RAID5 for desktop users?

[markwm]

I'm looking for a RAID5 solution but all the cards that have RAID5 are PCI-X, some will work on 32bit PCI bus but obviously with a drop in performance.

Is there a good hardware RAID5 solution out there for desktop users who don't want to have to buy a server mobo with PCI-X?

 

[ribbon13]

The performance hit is because the PCI bus is limited to 32bit 33Mhz. So you really don't have many options other then getting a Opteron board with PCI-X or waiting for PCIe-4 HBA's to come out and get a board with a PCIe-4 or higher slot. If you have an SLi board and only 1 vid card you could use that slot also.

I would buy a nice LSI or 3Ware and run it at reduced performance until I could afford to get a Tyan Thunder K8WE or an Abit WN-2S+

 

[dartworth]

HighPoint RocketRAID 1820A


I am selling one of these btw

 

[markwm]

Originally posted by: dartworth
HighPoint RocketRAID 1820A

How much of a performance hit is it running on regular PCI compared to PCI-X?

 

[ribbon13]

http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=dualduel&page=4

Comparable.

 

[dartworth]

I couldn't tell ya that myself.

It was the only card that I could find that did RAID 5 and fits a PCI slot. I had 6 250GB drives in a RAID 5 setup...worked great for me.

 

[ribbon13]

For low-end HBA's like that 1820a, it's not going to be noticable. Sound like a decent solution for your needs. With a high end like a 3Ware 9500-12 or an LSI MegaRAID SATA 300-8X, it would be far more of a hit.

 

[ribbon13]

AFAIK the 3Ware is backwards compatible with PCI. The LSI MegaRAID is the best HBA I know of, but is restricted to PCI-X.

 

[markwm]

I dunno...

I'm now considering a RAID0+1 solution, or even looking at RAID5 software solutions. It's only for desktop use and not really heavy server use...

 

[GGabus]

Don't know if it's still available but adaptec made a PCI 4 drive card, 2400a if memory serves me correctly, been running one for 2 or 3 years now.