Will a PCI-e x4 or x8 SAS RAID controller card work in x16 slot?

KBD · Sep 24, 2008, 07:35 PM

Basically, i need to know if it will work. Someone i know wants to get a SAS RAID Controller card and some drives for a workstation or server, his board only has a spare PCI-e x16 slot and some PCI. He prefers a PCI-e card, but he'll take a PCI-X as well, i heard those work in a conventional PCI slot, correct?

newtekie1 · Sep 24, 2008, 07:51 PM

Yes, PCI-E slots will accept lower cards. A PCI-E x16 slot will accept pretty much any PCI-E.

twicksisted · Sep 24, 2008, 08:15 PM

yep... i run my PCI-E X1 asus Xonar D2X soundcard in a pci-e X16 slot perfectly

niko084 · Sep 24, 2008, 08:21 PM

Pci-X wont work in a pci slot though.

KBD · Sep 24, 2008, 08:51 PM

thnx guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko084

Pci-X wont work in a pci slot though.

I don't know, niko, you sure? I heard otherwise. Take a look at this Adaptec card at egg, it says it supports both PCI-X and PCI 33/66:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816103038

I assume it depends on the card, is that right?

Fastmix · Sep 24, 2008, 08:55 PM

Offcourse, it's backwards compatible.

newtekie1 · Sep 24, 2008, 08:56 PM

It depends on the card, some PCI-X cards work in PCI slots, some don't.

KBD · Sep 24, 2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtekie1

It depends on the card, some PCI-X cards work in PCI slots, some don't.

Thats what i thought, thnx!

niko084 · Sep 24, 2008, 08:59 PM

Your large full 64bit slot cards will not work for obvious reasons--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:I...1000mta342.jpg

Take a look.
But standard PCI will work in a PCI-X slot I think is the way that works.

Never mind, I guess most cards will work backwards, just slow down or something I would guess...
But that means watch what you buy.

DanTheBanjoman · Sep 24, 2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KBD

but he'll take a PCI-X as well, i heard those work in a conventional PCI slot, correct?

SAS for performance and then bottlenecking it with a PCI slot. That's brilliant.

Anyway, PCI-e cards go in PCI-e slots, that's all there is to it. You can also put a x16 card in a x1 slot and vice versa. Just have to cut away the back plastic of the slot or cut in the card.

DanTheBanjoman · Sep 24, 2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko084

Your large full 64bit slot cards will not work for obvious reasons--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:I...1000mta342.jpg

Take a look.
But standard PCI will work in a PCI-X slot I think is the way that works.

Never mind, I guess most cards will work backwards, just slow down or something I would guess...
But that means watch what you buy.

It works just fine. At 133MB/s.

niko084 · Sep 24, 2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

It works just fine. At 133MB/s.

Aw, well that's not too bad, is that combined total then?

DanTheBanjoman · Sep 24, 2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko084

Aw, well that's not too bad, is that combined total then?

Combined?

PCI = 133MB/s for the whole bus. ie a set of two SAS disks will be severely bottlenecked already. A single disk could even be bottlenecked if there are more PCI devices on the bus. Only a *insert mean word* would buy an expensive controller, expensive disks and then put it in a PCI slot.
For instance, in ATTO I can reach 277MB/s read, if I put my controller in a PCI slot that's gonna be ~120MB/s. Quite a difference I'd say.

niko084 · Sep 24, 2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

Combined?

PCI = 133MB/s for the whole bus. ie a set of two SAS disks will be severely bottlenecked already. A single disk could even be bottlenecked if there are more PCI devices on the bus. Only a *insert mean word* would buy an expensive controller, expensive disks and then put it in a PCI slot.
For instance, in ATTO I can reach 277MB/s read, if I put my controller in a PCI slot that's gonna be ~120MB/s. Quite a difference I'd say.

Ya sorry that's what I meant, a total of 133MB/s.

And ya, you would have to be pretty "something" to buy SAS drives and a hot controller and then cut it short.....

I was personally thinking about buying a pci-e x1 controller for a 2x drive stripe and changed my mind real fast.

KBD · Sep 24, 2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

SAS for performance and then bottlenecking it with a PCI slot. That's brilliant.

Anyway, PCI-e cards go in PCI-e slots, that's all there is to it. You can also put a x16 card in a x1 slot and vice versa. Just have to cut away the back plastic of the slot or cut in the card.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

Combined?

PCI = 133MB/s for the whole bus. ie a set of two SAS disks will be severely bottlenecked already. A single disk could even be bottlenecked if there are more PCI devices on the bus. Only a *insert mean word* would buy an expensive controller, expensive disks and then put it in a PCI slot.
For instance, in ATTO I can reach 277MB/s read, if I put my controller in a PCI slot that's gonna be ~120MB/s. Quite a difference I'd say.

Thank you for your explanation. Like i said he prefers PCI-e not PCI-X, i'll have to explain to him that he shouldnt save money and buy a PCI-X one but go straight for PCI-e. He already has the drives but his budget is not huge thats why he looking to get a used card on ebay. Anyway, you guys were very helpful as usual.

