All i see are cheap crap and super expensive server grade SAS cards (that i know next to nothing about). I want to upgrade from basic, add a second parity, and add two more data drives to my unRAID box. I need two more SATA ports. I see some mid range priced stuff but they look similar to the cheap Syba type cards.. no idea if they are just as crap as the cheap stuff but with a higher price. I see tons of people say these cheap cards are fine if you don't need anything fancy "Have had mine running for years". And just as many people say they are trash. I've never looked before and i find it weird that i can't find a clear good "mid-range" card. Its just garbage and then $$$ hehe. Best thing i can think of is attempting to find a cheap M1015 card and flashing it to IT mode.. but that's still a $100-150ish + cables CAD solution to needing 2 ports lol

 

https://tinyurl.com/y7fp8w6z - https://tinyurl.com/y92mp5b5 .. Roll the dice on China? hehe

 

https://tinyurl.com/ydhcby2n ? hehe .. there are $50+ cards that still use Marvel controllers like this cheap POS card shrugs not sure what to do

 

EDIT: If i did buy one of them fancy SAS cards what are the correct cables to buy? 

 

Edited September 24, 20178 yr by superderpbro

Another option similar to M1015 is DELL H200/H310. You can find them on ebay for 50$/EUR without shipping.. and for cables - if you need connect them to SATA HDDs, then you need SAS 8087 to SATA Forward breakout cable. 

Thanks uldise. Like this one? https://tinyurl.com/y92mp5b5 . These safe to buy from China? No fakes floating around? heh

Edited September 24, 20178 yr by superderpbro

5 minutes ago, superderpbro said:

Thanks uldise. Like this one? https://tinyurl.com/y92mp5b5 . These safe to buy from China? No fakes floating around? heh

i have no experience with buying form China. i'm in Europe and always buy from Europe.. so, aren't there any good options from your region? 

Lots, for 2x the price or more.

There can be a huge variation in pricing.  Sometimes it's a waiting game.  It took a couple of months with a search set up on eBay, but recently I found a Dell H200 for here in the UK for £15 plus local postage.  I had to reflash it to IT mode myself, but that was pretty straight forward.   

I wouldn't buy the ones from China - I just wouldn't risk my data on clone cards

Like above said, it's a waiting game, but do try the variants when searching and your local forums (OCAU for us Aussies)

Search suggestions
M1015
M1115
H200
H310
H320
LSI 9201-8i
HP E0X21AA


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1 hour ago, miniwalks said:

I wouldn't buy the ones from China - I just wouldn't risk my data on clone cards

 

Who do you think makes the cards for LSI and SuperMicro?

Who do you think makes the cards for LSI and SuperMicro?

 

Fine smartypants.

 

"I wouldn't buy the cards from eBay that are listed in China. "

 

I have personally seen many of them (66% in fact) fail horrendously with production data on them.

 

Similar to Hikvision cameras, yes it's a Hikvision, no it's not a good quality one.

 

The ones from ebay China use clone/copy parts, sub par silicon, and in some cases fake controllers.

 

Now, do you want your data on something like that?

 

All of my LSI cards are from server pulls and had their serial numbers verified with the OEM and the LSI themselves.

 

You'll spend thousands on your hard drives and store priceless data. Moral of the story, don't be a tightass and buy genuine

 

 

And while I'm thinking about it.

LSI make LSI, LSI also make the ones for SuperMicro

 

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20 hours ago, miniwalks said:

All of my LSI cards are from server pulls and had their serial numbers verified with the OEM and the LSI themselves.

 

Hey mate, I'm in Aussie too, how does one go about verifying serial numbers? Do you ask sellers to provide those details before you purchase or do you just buy it and hope?

 

Also do you call the companies or is there a site you can plug the info into?

 
Hey mate, I'm in Aussie too, how does one go about verifying serial numbers? Do you ask sellers to provide those details before you purchase or do you just buy it and hope?
 
Also do you call the companies or is there a site you can plug the info into?

