Sanity check on a PCIE to 5-Port SATA3.0 Expansion Card

[nametaken_thisonetoo]

I'm new to UnRaid and have never had the need to purchase SAS/SATA expansion before, so have next to no knowledge about them.

If someone could please confirm that this option is OK it would be much appreciated:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PCIE-to-5-Port-SATA3-0-Expansion-Card-Computer-Chassis-Adapter-Card-JMB585-C8V6/124538439959?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

Note: I did take a look at the SAS cards in IT Mode as many have suggested on here, but all the different model no.'s and vendors kinda had my head in a spin. I came across the option above that includes the JMB585 chip which I'm told is a good thing, so my fingers are crossed that this will be a decent solution for my needs - primarily a Plex Server. It's a bargain!

[Hoopster]

1 hour ago, nametaken_thisonetoo said:

I'm new to UnRaid and have never had the need to purchase SAS/SATA expansion before, so have next to no knowledge about them.

If someone could please confirm that this option is OK it would be much appreciated:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PCIE-to-5-Port-SATA3-0-Expansion-Card-Computer-Chassis-Adapter-Card-JMB585-C8V6/124538439959?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Cards based on the JMB585 chip have been known to work well in many unRAID servers.  You should be OK with that card.

I cannot comment specifically on that particular card, but the chip it uses works with unRAID.

[JorgeB]

You can also look for the the 6 port Asmedia ASM1166, but make sure it's that chip, there are some 6 port models that use the 2 port ASM1161 and a SATA port multiplier, and those are no good.

[mgutt]

Only for information. I found four different layouts with the ASM1166. All sold under different "brands":

 

PCE6SAT-A0

Manufacturer: perhaps BJD Shenzhen Bojiada Technology Co., Ltd ?!

 

PCIe To SATA 6G Expansion Card RU 94V-0 E467745 ZLHML005 (Red SATA Ports)

Manufacturer: ZyDAS (Source, ZyDAS has been aquired by Qualcomm Atheros)

 

156-00A

PE-156

Manufacturer: Lycom from Taiwan

 

No identification marks

Manufacturer: Unknown

 

 

 

[hmartin]

I don't run unRaid but I wanted to provide a data point. I bought the "PCIe To SATA 6G Expansion Card RU 94V-0 E467745 ZLHML005 (Red SATA Ports)" card from AliExpress. It has a PCIe x4 physical connector, but runs at PCIe x2 (ASM1166 doesn't support PCIe x4). Apparently some vendors ship the card with PCIe x1 connectors, so check the reviews for what people are saying they received and be prepared to open a dispute if you receive a card with a PCIe x1 connector.

 

The card itself is very nice, it works with the ahci kernel module so it's plug-and-play. Be aware that you will have half the expected bandwidth if you install it in a PCIe 2.0 slot. The card consumes ~2.8W idle and is cool to the touch.

 

 

lspci output:
 

03:00.0 SATA controller: ASMedia Technology Inc. Device 1166 (rev 02) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
	Subsystem: ZyDAS Technology Corp. Device 2116
	Physical Slot: 1
	Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B- DisINTx+
	Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
	Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 32 bytes
	Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 38
	IOMMU group: 16
	Region 0: Memory at f7280000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
	Region 5: Memory at f7282000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=8K]
	Expansion ROM at f7200000 [virtual] [disabled] [size=512K]
	Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
		Flags: PMEClk- DSI+ D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0+,D1-,D2-,D3hot+,D3cold+)
		Status: D0 NoSoftRst- PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
	Capabilities: [50] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
		Address: 00000000fee00458  Data: 0000
	Capabilities: [80] Express (v2) Endpoint, MSI 00
		DevCap:	MaxPayload 512 bytes, PhantFunc 0, Latency L0s <64ns, L1 <1us
			ExtTag+ AttnBtn- AttnInd- PwrInd- RBE+ FLReset- SlotPowerLimit 10.000W
		DevCtl:	CorrErr- NonFatalErr- FatalErr- UnsupReq-
			RlxdOrd+ ExtTag+ PhantFunc- AuxPwr- NoSnoop+
			MaxPayload 128 bytes, MaxReadReq 512 bytes
		DevSta:	CorrErr- NonFatalErr- FatalErr- UnsupReq- AuxPwr- TransPend-
		LnkCap:	Port #0, Speed 8GT/s, Width x2, ASPM L0s L1, Exit Latency L0s <4us, L1 <64us
			ClockPM+ Surprise- LLActRep- BwNot- ASPMOptComp+
		LnkCtl:	ASPM Disabled; RCB 64 bytes, Disabled- CommClk+
			ExtSynch- ClockPM+ AutWidDis- BWInt- AutBWInt-
		LnkSta:	Speed 5GT/s (downgraded), Width x1 (downgraded)
			TrErr- Train- SlotClk+ DLActive- BWMgmt- ABWMgmt-
		DevCap2: Completion Timeout: Not Supported, TimeoutDis- NROPrPrP- LTR-
			 10BitTagComp- 10BitTagReq- OBFF Not Supported, ExtFmt- EETLPPrefix-
			 EmergencyPowerReduction Not Supported, EmergencyPowerReductionInit-
			 FRS- TPHComp- ExtTPHComp-
			 AtomicOpsCap: 32bit- 64bit- 128bitCAS-
		DevCtl2: Completion Timeout: 50us to 50ms, TimeoutDis- LTR- OBFF Disabled,
			 AtomicOpsCtl: ReqEn-
		LnkCap2: Supported Link Speeds: 2.5-8GT/s, Crosslink- Retimer- 2Retimers- DRS-
		LnkCtl2: Target Link Speed: 8GT/s, EnterCompliance- SpeedDis+
			 Transmit Margin: Normal Operating Range, EnterModifiedCompliance- ComplianceSOS-
			 Compliance De-emphasis: -6dB
		LnkSta2: Current De-emphasis Level: -6dB, EqualizationComplete- EqualizationPhase1-
			 EqualizationPhase2- EqualizationPhase3- LinkEqualizationRequest-
			 Retimer- 2Retimers- CrosslinkRes: unsupported
	Capabilities: [100 v1] Advanced Error Reporting
		UESta:	DLP- SDES- TLP- FCP- CmpltTO- CmpltAbrt- UnxCmplt- RxOF- MalfTLP- ECRC- UnsupReq- ACSViol-
		UEMsk:	DLP- SDES- TLP- FCP- CmpltTO- CmpltAbrt- UnxCmplt- RxOF- MalfTLP- ECRC- UnsupReq- ACSViol-
		UESvrt:	DLP+ SDES+ TLP- FCP+ CmpltTO- CmpltAbrt- UnxCmplt- RxOF+ MalfTLP+ ECRC- UnsupReq- ACSViol-
		CESta:	RxErr- BadTLP- BadDLLP- Rollover- Timeout- AdvNonFatalErr-
		CEMsk:	RxErr- BadTLP- BadDLLP- Rollover- Timeout- AdvNonFatalErr+
		AERCap:	First Error Pointer: 00, ECRCGenCap- ECRCGenEn- ECRCChkCap- ECRCChkEn-
			MultHdrRecCap- MultHdrRecEn- TLPPfxPres- HdrLogCap-
		HeaderLog: 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
	Capabilities: [130 v1] Secondary PCI Express
		LnkCtl3: LnkEquIntrruptEn- PerformEqu-
		LaneErrStat: 0
	Kernel driver in use: ahci

 

HTH