*The Questions are in Red Bold Below if you want to skip to the chase*

 

I'm not sure if this is the right spot for this type of thread or not, but I'm not real happy with the performance (Read/Write/Parity taking multiple days, and even some stuttering when playing movies, and I can't move data while watching something at the same time) of my UnRaid Server that I've been running for a little over 2 years now (and just upgrading HD's as I go).  My Cooling temps suck too, but a somewhat different issue described at the end of this thread.

 

Here is the current HW Config

 

Case: COOLER MASTER CM Stacker STC-T01-UWK - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16811119039

Motherboard: Asus P5B-VM DO v101.g (unknown BIOS) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131085

Power Supply: OCZ 700W - OCZ700MXSP - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

HD BackPlanes: (3) x Icy Dock 5 In 3 SATA I/II Module http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994028&Tpk=MB455SPF-B

PATA HD: 2 x Installed in OEM 3 Bay Dock (with 120MM Fan in front)

CPU: Intel Celeron 440 Conroe-L 2.0GHz LGA 775 35W Single-Core Processor Model BX80557440 -http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116038

Memory: 4 GB Total - A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2 6400 and Corsair 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2 6400

SATA Card: SUPERMICRO AOC-SAT2-MV8 64-bit PCI-X133MHz SATA Controller Card - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16815121009

 

I have 17 Drives total, 16+1 Parity... All 3 Icy Docks are Full, plus the 2 PATA.  I am using the 7 Onboard Sata Ports, plus the 8 on the SuperMicro Card for all of the ATA's then the 2 onboard PATA's for the other 2 PATA drives.

 

Looking at my case (which I haven't even opened in a while since I have the docks), It looks like the SuperMicro Card is in a Standard PCI slot.  I'm not sure why I didn't install in the PCI16x Slot on the motherboard... it seems that would make a HUGE difference right up front.  Secondly, I know having the ATA133 PATA drives is slowing things down a ton as well.

 

SO can I just unplug the SATA Card from the PCI slot and move it over to the PCI-X one?  What effect will that have on my Array (maybe have to reassign the drives?)  If no, is there a different PCI-X 8x Card that works with Unraid that I should consider replacing this one one.

 

Assume recommendation to phase out the PATA Drives ASAP

 

Secondly, should I consider a beefier CPU or more RAM, or will that make much difference at this point?

 

As far as cooling, I have the (3) 80 MM fans at the back of each of the Icy Docks, Plus a 120mm in front of the PATA Drives, then a 120 pulling air out of the back, a high speed 80mm blowing out thru the top and another blowing out thru the left side, plus the CPU and Power Supply Fan.  It's quite loud, and although I could do a little better cable routing, it gets really hot... I run 40-50c most of the time on all of my drives when spun up.  Granted, my Server sits in my Office closet, but I open the door unless I'm on the phone (and sometime have to power it down if on on a conf. call). 

I think I know why the SATA Card is in the PCI slot... it's a 64Bit Server PCIX, not a desktop PCI-X 16 slot, so the card won't fit into the onboard PCI-X slot...

 

So I guess that leads to what is the best replacement Desktop 8xSATA Card Adapter that will work in my PCI-16X slot?  And is anyone interested in this SuperMicro One?

*The Questions are in Red Bold Below if you want to skip to the chase*

 

I'm not sure if this is the right spot for this type of thread or not, but I'm not real happy with the performance (Read/Write/Parity taking multiple days, and even some stuttering when playing movies, and I can't move data while watching something at the same time) of my UnRaid Server that I've been running for a little over 2 years now (and just upgrading HD's as I go).  My Cooling temps suck too, but a somewhat different issue described at the end of this thread.