Hey mate,
Good to see more Aussies around
Yeah, I'll usually do it one of a couple ways;

Ask the seller for the serial and email LSI/OEM.
Otherwise if it's paypal I'll buy and hope, then refund if it can't be verified

If you need a M1015 I have a genuine one in Melb that isn't being used

Cheers



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21 hours ago, miniwalks said:

Similar to Hikvision cameras, yes it's a Hikvision, no it's not a good quality one.

 

 

Slightly off topic, but I have three HikVision cameras, two bought straight from China though AliExpress, and one from the UK from a HikVision dealer on Amazon.  One of the three died after a year, and it was one of the AliExpress ones.

 

There's clearly a difference between export models and ones bought from China directly.

 

Slightly off topic, but I have three HikVision cameras, two bought straight from China though AliExpress, and one from the UK from a HikVision dealer on Amazon.  One of the three died after a year, and it was one of the AliExpress ones.

 

There's clearly a difference between export models and ones bought from China directly.

 

Ageeed 100% - a high amount of the China/AliExpress ones are clones/fakes .... just like the "LSI" cards

 

 

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Dang. I had a feeling the ones from china might not be worth the risk. Thanks

 

 

Thanks for the list of stuff to search for miniwalks

 

5 hours ago, miniwalks said:

If you need a M1015 I have a genuine one in Melb that isn't being used

 How much?

26 minutes ago, miniwalks said:

If you need a M1015 I have a genuine one in Melb that isn't being used

 

 

Absolutely mate, I'm in Newcastle but I'd be happy to pay for postage. Out of interest, are you still selling the RAM kits you listed a month ago?

 
 
Absolutely mate, I'm in Newcastle but I'd be happy to pay for postage. Out of interest, are you still selling the RAM kits you listed a month ago?

Nah I ended up selling that set of RAM as I couldn't find a SuperMicro board that would suit my needs without breaking the bank.

I'd be looking for probably $100AU Inc express post to you?


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 How much? [emoji4]

Are you in Aus?
If so ~$100AUD Inc ExpressPost


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Canada

Canada [emoji32]

https://www.ebay.com.au/i/162631890914
That ones in New York?
You'd just need to source a bracket which is like $2-3 from China


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On 25/09/2017 at 11:02 PM, miniwalks said:

Nah I ended up selling that set of RAM as I couldn't find a SuperMicro board that would suit my needs without breaking the bank.

I'd be looking for probably $100AU Inc express post to you?


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Hey mate, sorry for the late reply, just wanted to make sure that all the hardware for my new build would fit together before committing to buying anything. 

 

Yep $100 posted sounds good to me. Any decent postage method with tracking is fine, doesn't necessarily need to be express as I will be waiting on other components. Though I sometimes find that express is cheapest for small items anyway. 

I'd suggest adding the SAS9201-8i to your list. It is similar to the other controller cards you are looking at but does not require flashing. Available on EBay for about $50 USD.

 

Another nice card is the SAS9207-8i. Also no flashing. PCIe 3.0.$100 USD from Newegg.

4 hours ago, SSD said:

I'd suggest adding the SAS9201-8i to your list. It is similar to the other controller cards you are looking at but does not require flashing. Available on EBay for about $50 USD.

 

Another nice card is the SAS9207-8i. Also no flashing. PCIe 3.0.$100 USD from Newegg.

 

Hi,

I can get a HP LSI SAS9212-4i 6 Gbps (50euros in Spain). I think is a similar one. Is a good card for unraid? need flashing?

Sorry I am a newcomer to raid cards.

A 4i only allows 4 Sata drives so would not be good if you need more ports.

12 hours ago, pcaro said:

 

Hi,

I can get a HP LSI SAS9212-4i 6 Gbps (50euros in Spain). I think is a similar one. Is a good card for unraid? need flashing?

Sorry I am a newcomer to raid cards.

 

I have never used that card. The numbers all sound similar but that does not mean the card is supported.

 

Update - did a little searching and seems that this card is supported. @WeeboTech has used a 4i4e version.