RAID Questions

[zwoiks]

Greetings,
I have a Dell Dimension 4500 and I want to purchase either one of these RAID SATA cards for it.

LSI: http://www.lsilogic.com/products/megaraid/sata_150_4.html
Or
PROMISE: http://www.promise.com/product/product_...segment=RAID%205%20HBAs&product_id=124

A few questions for you gurus.

1. My Dell has a 32bit/33MHZ PCI slot - would the above work on my PC?
2. They both state that they're "hot swappable" - how does that work? I'm hoping that it means the PC can be LEFT ON and I will be able to swap out the bad HD for the good one.
3. Which SATA RAID cards do you recommend?
4. Which SATA hard drives do you recommend?
5. If I purchase one of the above cards and it goes bad - can I purchase the same model RAID card, install it onto the PC, and then the hard drives will rebuild the store?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Slick5150]

I just installed this card yesterday and it's been working very well:

Here

 

[DRAGoNX515]

Try this.
I don't have it my self, but i'm basing it on the # of good reviews and the cheap price.

LSI: http://www.lsilogic.com/products/megaraid/sata_150_4.html

That one might not work, it says it works on a 64bit64Mhz speed, and did you look at that connector? Way longer than your standard PCI slot.

1. My Dell has a 32bit/33MHZ PCI slot - would the above work on my PC?
2. They both state that they're "hot swappable" - how does that work? I'm hoping that it means the PC can be LEFT ON and I will be able to swap out the bad HD for the good one.
3. Which SATA RAID cards do you recommend?
4. Which SATA hard drives do you recommend?
5. If I purchase one of the above cards and it goes bad - can I purchase the same model RAID card, install it onto the PC, and then the hard drives will rebuild the store?

1. The second might?
2. sure, why not, although you would still prabably turn off the computer if a drive failed.
3. Look above, I also like highpoint's RAID cards.
4. This one.
5. Maby?

-dragonx

 

[zwoiks]

I'm actually looking for at least a 4 port model that does RAID 5.

Thanks and keep it coming!

 

[DRAGoNX515]

Originally posted by: zwoiks
I'm actually looking for at least a 4 port model that does RAID 5.

Thanks and keep it coming!

oh, ok then.
Care to go Overboard?

-dragonx

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: DRAGoNX515

Originally posted by: zwoiks
I'm actually looking for at least a 4 port model that does RAID 5.

Thanks and keep it coming!

oh, ok then.
Care to go Overboard?

-dragonx

I prefer this one. It's awesome, and the features on it are just amazing. Thinking about getting a BC4452 for a total of 12 ports, and having 10 in RAID 5. But that's later.

 

[DRAGoNX515]

I prefer this one. It's awesome, and the features on it are just amazing. Thinking about getting a BC4452 for a total of 12 ports, and having 10 in RAID 5. But that's later.

He said he needs a 32 bit one, that one is PCI-X, which I think is 64 bit.

-dragonx