 

Here is the current HW Config

 

Case: COOLER MASTER CM Stacker STC-T01-UWK - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16811119039

Motherboard: Asus P5B-VM DO v101.g (unknown BIOS) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131085

Power Supply: OCZ 700W - OCZ700MXSP - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

HD BackPlanes: (3) x Icy Dock 5 In 3 SATA I/II Module http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994028&Tpk=MB455SPF-B

PATA HD: 2 x Installed in OEM 3 Bay Dock (with 120MM Fan in front)

CPU: Intel Celeron 440 Conroe-L 2.0GHz LGA 775 35W Single-Core Processor Model BX80557440 -http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116038

Memory: 4 GB Total - A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2 6400 and Corsair 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2 6400

SATA Card: SUPERMICRO AOC-SAT2-MV8 64-bit PCI-X133MHz SATA Controller Card - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16815121009

 

I have 17 Drives total, 16+1 Parity... All 3 Icy Docks are Full, plus the 2 PATA.  I am using the 7 Onboard Sata Ports, plus the 8 on the SuperMicro Card for all of the ATA's then the 2 onboard PATA's for the other 2 PATA drives.

 

Looking at my case (which I haven't even opened in a while since I have the docks), It looks like the SuperMicro Card is in a Standard PCI slot.  I'm not sure why I didn't install in the PCI16x Slot on the motherboard... it seems that would make a HUGE difference right up front.  Secondly, I know having the ATA133 PATA drives is slowing things down a ton as well.

 

SO can I just unplug the SATA Card from the PCI slot and move it over to the PCI-X one?  What effect will that have on my Array (maybe have to reassign the drives?)  If no, is there a different PCI-X 8x Card that works with Unraid that I should consider replacing this one one.

 

Assume recommendation to phase out the PATA Drives ASAP

 

Secondly, should I consider a beefier CPU or more RAM, or will that make much difference at this point?

 

As far as cooling, I have the (3) 80 MM fans at the back of each of the Icy Docks, Plus a 120mm in front of the PATA Drives, then a 120 pulling air out of the back, a high speed 80mm blowing out thru the top and another blowing out thru the left side, plus the CPU and Power Supply Fan.  It's quite loud, and although I could do a little better cable routing, it gets really hot... I run 40-50c most of the time on all of my drives when spun up.  Granted, my Server sits in my Office closet, but I open the door unless I'm on the phone (and sometime have to power it down if on on a conf. call).  

 

If you truly have 8 disks in an AOC-SAT2-MV8 then your parity check performance would be aweful.  That card will run in either a PCI slot or in a PCI-X slot (only a select few motherboards have a PCI-X slot, and I know for a fact that the P5B VM DO is not one of them).  If installed in a PCI-X slot, this card gives excellent performance.  When installed in a PCI slot, however, it would definitely explain very slow parity checks that would take days with 2T drives.  This should not affect performance watching movies, so that part is a mystery.

 

You cannot put this controller in a PCIe x16 slot.

 

Now if instead you have the AOC-SASLP-MV8, then you have a PCIe x4 controller and everything I just wrote does not apply.  But this card will ONLY work in the x16 slot on the P5B VM DO (I have one so I know).  And since you said you don't know why it is not in the slot, leads me to believe you do indeed have the PCI-X card.

 

I would recommend that you buy an AOC-SASLP-MV8 to replace your AOC-SAT2-MV8.  I think that would make a huge difference in performance.  If you want to move ahead and update the motherboard, processor, add more memory, etc., your investment in the SASLP would not be wasted.  (You could also look at the BR10i.  I don't know for a fact it would work in your motherboard, but likely it would)

 

Read this post that I created easlier this evening that explains the pluses and minuses of the two controllers.

 

Info on SASLP and BR10i

I do truly have all 8 Ports on the AOC-SAT2-MV8 full on a standard PCI slot and Parity is indeed HORRIBLE...

 

I just found the other thread on the AOC-SASLP-MV8 but hadn't seen the one in your link yet...I will check it out also.  Disappointing that I can't run that card in the 4x slot that also have open (along with 16x).  Could I ALSO get a BR10i to put in the 4x slot (it has back part of the slot already removed) so I could get up 20 drives (by getting another 5in3 Dock and removing my 2 PATA drives?

