4GB Memory For Areca 1880 Series RAID Cards

[Serra]

I have been meaning to post this for a few days now, but life has just been so crazy I haven't had time to do more than my basic mod duties while here. The long story made short is that there IS a 4GB memory module compatible with the Areca 1880 series that has a high availability and a reasonable price.

I am making a new post about this because the last time I saw the 1880 thread it was 14 pages long and I suspect it will be quite difficult for someone to find this information buried in there.

Someone else is welcome to spoil the surprise here, but I want to give full due to the people who helped me find this module and as I don't want to type things twice, I'm taking the lazy way out and linking to a post on another forum that contains the story of why this is a big deal, who helped, and (in bold) the SKU of the compatible module that is not the limited-run Unigen or discontinued Kingston.

[SteveRo]

I just ordered it - it better work!
Now i just need to buy the card!

[Computurd]

Totally Awesome!! that is a big win there, and a great find, your persistence paid off
jeez i went through so many sticks....

[Nizzen]

To bad I got a 4gb stick for Areca 1880



Unigen :p

[Spoiler]

Nice find. I am too late as well. I bought the $230 chip!

It works great though!

[Origin_Unknown]

what is the main reason for more cache? is it for faster read / write?

[Serra]

what is the main reason for more cache? is it for faster read / write?

In the simplest case cache is the fastest source a system can read from. It does not speed up the initial read of data, but it speeds up subsequent data requests that are still in cache. The more cache you have, the greater chance that your next read request will already be in cache and, hence, read faster.

So ultimately even if the hardware is otherwise identical on two RAID controllers, the one with more cache is going to end up feeling smoother and faster in environments with repetitive data access (eg. home computers, small servers).

Plus e-peen obviously.

[Origin_Unknown]

Plus e-peen obviously.

isn't that the most important

I was asked about cache today and couldn't explain what it does but thats very helpful- cheers

[SteveRo]

I just ordered it - it better work!
Now i just need to buy the card!

Good morning all,
OK so the Mushkin memory (actually proline memory, bot from mushkin online store) arrived yesterday.
I installed it into the 1880 and started up the machine.
Logged into the controller via external ethernet connection and all looks good.
Formatted two arrays 12xacard9010 R0 and 4xmtron mobi R0 all looks good.
Ran AS SSD and CDM against both the acard and mobi arrays and in 5 out of 6 runs the card locks up
I think I tried all different controller settings and no luck - same result.

I was always using 4k stripe, I might try a larger stripe size but i doubt that will make any difference.
Config was ggbt UD7/980 no oc, pcie 100, booting from ich10r with x25v.
W7x64 os.

[Ao1]

Hi Steve, I recently built a system with a C300 and everything was great until I ran AS SSD. As soon as the test finished the OS locked up on every run. I did a fresh install and it then worked perfectly and has done since. Weird. I didn’t change any hardware or hardware settings.

The only difference between the first install and the second install was that I installed Window updates after everything else was finished on the first install. On the second install I installed Win 7, applied the updates and then installed apps.

[dinos22]

I ordered a module today which apparently is certified for 1880 controller and is backward compatible with 1231ML so i will keep you all posted if it works with 1231ML.......i dont have the new controller yet though but hey if a distie for Areca says its certified and its backwards compatible i believe him

[SteveRo]

Mr Dinos - Where did you get yours from? I was going to call tekram.

edit - I tried my 1231 4GB in my 1880 and the 1880 would not boot.

[SteveRo]

Hi Steve, I recently built a system with a C300 and everything was great until I ran AS SSD. As soon as the test finished the OS locked up on every run. I did a fresh install and it then worked perfectly and has done since. Weird. I didn’t change any hardware or hardware settings.

The only difference between the first install and the second install was that I installed Window updates after everything else was finished on the first install. On the second install I installed Win 7, applied the updates and then installed apps.

After your 2nd install did you run AS SSD or CDM a couple times?

edit - what controller? what config?

[dinos22]

let me test if it works......i dont want to give false hope until i test i guess...i can test this module with 1231ML only though but hey if its made for 1880 and it works in 1231ML bloody unreal heh

should know this weekend

[SteveRo]

Very good Sir, sounds like a plan!

