[Pc_Support] PCI-Express SATA RAID cards -- HPT=FRAID?Areca=X-Scale

[Damien McKenna]

> Damien McKenna <dmckenna at thelimucompany.com> wrote:
> > Some PCI-Express SATA RAID cards new to the market. 
> > Unfortunately I only have two PCI-E x2 slots, no x4's,
> > so I can't use them :-\
> 
> You sure your slots are PCIe x2?  Or x1?

Typo, they're x1.

> You _can_ use a PCIe x4 in a PCIe x1 slot, it's just going to
> be a bottleneck.

Ah, cool, didn't know that.

> > Too bad the second PCI-E x16 can't be made to run as a
> > regular x8 or x4 slot when not in SLI mode.
> 
> Some PCIe x16 slots become PCIe x1 slots when not in SLI
> mode.

I need to check my manual again.

> Furthermore, have you tried putting it in SLI mode so x8
> channels  are redirected?

Nopers.  Then again, I don't have a PCI-E card anyway (besides the video
card, that was RMA'd).

> Know that RAIDCore (now Broadcom) made *F*RAID PCI-X cards
> that cost $200+.  You were paying for the intelligent
> software, which _did_ integrate into Linux's LVM.

Urk, forget that.  Might as well just get a $20 card and use the Windows
software.

> I'm trying to see if it's one of the first cards to use the
> new Broadcom BCM8603.  That actually has on-board hardware
> RAID, SAS/SATA support, and supports up to 768MB DRAM buffer.
>  But I don't think it is.

None of the PDFs or anything mention what chip it is, which kinda sucks.

> > Areca ARC-1220 8 ports PCI-Express to SATA-II RAID 6
> > Adapters
> 
> Now the Arecas are Intel IOP33x X-Scale (superscalar ARM)
> based and kick serious butt.  The work most excellently in
> Linux.  Well worth the price!

I'll keep my wye on them then.

Thanks for the details, Bryan.

Damien