 

Does the PCI-X cards give better performance than onboard SATA ports?

You can indeed run a saslp card in an x4 slot with no bottlenecks.  PCIe and PCI X are both just as fast as the motherboard ports, only PCI will introduce a bottleneck.

 

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

Good since I ordered both a AOC-SASLP-MV8 and a BR10i with the breakout cables from eBay.

 

I will attempt to run the BR10i in the x4 and AOC-SASLP-MV8 in the x16... I also ordered the 4th 5in3 IcyDock to match the other 3 and will phase out my PATA Drives as well.

Disappointing that I can't run that card in the 4x slot that also have open (along with 16x). 

 

I think that you are confusing PCI-X and PCIe.  They are not the same, and there is no compatibility.

 

You have a PCI-X card.  Your motherboard has PCIe expansion slots.

Disappointing that I can't run that card in the 4x slot that also have open (along with 16x). 

 

I think that you are confusing PCI-X and PCIe.  They are not the same, and there is no compatibility.

 

You have a PCI-X card.  Your motherboard has PCIe expansion slots.

 

Correct, I do have a PCI-X card installed today (in a standard PCI slot), it will be removed shortly...

 

BUT I have a SuperMicro PCIe card sitting on my desk that arrived today and a BR10i on the way... I was hoping to be able to run 2xSuperMicro cards, one in the 4x PCIe and one in the 16x PCIe slot, but bjp999 indicated that with my motherboard (which we also runs), the SuperMicro card only works in the 16x slot.

 

I expect the breakout cables to be here tomorrow since the eBay auction was actually from SuperBiiz where I got the Supermicro card and is only about 30 miles from my house (=1 day shipping).

... but bjp999 indicated that with my motherboard (which we also runs), the SuperMicro card only works in the 16x slot.

...

 

HERE is a link to the post where it was determined tha the SASLP will not run in the x4 slot on a P5B VM DO.

... but bjp999 indicated that with my motherboard (which we also runs), the SuperMicro card only works in the 16x slot.

...

 

HERE is a link to the post where it was determined tha the SASLP will not run in the x4 slot on a P5B VM DO.

 

I didn't doubt you... 

I was just trying to remember the details and searched out the old thread. Thought you might find it interesting. Hope your SASLP and BR10i play nice together. Sort of wish you'd have held off on the BR10i until I could have verified they worked together on the MB, but hopefully you have at least a short window to return it if it doesn't work for you.

I was just trying to remember the details and searched out the old thread. Thought you might find it interesting. Hope your SASLP and BR10i play nice together. Sort of wish you'd have held off on the BR10i until I could have verified they worked together on the MB, but hopefully you have at least a short window to return it if it doesn't work for you.

 

Not too worried, if it doesn't work I'm guessing I can resell to someone else on here with only minimal $ loss...

New AOC-SASLP-MV8 installed, drives reassigned and Parity Sync running...not super fast still 25-27MB/Sec, but the PATA drives are still in there, so maybe once I remove them it will be better.

I was getting low 50s. The pata drives may be slowing you down.

 

You might want to run the "hdparm -tT" benchmark on each drive and see of you've got one running really slow.

I was getting low 50s. The pata drives may be slowing you down.

 

You might want to run the "hdparm -tT" benchmark on each drive and see of you've got one running really slow.

 

I'm getting low 50's now after removing the 2 PATA Drives... a 7-8 Hour Parity Sync (1.5TB Parity Disk) is much nicer than multiple days (with PCI SATA Card and PATA Disks)

Awesome!  Congratulations on a well executed upgrade. Has you BR10i arrived yet?

Awesome!  Congratulations on a well executed upgrade. Has you BR10i arrived yet?

 

No BR10i yet, not sure where (geographically) it was being shipped from... I did get my 4th 5in3 so have 20 drives installed (only 15 running right this second)...just waiting on the new card