Need a SCSI controller card

Captain_Slick · 11 Jan 2008 at 10:50

I'm planning on using my current SCSI drives (2 Compaq 18GB Ultra320 drives) in my new build when I get round to building it.

I've looked at a few sites for SCSI controller cards but most of them are PCI-X or PCI-E 4x. I'm planning on getting an Asus P5K based board (either vanilla P5K or the -E variety), which only support PCI and PCI-E 1x.

Just wondering whether the PCI-E x16 is backwards compatiable? Both those boards come with two x16 slots, so could I use one of those with a x4 card?

Cheers guys!

Stelly · 11 Jan 2008 at 10:58

All PCI-E ports are backwards compatible.... I use a 4x in a 16x

Stelly

rpstewart · 11 Jan 2008 at 11:06

Stelly said:
I use a 4x in a 16x

Likewise.

My understanding is that PCI-e is also forwards compatible electrically - ie you can put a 16x card in a 1x slot (if it's open ended) and it'll work, albeit with the bandwidth limits of a 1x slot. Open ended slots however are rarer than rocking horse poo.

Captain_Slick · 11 Jan 2008 at 11:22

Cheers guys!

Now I've got to find one...

There is a HP one for just over £100, says it's PCI-E x4 and supports Ultra320, but then it also says that itt only supports tape drives... :confused:

Which cards are you guys using?

rpstewart · 11 Jan 2008 at 11:41

Captain_Slick said:
Which cards are you guys using?

Only SATA here.

The 8x Dell Perc card (or it's LSI equivalent) from online auctions was the usual choice a while back, dunno if things have moved on or if that's still the way to go.

Captain_Slick · 11 Jan 2008 at 12:20

Umm... are PCI-X cards backwards compatiable? I.E. would they work in a PCI slot?

Captain_Slick · 11 Jan 2008 at 12:55

How's this one?

http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/products/scsi_tech/entry/ASC-29320LPE/

Found it for just over £100.

rpstewart · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:11

Captain_Slick said:
Umm... are PCI-X cards backwards compatiable? I.E. would they work in a PCI slot?

Usually, yes but you'd be limited to PCI bandwidth - 133Mb/s shared across all devices.

Captain_Slick said:
How's this one?

http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/products/scsi_tech/entry/ASC-29320LPE/

Found it for just over £100.

Looks OK, I assume that you have a cable already if you're reusing drives? If the card is OEM then it may ship without the cable.

Captain_Slick · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:13

Yeah, I'm current using the drives in my system (in my sig), so I've already got the cables. Just got to decide whether it's worth £100~ for 36GB of storage, albeit at 10,000RPM Ultra320.... :eek:

jamjar1383 · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:19

i have got a few pci scsi cards if they are any use to you.
i was going to throw them out.

Captain_Slick · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:20

They won't support Ultra320 though, will they? I really want the full shabang, otherwise I'd be better off getting a SATA raptor for a little more £.

jamjar1383 · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:22

i will dig them out and give the model number to you.
model number AHA-2940UW PRO
let me know if its any use to you.

Captain_Slick · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:24

Cheers man. I'll do some research and see whether it's worth it, rather than spending £100 for 36GB.

Then again, I know 74GB SCSI drives go for cheap on Ebay, so I might pick one of them up, which would probably make it worthwhile.

jamjar1383 · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:32

i dont need it as im using sata but i was using the 7 9gb ibm scsi drives until a month ago. if you want it sort out postage and i will send it to you.

jamjar1383 · 11 Jan 2008 at 13:41

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ADAPTEC-AHA-2...ryZ90716QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
i just found this one has a bit of spec on it if this helps.

farooqm · 11 Jan 2008 at 15:45

I've only got 3 x 10,000rpm Ultra160 drives so I'm using a 39160, this has served me well for the last 2 years so can't see why you can't use the 29320 or 39320 .