Raid Controller Selection - Trick or Treat?

[nicholasfarmer]

If someone were to drop one of these into your pumpkin (pillow case) while trick-or-treating, which would you want?


3Ware/LSI 9650SE-8LPML
$490
http://www.3ware.com/products/serial_ata2-9650.asp
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816116043


Adaptec (3805 kit) 2252100-R
$480
http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/products/Controllers/Hardware/sas/value/SAS-3805/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816103086


areca ARC-1220 PCI-Express x8 SATA II
$440
http://www.areca.us/products/pcie.htm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816131004


HighPoint RocketRAID 3520
$450
http://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA/rr3520.htm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816115046


HighPoint RocketRAID 4320
$438 (358+80)
http://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA/rr4320.htm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816115056

Perc 5/i
$700 (new)
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...oductdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&sku=341-3742


Maybe one would look better with a snickers taped to it?

 

[sabregen]

Either the Adaptec, or the Perc5/i, because they can do SAS, as well as SATA, and use denser cables. I just don't trust the Highpoint. From a cabling standpoint, I'd rather have the Adaptec, as I prefer that connector and cable style for neater and cleaner installs. However, I'd prefer an LSI controller over an Adaptec one.

And if I had to vote with my OWN wallet....Perc5/i, no question. $120 on eBay with 256MB cache, and BBU. Or even better, Perc6/i. I do like the Adaptec cables better, though.

 

[novadude]

If someone were to drop one of these into your pumpkin (pillow case) while trick-or-treating, which would you want?


3Ware/LSI 9650SE-8LPML
$490
http://www.3ware.com/products/serial_ata2-9650.asp
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816116043


Adaptec (3805 kit) 2252100-R
$480
http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/products/Controllers/Hardware/sas/value/SAS-3805/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816103086


areca ARC-1220 PCI-Express x8 SATA II
$440
http://www.areca.us/products/pcie.htm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816131004


HighPoint RocketRAID 3520
$450
http://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA/rr3520.htm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816115046


HighPoint RocketRAID 4320
$438 (358+80)
http://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA/rr4320.htm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816115056

Perc 5/i
$700 (new)
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...oductdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&sku=341-3742


Maybe one would look better with a snickers taped to it?

No cards from this generation I see, guess someone is dropping their last gen card in the candy bowl.

I'd take the adaptec or dell, although if I was paying I'd be watching ebay for a good deal.
If I was paying those prices though, I'd just step up to current gen cards (I got my 5805 kit for $475 last year from ewiz)

 

[Syntax Error]

Those quoted prices are a little high. I would definitely search around for a few deals as novadude states. I got my 3Ware 9650SE-16ML 16-port controller on these forums for like $450, whereas Newegg is charging $490 for the 8-port variant.

 

[oplin]

My votes on Areca, never had a problem with it. Perc cards are also nice, we have one problem one at work that is out of warranty and since nobody wants to pay to fix the problem we deal with the drive dropping out once a year, i don't think it's the card though probably the 30 ft cable dell gave us to connect to the power vault, could've done with a 3 ft cable.