better capacity, a single PCIe interface, and substantially lower price (compared vs two Hyper M.2 cards packed full of Intel 750 M.2s) - it would also work on any platform.
I'm wary of
Intel's VROC dongle. This thing is shameless marketing and blatant profiteering - just like Intel's infamous 28-lane CPUs.
It doesn't pay to buy into corporate blackmail, once you're invested you're stuck investing good money after bad indefinitely.
And I find myself offended with Intel's emerging business ethics. Not for me, there are too many alternatives. I say "screw you (back), Intel!"
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[/Korth]
