![[H]ard|Forum](/styles/hardforum/xenforo/logo_dark.png){kind=logo}
I have currently a server with 14x2TB SATA drives in two separate RAID5 arrays. 7 drives each. The drives I'm using are Samsung F4's.
What I'd like to do is consolidate both arrays in to one larger RAID6 array. Currently I'm using two 8 port Highpoint 2320 cards which are excellent in performance but completely lack RAID6. I wouldn't feel comfortable using 14 drives in a RAID5 array even though all my data is backed up. I think RAID6 is the safer option. I have no plans to increase the amount of drives in use, 14 is the maximum within the array.
So what I'm looking for is basically a RAID6 card that uses PCIe with 16 ports. Performance wise I'd like it to be capable of around 300Mb/ps read and 200Mb/ps write (sustained) but this isn't a hard number anything over 100Mb/ps sustained is adequate for my usage.
I am also not against using an 8 Port card with some kind of Expander card as-long as there is a cost benefit vs a 16 port card.
Also I have another question. If I create a RAID5 array on a HighPoint card can I transition that array to an Adaptec or an LSI card or will the array need to be trashed and rebuilt by the new card? - I've always only used HighPoint cards but they are lacking when it comes to RAID6 and Hardware Raid often leaving out dedicated XOR processors entirely and sometimes relying on system memory.
My price range for this is quite low at £500 to £700 GBP. But don't be afraid to suggest a more expensive card if you feel that you must as I may be able to source them within my budget. I hope someone can help me as I've not really looked beyond HighPoint products for some time but my needs have outgrown their product line at this time.
oh btw the specs of the server are a Core i7 920, Gigabyte UD5 Motherboard, 6GB of Memory, 1000Watt Corsair HX1000 PSU. I know it is an odd choice to use some of these components especially the Corsair PSU but this storage server was built with spare parts and only the i7 CPU was bought especially for this server (as it was the cheapest on the market at the time which would fit the mobo we had), the rest was already sitting around the office collecting dust.
What I'd like to do is consolidate both arrays in to one larger RAID6 array. Currently I'm using two 8 port Highpoint 2320 cards which are excellent in performance but completely lack RAID6. I wouldn't feel comfortable using 14 drives in a RAID5 array even though all my data is backed up. I think RAID6 is the safer option. I have no plans to increase the amount of drives in use, 14 is the maximum within the array.
So what I'm looking for is basically a RAID6 card that uses PCIe with 16 ports. Performance wise I'd like it to be capable of around 300Mb/ps read and 200Mb/ps write (sustained) but this isn't a hard number anything over 100Mb/ps sustained is adequate for my usage.
I am also not against using an 8 Port card with some kind of Expander card as-long as there is a cost benefit vs a 16 port card.
Also I have another question. If I create a RAID5 array on a HighPoint card can I transition that array to an Adaptec or an LSI card or will the array need to be trashed and rebuilt by the new card? - I've always only used HighPoint cards but they are lacking when it comes to RAID6 and Hardware Raid often leaving out dedicated XOR processors entirely and sometimes relying on system memory.
My price range for this is quite low at £500 to £700 GBP. But don't be afraid to suggest a more expensive card if you feel that you must as I may be able to source them within my budget. I hope someone can help me as I've not really looked beyond HighPoint products for some time but my needs have outgrown their product line at this time.
oh btw the specs of the server are a Core i7 920, Gigabyte UD5 Motherboard, 6GB of Memory, 1000Watt Corsair HX1000 PSU. I know it is an odd choice to use some of these components especially the Corsair PSU but this storage server was built with spare parts and only the i7 CPU was bought especially for this server (as it was the cheapest on the market at the time which would fit the mobo we had), the rest was already sitting around the office collecting dust.