[Computurd]

gah thats terrible news steve. however, from my experience with the ram sticks (i did try several) it wouldnt even boot with the stick in there. it would say "firmware timed out" on the cards' bios loading screen. So, maybe it is just a bad stick? or maybe it is just not 100 percent compatible. thats a tough one. you might consider RMA of stick, or running memtest on that stick in a DDR2 machine (ifn you have one of them dinosaurs )

[SteveRo]

CT - yes, memtest is a good idea but don't I need an ECC compatible mobo?
One of those, i don't have.

[Computurd]

GAH! plan foiled. not sure if you would need an ECC mobo or not. do you have a fan on it? that ram gets damn hot, and i mean smoking hot, when i run as ssd and other intense benches, maybe you are having a heat issue?
I am not sure if you need an ecc board or not, i am no ecc mem specialist, which is what made it so hard for me!

[Serra]

It's not working for you? Hmm. What is your board revision (under the memory stick) and firmware version? Maybe we have different versions?

My card is questionably an R&D model (it's not the R&D model I was originally told I would get, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were still an R&D item) so perhaps there is some wiggle room there?

And yes, there's always the potential that you just got a bad stick or are having heating issues...


Hmmm, this is a headscratcher.

[SteveRo]

i just ordered from tekram, they have 5 left

[SteveRo]

my info for anyone trying to keep track -

Controller Name ARC-1880
Firmware Version V1.48 2010-09-02
BOOT ROM Version V1.48 2010-09-06
PL Firmware Version 5.0.18.0
Serial Number Y039CACRAR600079
tried both storport and scsiport, also tried (what I think was the) previous f/w and also the beta f/w, tried all different controller settings, tried both acards and mtron mobi's

[Tiltevros]

i can find u some dimms if u like from unigen

[phoeniXfury]

I see you guys already found the Mushkin/Proline module. There's a possible Kingston module that may or may not work. Maybe someone can confirm if it will work or not. I've posted below in another thread but figured I'd add it here too...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey guys...I haven't been on these forums for a long time. A search brought up this thread (I was randomly searching for this card's benchmark numbers).

Anyway, I saw on here and a few other places that it is difficult to find memory for this controller. I happened to come across another forum post (a review site where they found a compatible module) and figured I'd share that info.

This is the module: http://www.mushkin.com/Memory/Proline/991822.aspx
This is the forum thread: http://www.techreaction.net/forums/s...ead.php?t=3869

Server memory with DDR and DDR2 has always given me headaches in the past. I work as a Network/Systems Administrator. What we can see from the Mushkin module is that it is:

- Registered
- ECC
- Dual Rank
- DDR2-800
- 6-6-6-18
- x8 (8bit)
- but doesn't mention parity

Registered adds a bit of latency but improves signaling for better stability. Anyway, a quick swing onto Kingston's website shows two modules that matches this description:

- KVR800D2D4P6/4GEF
- KVR800D2D4P6/4G

The second one mentions Parity in the product description. Did a search on NCIX (I'm in canada) and they have it in stock: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=52...cture=Kingston

Did a search for KVR800D2D4P6/4G and areca 1880 online and found this:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1006329

If you search that model number inside, it mentions that someone is building a MacPro 12-core with Areca 1880ix-12 with this module. However a response to that says that the controller requires x8 (8bit instead of 4bit). The Mushkin/Proline module known to be compatible is x8, but the Kingston is x4. In fact, Kingston doesn't make 4GB single module with x8!

If anyone's brave enough, they can try the x4 from Kingston. I've never actually seen issues with x4 versus x8 on servers. I've only seen issues of dual or single rank being a pain in my behind. Those specifications in point form above is what you'll want to look for in a module (exact timings might not be a requirement).

I shall get my 1880 at some point, when I have the cash for it.

[Jansa]

About to be brave... said politely. KVR800D2D4P6/4G is not going to work. At least with 1231ML Ver. 2.0E.
I read from few sources about (possibly)working configuration with this module. Well, my mistake not to double-check
Some motherboard will gain from extra memory.

[Computurd]

wow must be important Mr. Jansa, your first post since '07! glad ya chimed in

KVR800D2D4P6/4G will work with the 1880 though, he is discussing the 1880, i noticed your issue is with the 1231.