Storage
Both boards feature SATA suppport by the proverbial bucketload. We took a closer look at RAID0 performance on both Silicon Image PCI 4-port controller and Intel's funky Matrix RAID technology.
Both were simple to configure in BIOS or via the OS, and both had excellent Windows-based GUIs.
Silicon Image's controller offers a wider range of RAID arrays, but Intel's Matrix RAID has a nifty feature that allows you to have two different arrays on just two discs. What's more, Native Command Queuing (NCQ), when run on compliant drives, will help give performane a boost by making data retreival more efficient.
SI's controller produces a smooth sequential transfer read graph. The only element of concern here is the relatively low burst speed of 111.8MB/s. Limited by the PCI bus, perhaps?.
Intel's controller has a sawtooth pattern but with a greater average sequential read speed. Burst speed is noticeably higher, too.