ultra320 hdd backwards compatible?

[chipy]

is it backwards compatible with an ultra160 controller?

chipy

 

[Vegito]

yes.. it'll even do u2w @ 80

 

[bob4432]

yes. i am currently running a u320 hdd on a u160 card, no probs

 

[Zepper]

The fastest of the current 15k U320 drives can just break 100MB/Sec at the outside edge. So a U160 HBA is fine if you only need to run one drive like that. If you plan to use more than one drive, look up their actual max thruput rate on StorageReview.com and add them together. Then you'll know what you really need. Also realize that the PCI bus can only do 133 MB/sec tops, so if your planned total bandwidth is higher and you want to maximize its usefulness, then you'll need a mobo with some fancier slots like 64-bit/66MHz PCI-X or PCI Express. Have you priced a PCI Express adapter - that'll make you lose your lunch in a hurry...

.bh.

 

[chipy]

thanks to all!

chipy

 

[alimoalem]

isn't it a waste to spend so much on u320 and use a u160 controlleR?

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: alimoalem
isn't it a waste to spend so much on u320 and use a u160 controlleR?

not if you are using a 32bit pci slot and 1drive. 2drives will probably saturate the card if they can talk to each other without the bus and in that case a u320 card would be nice, but since 32bit pci has a theoretical max of 133MB/s and u160 is 160MB/s then you can more than saturate the 32bit pci bus with a u160 card. going to 64bit or pci-e means a lot of $$$ and until pci-e boards just recently came out (like the 1x and 4x), you could only get 64bit pci slots on server type boards, usually duallies.