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ApoX97   10-19-2008 at 07:03:38 AM

Hello, I just have a configuration question about SCSI, I know a fair amount about computer building and what have you, but I don't have any experience with SCSI. all I know is its fast, and fast, is good. I am able to get my hands on 2 "Maxtor Atlas 18GB 68 pin U320 15K RPM SCSI Hard Drive" for $40 and I'd LOVE to raid 0 them for just my XP OS install. Now the question is, What am I going to need? my Motherboards has Pci-e 1x and normal PCI. Thanks a lot.

Rob

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Mondoman   10-19-2008 at 08:39:49 AM
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You'll have to shell out some money for an Ultra320 SCSI controller card (probably PCIexpress x1) and *good-quality* cables, but setup issues may be tricky.
It's been a long time since I used SCSI drives, but I'm pretty sure you'll still have to make sure the end of the drive string is "terminated" with a special connector. From a quick skim of the web, it looks like one of the connectors (SCA-2) on your drives is designed for directly plugging into a server chassis; one article said this would cause more problems than it was worth if you're using traditional cables (as in your case). I'd start by reading the info here: http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/scsi/index.htm, especially the SCSI Cables and Connectors section. Good luck!

------------------------------ e2160@3GHz: OCing my way to Ubuntuland!
 Reply to Mondoman
cd14   10-19-2008 at 10:39:44 AM
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To use U320 you'll probably need a PCI-X card (basically designed for server boards), "but" you can use them in a regular PCI slot too. The extra connectors will hang off the slot. It will be difficult to find a 1x PCI-E card, I've only seen them for x4. Plus they can get really expensive.

I don't know what your goals are, but you can find some U320, PCI-X, raid cards on Ebay for less than a $100. If you're just tinkering around I wouldn't spend too much. Then you will need a 68 pin SCSI cable (they usually come with termination). SCA-2 is 80 pin that is used to connect to a back-plane, for example in a hot swap enclosure.

You'll also want a card that will have some drivers for XP (for the initial install--when you press F6). If it doesn't, then you may have to install on a regular drive and then image to the SCSI drive/raid drive. Then again, some SCSI cards will have "hardware" raid. Meaning it can be configured in the BIOS to look like one drive. This way there's not drivers for the install and Windows will see it as one drive.

Hope this helps. Anyone chime in, if you want.

------------------------------ Asus PQ5 Deluxe | Intel Q9550 @4.08 Ghz | Swiftech Apogee Drive, 3 Rad | Ballistix 8500 | ATI 4850 Crossfire | CoolerMaster HAF
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ApoX97   10-19-2008 at 05:37:33 PM
- 0 +

could anyone possible show a link to what im looking for?. Ive found some cards that are u320, and 68pin, but they come with like tons of raid options and even RAM on the board, they are all $300+. Anything basic? just for 2 drives, raid 0. Also one other question, I remember hear about SCSI drives not being very friendly with being turns off and on a lot, because in a server situation you wouldnt really turn it off often. Having my computer turned off and on at night and morning a lot, will that really take a tole on my drives especially in a raid 0?

Message quoted 1 times
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Hellboy   10-19-2008 at 05:43:08 PM
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ApoX97 wrote :

could anyone possible show a link to what im looking for?. Ive found some cards that are u320, and 68pin, but they come with like tons of raid options and even RAM on the board, they are all $300+. Anything basic? just for 2 drives, raid 0. Also one other question, I remember hear about SCSI drives not being very friendly with being turns off and on a lot, because in a server situation you wouldnt really turn it off often. Having my computer turned off and on at night and morning a lot, will that really take a tole on my drives especially in a raid 0?




What ever you do go for an adaptec card ( still the best ) and get one with a bios chip on it.

Reply to Hellboy
Hellboy   10-19-2008 at 06:54:47 PM
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ApoX97 wrote :

Is something like this what your talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.ca/LSI-Logic-HP-U3 [...] ingPayment

or this

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ADAPTEC-ASR-212 [...] 286.c0.m14




Try and go for a pci express adaptec card...

also get one with memory- that will speed it up even more.. :)

Reply to Hellboy
Wr   10-19-2008 at 07:15:41 PM
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Most people RAID for 2x transfer rates. Are you sure the $20 18 GB drives offer at least half the transfer rates as a modern Raptor/Velociraptor?

 

If not, all you'd be getting is the access times of 15k rpm, which may not be enough to compensate for a drop in sustained transfers. And you'd be paying a lot more for a SCSI card compared to built-in or adapter-based SATA.

 

EDIT: Found more relevant info on the drives you're talking about. Their max transfer speed is ~74 MB/s each (together they'll beat a Raptor), but if you fit a PCI-X adapter into a PCI slot, you'll be limited by the PCI interface bandwidth of 133 MB/s and whatever overhead there is.

 

This thread may be informative:

 

http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/t228533.html


Message edited by Wr on 10-19-2008 at 07:38:42 PM
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ApoX97   10-19-2008 at 09:16:23 PM
- 0 +

considering what im paying for the 2 drives, $40. I'm going from 1 36g WD 10k rpm. to these 2 18g, Raid 0, 15k. Will it be a fairly significant increase in speed spending no more then $60 for a SCSI card?. so for about $100 will the speed be worth it.

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hp79   03-20-2009 at 08:48:40 PM
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Why do you think SCSI is so expensive? Just go for a LSI21320-R. These sell for around $30 on ebay. I also use this card with XP. It took some time to get it working, but eventually worked. I also have 2 * 18GB U320 15k drives in RAID 0. My SCSI card is LSI-21320-IS from Dell, but I flashed it with 21320-R.

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