Confused about later PCI standards

[Friday]

I need to build a server for a client. But, lately, I've been slacking on learning the later standards of PCI.

Basically, I need to build a linux system for an email server. I plan on using the following two main components, a barebones server and a 3ware RAID controller. Here are the newegg listings for them:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16816110024
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16816116030

The 3ware RAID controller is PCI64, and the available slot for me to use in the server is PCI-E x16. I prefer to use a 3ware for Linux since Linux has a hard time on non-true hardware RAID controllers. Will this work?

 

[Webbterfuge]

Im pretty sure that you cant. because PCI and PCIe are different expansion slots. PCIe was made to incorporate the best features between PCI and AGP and increase bandwidth for faster expansion cards. If you want a good PCIe RAID controller if your willing to spend 100 dollars more, Adaptec and Areca have some good entry level RAID cards

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Friday
I need to build a server for a client. But, lately, I've been slacking on learning the later standards of PCI.

You may want to consider different server hardware. The Intel 945 Series chipset is hard limited to 32-bit total memory address space, which means you'll never be able to utilize 4GB RAM, not even with Linux via 36-bit PAE kernel. I'd look for a chipset that can support 8GB RAM. Of course, your client may never plan to use more than 2GB, so it may be a non-issue.

The PCI-E x16 slot in this server is actually limited to x1 operation. That probably isn't a big deal for the class of RAID card you are eyeing. BTW, are you sure that you really need true HW RAID just for RAID 0/1? That's an awfully expensive card for RAID levels that are not especially compute intensive.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Friday

The 3ware RAID controller is PCI64, and the available slot for me to use in the server is PCI-E x16.
Will this work?

No

 

[Aluvus]

If you have a PCI-Express slot, you need a PCI-Express card. No other standard with PCI (vanilla PCI, PCI-X) in the name is compatible.