Anyway, can someone recomend a good SAS controller card from experience? Not many reviews out there.

niko084 · Sep 24, 2008, 10:55 PM

I have always had great luck with Adaptec controllers, but you kinda pay for them too..

I have heard good things about highpoint and 3com.

lemonadesoda · Sep 24, 2008, 10:57 PM

His options are PCI-X or PCI-e. He should not go PCI. That is what people are saying. PCI-X is OK in theory, since PCI-X (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI-X) has plenty of bandwidth for a dual SAS setup. But a PCI-X card in a PCI slot is as bad as just a simple PCI card. So NO unless you have a genuine PCI-X slot.

KBD · Sep 24, 2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko084

I have always had great luck with Adaptec controllers, but you kinda pay for them too..

I have heard good things about highpoint and 3com.

Thats what i told him, Adaptec and Areca (its way too expensive). He is also looking at LSI. Any specific model numbers someone can offer? I told him it will cost him to get a good one, he looked at online stores but right now looking on ebay there are some relatively inexpensive ones there.

niko084 · Sep 24, 2008, 11:03 PM

Does he want full hardware with a processor and ram on the card, is he going to run raid, if so what setup?

KBD · Sep 24, 2008, 11:05 PM

he already has all the hardware, from what i understand he's using his own desktop PC and tranforming it, i dont even know what hardware he has. I know he got no PCI-X so i assume just a plain desktop board most likely SLI or Crossfire with dual x16 slots.

niko084 · Sep 24, 2008, 11:09 PM

Hold on, this guy wants SAS drives for his Desktop????

*sounds like more money than brains*

KBD · Sep 24, 2008, 11:11 PM

lol, actually hes not rich, i beleive he is tranforming it into a server or a workstation.

Besides, having SAS drives on a desktop would rock! Unfortunately no desktop board suppports em. Im actually getting 2 74Gb Veloci for RAID 0 soon, if i could plug those new 15.6K Cheetahs in my mobo i'll def get them instead.

niko084 · Sep 25, 2008, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KBD

lol, actually hes not rich, i beleive he is tranforming it into a server or a workstation.

Besides, having SAS drives on a desktop would rock! Unfortunately no desktop board suppports em. Im actually getting 2 74Gb Veloci for RAID 0 soon, if i could plug those new 15.6K Cheetahs in my mobo i'll def get them instead.

Although I can understand the massive speed, its just such a waste...
Go skulltrail while your at it I mean..

KBD · Sep 25, 2008, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko084

Although I can understand the massive speed, its just such a waste...
Go skulltrail while your at it I mean..

well, it depends what you are using the system for i guess. i certainly wouldn't find lightning speeds, to each is own i suppose.

Sep 24, 2008, 07:35 PM	#1
KBD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Rotten Big Apple Posts: 2,416 (1.06/day) Thanks: 423 Thanked 291 Times in 273 Posts System Specs	Will a PCI-e x4 or x8 SAS RAID controller card work in x16 slot? Basically, i need to know if it will work. Someone i know wants to get a SAS RAID Controller card and some drives for a workstation or server, his board only has a spare PCI-e x16 slot and some PCI. He prefers a PCI-e card, but he'll take a PCI-X as well, i heard those work in a conventional PCI slot, correct?

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Sep 24, 2008, 07:51 PM	#2
newtekie1 Semi-Retired Folder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 17,774 (6.48/day) Thanks: 780 Thanked 5,125 Times in 3,714 Posts System Specs	Yes, PCI-E slots will accept lower cards. A PCI-E x16 slot will accept pretty much any PCI-E. __________________ Rig1: System Specs. Rig2: A8-5600K@4.4GHz / AsRock FM2A75 Pro4 / 8GB Corsair DDR3-1600 9-9-9-24 / HD7560D / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB WD Green + 3x3TB WD RED in RAID5 Rig3: Athlon X2 4200+ / M4A79 Deluxe / 4GB G.Skill Pi DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / GT430 / Sony DVD-Burner / 500GB WD Rig4: Phenom II x6 1605T @ 3.6GHz / Asus M5A99X Evo / 8GB PNY DDR3-1600 9-9-9 / GTX470 & GTX470 / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB Seagate

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Sep 24, 2008, 08:15 PM	#3
twicksisted Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,234 (1.08/day) Thanks: 391 Thanked 358 Times in 285 Posts System Specs	yep... i run my PCI-E X1 asus Xonar D2X soundcard in a pci-e X16 slot perfectly __________________

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Sep 24, 2008, 08:21 PM	#4
niko084 Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota Posts: 6,387 (2.70/day) Thanks: 190 Thanked 739 Times in 599 Posts System Specs	Pci-X wont work in a pci slot though. __________________ This electronic post is encrypted in the 'English language method', any attempt to decipher meaning from these symbols is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. This includes, but is not limited to: interpreting the symbols through use of biological, visual decryption devices, translating the symbols into another language encryption scheme, and digital processing the symbols into a form conducive to oral interpretation. HWBOT HEATWARE

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Sep 24, 2008, 08:55 PM	#6
Fastmix Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The Kingdom of Heaven Posts: 627 (0.36/day) Thanks: 7 Thanked 120 Times in 99 Posts	Offcourse, it's backwards compatible. __________________ You can... if you think you can.

