SAS support on non-server motherboards

[labler88]

Has anyone run into problems installing SAS cards with desktop (non-server) motherboards?

Why I ask: I'm thinking of building a system with two perfectly good SAS drives from a dead computer. I'd like to use an LSI SAS board -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816118114 -- but am a bit leery that a desktop motherboard won't support SAS. An LSI tech told me that they recommend that users play it safe and install their HBAs on server mboards only.

Trouble is, I'm not too keen on any of the server 1366 mboards I've seen on the market.

So: does anyone out there have experience installing SAS cards on desktop mboards? Are the installs usually a piece of cake, or are there often problems?

I know many real experts visit this forum, so I'm hoping I can find help here.

 

[sminlal]

I'm no SAS expert, but there are plenty of desktop motherboards with SAS support directly in the BIOS/chipset, no HBA required (remember that SAS is very similar to SATA but with some relatively small signaling differences and a different host communication protocol). I don't recall hearing any issues with them.

Here's an example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131346

 

[labler88]

Thanks, sminlal. Maybe I'll go that route.

I'm no SAS expert, but there are plenty of desktop motherboards with SAS support directly in the BIOS/chipset, no HBA required (remember that SAS is very similar to SATA but with some relatively small signaling differences and a different host communication protocol). I don't recall hearing any issues with them.

Here's an example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131346