6 onboard sata AND esata AMD2+ mobo reqd

[DavidND]

People. I need some advice. I need to run 6 HDs (NON RAID) as well as an esata raid array.

I already have a decent AMD2+ cpu so am looking to utilise it but will need to upgrade middle of next year.

Any suggestions for a reliable mobo?

Thanks

 

[jaquith]

Your 'cheapest' option is to use a simple RAID Controller ~ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816132014

Define 'your' meaning of "esata raid array"?
How many external HDDs?
What MOBO do you have currently?
What exact "decent AMD2+" CPU is it?

BTW - I typically don't ever push Gigabyte, but I do know they have crazy SATA support.

Example:

GA-890FXA-UD5 (rev. 2.1) http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3519#sp
CPU Support - http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3519

South Bridge:
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors supporting up to 6 SATA 6Gb/s devices
Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID5, RAID 10 and JBOD
* SATA3 RAID 0 4x and SATA3 2x performance are maximum theoretical values. Actual performance may vary by system configuration.

GIGABYTE SATA2 Chip:
1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices
2 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors supporting up to 2 SATA 3Gb/s devices
Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD

JMicron JMB362 chip:
2 x eSATA 3Gb/s connectors (eSATA/USB Comobo) on the back panel supporting up to 2 SATA 3Gb/s devices
Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1 and JBOD

ITE 8720 chip:
1 x floppy disk drive connector supporting up to 1 floppy disk drive

GA-870A-UD3 (rev. 2.1) http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3517#sp
CPU Support - http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3517

South Chipset:
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors supporting up to 6 SATA 6Gb/s devices
Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID5, RAID 10, and JBOD
* SATA3 RAID 0 4x and SATA3 2x performance are maximum theoretical values. Actual performance may vary by system configuration.

GIGABYTE SATA2 chip:
1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices
2 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors supporting up to 2 SATA 3Gb/s devices
Support for SATA RAID 0 and RAID 1 and JBOD

JMicron JMB362 chip:
2 x eSATA 3Gb/s connectors on the back panel supporting up to 2 SATA 3Gb/s devices
Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD

iTE IT8720 chip:
1 x floppy disk drive connector supporting up to 1 floppy disk drive

Good Luck!

 

[DavidND]

My esata raid array is an esata cable talking to a box with some form of card in that supports two drives that one can set up in all sorts of modes inc RAID JPOD etc. I have em set up a mirrored raid. At present I have a esata back plane that plugs into one of my sata ports.

My CPU is an AThlon 64 X2 6000+ but I'm only running XP pro 32 bit. I'd like to be able to go to something faster later.

At pres I have 6 sata ports but can only use 4 unless I change 'em to a raid config. My curent mobo is an AN78HD.

From stuff I've read, having lots of drives slows things down somewhat. How true is that? Its redundancy that I'm more concerned about rather than speed however.

BTW if poss I'd like loads of USB ports too!

Thanks