Sep 24, 2008, 08:56 PM	#7
newtekie1 Semi-Retired Folder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 17,774 (6.48/day) Thanks: 780 Thanked 5,125 Times in 3,714 Posts System Specs	It depends on the card, some PCI-X cards work in PCI slots, some don't. __________________ Rig1: System Specs. Rig2: A8-5600K@4.4GHz / AsRock FM2A75 Pro4 / 8GB Corsair DDR3-1600 9-9-9-24 / HD7560D / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB WD Green + 3x3TB WD RED in RAID5 Rig3: Athlon X2 4200+ / M4A79 Deluxe / 4GB G.Skill Pi DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / GT430 / Sony DVD-Burner / 500GB WD Rig4: Phenom II x6 1605T @ 3.6GHz / Asus M5A99X Evo / 8GB PNY DDR3-1600 9-9-9 / GTX470 & GTX470 / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB Seagate

Sep 24, 2008, 08:59 PM	#9
niko084 Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota Posts: 6,387 (2.70/day) Thanks: 190 Thanked 739 Times in 599 Posts System Specs	Your large full 64bit slot cards will not work for obvious reasons-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:I...1000mta342.jpg Take a look. But standard PCI will work in a PCI-X slot I think is the way that works. Never mind, I guess most cards will work backwards, just slow down or something I would guess... But that means watch what you buy. __________________ This electronic post is encrypted in the 'English language method', any attempt to decipher meaning from these symbols is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. This includes, but is not limited to: interpreting the symbols through use of biological, visual decryption devices, translating the symbols into another language encryption scheme, and digital processing the symbols into a form conducive to oral interpretation. HWBOT HEATWARE

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Sep 24, 2008, 10:55 PM	#16
niko084 Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota Posts: 6,387 (2.70/day) Thanks: 190 Thanked 739 Times in 599 Posts System Specs	I have always had great luck with Adaptec controllers, but you kinda pay for them too.. I have heard good things about highpoint and 3com. __________________ This electronic post is encrypted in the 'English language method', any attempt to decipher meaning from these symbols is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. This includes, but is not limited to: interpreting the symbols through use of biological, visual decryption devices, translating the symbols into another language encryption scheme, and digital processing the symbols into a form conducive to oral interpretation. HWBOT HEATWARE

Sep 24, 2008, 10:57 PM	#17
lemonadesoda Eligible for custom title Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,337 (2.17/day) Thanks: 749 Thanked 960 Times in 710 Posts System Specs	His options are PCI-X or PCI-e. He should not go PCI. That is what people are saying. PCI-X is OK in theory, since PCI-X (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI-X) has plenty of bandwidth for a dual SAS setup. But a PCI-X card in a PCI slot is as bad as just a simple PCI card. So NO unless you have a genuine PCI-X slot.

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Sep 24, 2008, 11:03 PM	#19
niko084 Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota Posts: 6,387 (2.70/day) Thanks: 190 Thanked 739 Times in 599 Posts System Specs	Does he want full hardware with a processor and ram on the card, is he going to run raid, if so what setup? __________________ This electronic post is encrypted in the 'English language method', any attempt to decipher meaning from these symbols is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. This includes, but is not limited to: interpreting the symbols through use of biological, visual decryption devices, translating the symbols into another language encryption scheme, and digital processing the symbols into a form conducive to oral interpretation. HWBOT HEATWARE

Sep 24, 2008, 11:05 PM	#20
KBD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Rotten Big Apple Posts: 2,416 (1.06/day) Thanks: 423 Thanked 291 Times in 273 Posts System Specs	he already has all the hardware, from what i understand he's using his own desktop PC and tranforming it, i dont even know what hardware he has. I know he got no PCI-X so i assume just a plain desktop board most likely SLI or Crossfire with dual x16 slots.

Sep 24, 2008, 11:09 PM	#21
niko084 Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota Posts: 6,387 (2.70/day) Thanks: 190 Thanked 739 Times in 599 Posts System Specs	Hold on, this guy wants SAS drives for his Desktop???? sounds like more money than brains __________________ This electronic post is encrypted in the 'English language method', any attempt to decipher meaning from these symbols is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. This includes, but is not limited to: interpreting the symbols through use of biological, visual decryption devices, translating the symbols into another language encryption scheme, and digital processing the symbols into a form conducive to oral interpretation. HWBOT HEATWARE

Sep 24, 2008, 11:11 PM	#22
KBD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Rotten Big Apple Posts: 2,416 (1.06/day) Thanks: 423 Thanked 291 Times in 273 Posts System Specs	lol, actually hes not rich, i beleive he is tranforming it into a server or a workstation. Besides, having SAS drives on a desktop would rock! Unfortunately no desktop board suppports em. Im actually getting 2 74Gb Veloci for RAID 0 soon, if i could plug those new 15.6K Cheetahs in my mobo i'll def get them instead. Last edited by KBD; Sep 24, 2008 at 11:18 PM.

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