Should I return my Ableconn PEX10-SAT ?

[Lucka]

Hey, just bought a new case for my server (DS380) and a Ableconn PEX10-SAT 10 Port to be able to connect my 8x HDD and 2x SSD. I’m still waiting on the power supply to come so I haven’t build anything yet, and for a few days I’m reading bad things about that PCIe card. To be clear, my 4 sata port on my motherboard are Sata II so I would need all 10 ports on that PCIe card to be populated.
Did I make a mistake and should I return it? What are my other options since I only get 1x PCIe x16 (3.0) on my mobo?

 

Here’s my config:

- Asus P8H61-I LX R2.0

- Intel Core i3 3220

- 12gb RAM DDR3

- Noctua NH-L9i

- 8x 4tb WD Blue 3.5 HDD

- 2x Samsung SSD

- Corsair SF450 Platinium+
- Silverstone DS380

 

Maybe I should just wait to upgrade my CPU + Mobo since I wanted the i3 9100 and my future mobo will have 6x Sata III port?

 

Thanks for any advices!

Edited June 7, 2020 by Lucka

[JorgeB]

56 minutes ago, Lucka said:

Did I make a mistake and should I return it?

I would return it, those controllers use SATA port multipliers and have multiple known issues with Unraid.

[Lucka]

20 minutes ago, johnnie.black said:

I would return it, those controllers use SATA port multipliers and have multiple known issues with Unraid.

Do you have any alternative that I can use?

[JorgeB]

Any LSI with a SAS2008/2308/3008/3408 chipset in IT mode, e.g., 9201-8i, 9211-8i, 9207-8i, 9300-8i, 9400-8i, etc and clones, like the Dell H200/H310 and IBM M1015, these latter ones need to be crossflashed.

 

There are also models with more ports if 8 are not enough (-16i/-24i) or you can add a SAS expander at any time.

[Lucka]

7 minutes ago, johnnie.black said:

Any LSI with a SAS2008/2308/3008/3408 chipset in IT mode, e.g., 9201-8i, 9211-8i, 9207-8i, 9300-8i, 9400-8i, etc and clones, like the Dell H200/H310 and IBM M1015, these latter ones need to be crossflashed.

 

There are also models with more ports if 8 are not enough (-16i/-24i) or you can add a SAS expander at any time.

Thanks for those reference, but I don’t totally understand those SAS port card, do I need to add splitter to them?

[JorgeB]

No, you just need a couple of SAS to SATA forward breakout cables, like this:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Internal-SFF-8087-Breakout/dp/B012BPLYJC/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=SAS+to+SATA+forward+breakout+cables&qid=1591524986&sr=8-3

 

[Lucka]

5 hours ago, johnnie.black said:

No, you just need a couple of SAS to SATA forward breakout cables, like this:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Internal-SFF-8087-Breakout/dp/B012BPLYJC/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=SAS+to+SATA+forward+breakout+cables&qid=1591524986&sr=8-3

 

Could you explain the differences between a 9400-8i for exemple, and a SAS Expender card? I wonder those are not the same functionnality since SAS Expender are a lot cheaper than RAID SAS Card.

 

EDIT: Just found this card: https://www.kalea-informatique.com/lsi-megaraid-92170cv-8i-8-port-pcie-3-0-6gb-s-sata-sas-raid-controller-oem.htm

Is this what I'm looking for? Also I found a LSI/Broadcom SAS/SATA 12Gb/s 9300-8i for 110€, but is 12Gb/s overkill or should I pick this one?

Edited June 7, 2020 by Lucka

[JorgeB]

SAS expander needs a HBA, it won't work on its own, you use one when you need more ports, instead of adding another HBA.

[Lucka]

28 minutes ago, johnnie.black said:

SAS expander needs a HBA, it won't work on its own, you use one when you need more ports, instead of adding another HBA.

To update the thread, I took this one : https://www.kalea-informatique.com/lsi-megaraid-92170cv-8i-8-port-pcie-3-0-6gb-s-sata-sas-raid-controller-oem.htm

Thanks for your advices @johnnie.black !