With the use of RAID 6 double-parity large storage arrays growing, Applied Micro Circuits has launched its high-performance 3ware 9650SE SATA II RAID controller family. See our Tutor for more about Raid 6.

AMCC’s 3ware 9650SE SATA II hardware RAID controllers deliver industry-leading performance, robust fault tolerance,and multi-terabyte capacities. Continuing AMCC’s RAID 5 performance leadership, the3ware 9650SE fuels a new breed of speed for red hot RAID 6 performance, delivering over 700MB/s RAID 6 readsand 600MB/s RAID 6 writes. Supported RAID levels include 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, Single Disk and JBOD and with models ranging from two to 24 ports,it is the broadest family of PCI Express-to-SATA II RAID controllers available.

All models except the 24 port will be available Nov. 1 through AMCC's worldwide network of distributors, integrators and VARs. The 24-port model will be available in early 2007. Prices for the 4-port configuration start at $395 and range to $995 for the 16-port model.

"The simultaneous parity calculation and improved RAID architecture is what sets the controller apart and is what drives its record-setting performance," said Scott Cleland, director of marketing for AMCC. By calculating the parity simultaneously, AMCC dramatically reduces the RAID 6 write penalty common among other RAID designs, resulting in sustained throughput for the 9650SE more than twice the speed of competing RAID 6 controllers.