I'm am seeking fairly modest to basic add-in SATA RAID controller specs to use for a couple basic servers (the mobo I'll be using only has 4 non-RAID SATA ports):
- PCI-E (1x or 4x)
- SATA 3Gb or 6Gb
- 2 or 4 ports (don't require more than 4 drives but if it has more ports it doesn't hurt anything to leave unutilized)
- Hybrid software RAID 1 or 10, don't need hardware XOR engine and IOP
- Windows OS driver support (don't care about Linux)
I would go the "retail" route like $15 ~ $20 cards that use the value-segment Asmedia, Marvell, or Silicon Image chips, but you can't get the newest drivers or opROMs from the branding company even if you beg them, and the user reviews seem "iffy" often complaining of poor tech support who insist "those are the latest drivers" even when you prove them wrong, many glitches, problems with UEFI BIOS (and again, tech support amounts to little more than "well keep trying different motherboards or drives until you find one that works with our product"). At least with the big OEMs they validate their cards and drivers in multiple configurations and server/workstations, track bug or compatibility reports, offer driver and opROM updates as opposed to these "Syba" or "StarTech" brands who appear to just buy generic Chinese stuff, slap their brand on it and that's about it.
Anyone recommend suitable RAID controller cards that can be had relatively cheap like the Dell PERCs and whatever Lenovo or others call their products? Hope to spend less than $30! TIA
- PCI-E (1x or 4x)
- SATA 3Gb or 6Gb
- 2 or 4 ports (don't require more than 4 drives but if it has more ports it doesn't hurt anything to leave unutilized)
- Hybrid software RAID 1 or 10, don't need hardware XOR engine and IOP
- Windows OS driver support (don't care about Linux)
I would go the "retail" route like $15 ~ $20 cards that use the value-segment Asmedia, Marvell, or Silicon Image chips, but you can't get the newest drivers or opROMs from the branding company even if you beg them, and the user reviews seem "iffy" often complaining of poor tech support who insist "those are the latest drivers" even when you prove them wrong, many glitches, problems with UEFI BIOS (and again, tech support amounts to little more than "well keep trying different motherboards or drives until you find one that works with our product"). At least with the big OEMs they validate their cards and drivers in multiple configurations and server/workstations, track bug or compatibility reports, offer driver and opROM updates as opposed to these "Syba" or "StarTech" brands who appear to just buy generic Chinese stuff, slap their brand on it and that's about it.
Anyone recommend suitable RAID controller cards that can be had relatively cheap like the Dell PERCs and whatever Lenovo or others call their products? Hope to spend less than $30! TIA
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