Adding more SATA Ports

[crisscross]

I am setting up a Windows Server 2012 Essentials system with an AMD 5350 + Asus AM1M

I just realized that the motherboard only comes with 2 SATA Ports and I need to hook up 4 Hard Drives.

Is there anyway to add more SATA ports to a system? What's the best way to do this.

Cheers

 

[VirtualLarry]

Should have picked up the ASrock motherboard, that has 4 SATA ports. In fact, that's probably still the best option, as you would end up filling the singular PCI-E slot with a controller card if you went that route, and you might need that slot for a NIC (or a dual NIC).

There are controller cards that plug into PCI-E and give you SATA ports, they start at around $20 at Newegg.

 

[Cerb]

You can usually find SATA controller cards with 4 ports, using 1x slots, relatively easily. Get non-RAID ones. Marvell and Silicon Image tend to have the best support.

For more ports, you'd need to use the 16x slot, with a 4x or 8x card, likely a used LSI (PERC, ServeRAID, etc.). Consumer boards sometimes won't work right with a non-graphics card in the 16x slot, though.

 

[crisscross]

I agree unfortunately the Asrock is not available in India

 

[crisscross]

My search skill suck I am only seeing 2 port Syba controller cards.

 

[Cerb]

My search skill suck I am only seeing 2 port Syba controller cards.

Marvell and Silicon image make the controller chips, not cards themselves. Most of Syba's now tend to be Marvell-based; and Syba doesn't hide that info, either.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191141579294?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Something like that should work. Most 4-port cards are 2x PCI-E though - gotta be careful to make sure you're getting a 1x card.

 

[mfenn]

The AM1M-A actually has a x16 (x4 electrical) and two x1's, so the OP should be fine with any width card.