PCI-E RAID cards compatibility list

[RealTelstar]

I have and plan to keep my Dell PERC scsi controller for awhile until SSD prices gets about 50% cheaper than they are now.

I would like to update this list with mainboard models and chipsets becasue sometimes this information is unknown before trying yourself. The Areca cards seem to have the better compatibility chance, but also are the most common.

Note: this thread refers to hardware controllers with cache memory onboard and bios, such as Areca and LSI cards.

COMPATIBLE CHIPSETS/MAINBOARDS:

nvidia chipsets:
680i
780i
790i
and probably all other versions (es. 650i and 750i)
-all motherboards (post if some board is not)

Intel 975X:
-all mainboards (post if some board is not)

Intel p965:
-Asus (most)
-dfi p95-s
-GIGABYTE P965-DS4
-GIGABYTE P965-DS3
...

Intel P35*:
-Asus p5k
-Abit IP35-Pro
...

Intel x38*:
-asus Maximus SE
...

Intel X48:
-asus rampage formula*
-DFI LP LT X48-T2R
...

Intel i5400 "Seaburg" (dual socket 771)
Asus Z7S WS
Intel Skulltrail ? (i assume yes)

UNKNOWN:
[B]Intel P45 (probably similar to x38)

NOT COMPATIBLE MAINBOARDS:
Some Gigabyte boards because of bios stupidity.

*Most mainboards with intel P35, X38, X48, G45 and possibly other newer chipsets have a compatibility issue due to concurrent reading of the ram SPD onthe SMBus. A handy fix has been discovered by chinese and reported on 2cpu forums (1).
The fix consist in covering pin 5/6 of the card with tape or pcb laquer (I personally favour the latter).
Pictures are at the moment not available. I may do some when i'll mount my perc 4/i on my rampage formula.

References:
(1) 2cpu storage forum:
http://forums.2cpu.com/showthread.php?t=90200
pins covering fix for perc and other controller cards.

2) 2cpu storage forum dell perc 5/6 motherboard compatibility list:
http://forums.2cpu.com/showthread.php?t=84882
A similar thread that I didnt know before today.

[Big Lar]

I'm running my Perc4E in the second x16 slot on my X48 DFI. Absolutely no problems with it. I thought I might have issues with it, but it runs like a charm.

Larry

[RealTelstar]

Thanks, updated. I also added the Rampage formula X48 (that I'm getting soon).

I'm sure I have read something about x38 but i ned more info.

[Big Lar]

Its actually good info, I went in blind not knowing if it would work or not, as I couldn't find any info as to the matter. Keep up the good work

Larry

[NeedMoMegaHurtZ]

NapalmV5 has 4x WD6400AAKS running on Highpoint RR3510 on MaximusSE / x38 chipset

in this thread (scroll down)
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...=180779&page=2

[RealTelstar]

Thank you. I will be updating this thread once or twice a week.

[RealTelstar]

up

[Mister_Satan]

hallo, i have a lsi 8888elp and a rampage formula, and mother board simply does not boot with controller installed! and work perfectly with an old p5ld2 !

can anybody help me?

[RealTelstar]

hallo, i have a lsi 8888elp and a rampage formula, and mother board simply does not boot with controller installed! and work perfectly with an old p5ld2 !

can anybody help me?

Which controller is (I dont know this model)?
Did you try to switch pci-e slots?

[sdsdv10]

Which controller is (I dont know this model)?

I believe he ment something like this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816118089

Not sure if this is his exact model, but this is a 8888ELP.

[Mister_Satan]

I believe he ment something like this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816118089

Not sure if this is his exact model, but this is a 8888ELP.

yes it's that on exactly

mother seems perfect without card, but when i insert it, rampage does not boot. and same controller works fine on an old p5wd2...

i find a forum where people suggest to cover with tape pin 5&6 of the controller, do you know anything about?

latest bios and firmware obviously

[RealTelstar]

Looks like an incompatibility to me, do you have the latest controller bios? (installed on the p5wd2)?
Last try, use a pci video card.

I dont know about covering the pins. Try to post the same question to storagereview, 2cpu forums, and of course contact Asus tech service.

[RealTelstar]

Update: there is a thread on 2cpu forums that explains the pins tape/covering procedure.
The problem is that the controller's SMBus might be interfering with the POST memory detection phase.

It seems affects all newer intel chipset from p35 to x38/48 and raid cards with smb bus. The guys there tested perc 5i/6i SAS controllers and some others.
Controllers without cache memory should work with every board.

Also, some gigabyte motherboards have too much boot devices due to their crappy bios and may have incompatibility that is not cause of the chipset.

Updated first post

[jcool]

Adaptec 5405 on DFI X38 LT T2R in middle slot - works fine, just won't to reboots, have to power off the system then start again (otherwise it hangs at code "25"). No issues in 3rd PCIe x16 slot.
Also works on the Asus Z7S WS in all slots.

[RealTelstar]

Thanks, will update soon.
Which chipset mounts the Asus Z7S WS?

[jcool]

Intel i5400 "Seaburg" (dual socket 771)

[RealTelstar]

updated

[tiro_uspsss]

whats the big hoorah about these Dell PERC controllers?
whats the diff between the '5i' & the '5E' models?
cheers

[RealTelstar]

whats the big hoorah about these Dell PERC controllers?

Lots of people (including me) found them on ebay for 100-200$
They mount the good intel IOP 331, 332 processors which are very fast.

They are server controllers (from 4i above) very reliable, altough very hot.

whats the diff between the '5i' & the '5E' models?
cheers

5i is SAS, my 4i is SCSI. The new 6i is supposed to be SAS too.
dunno, probably some external port.

[tiro_uspsss]

Lots of people (including me) found them on ebay for 100-200$
They mount the good intel IOP 331, 332 processors which are very fast.

They are server controllers (from 4i above) very reliable, altough very hot.



5i is SAS, my 4i is SCSI. The new 6i is supposed to be SAS too.
dunno, probably some external port.

aahhh, ok cool, thanks!

[jcool]

Perc 6 supports raid 6

[shaithis]

Anyone had success with the Perc 4e/DC?

Got one kicking around that I am having issues flashing

[RealTelstar]

I have the PERC 4i and i was able to flash it with dfi p965s (initial bios only). I think I would be able to flash it with the rampage as well.
Try to disable the biosable onboard controllers and set the ICHR to ide mode.

[430]

MB : BBN 680i / STRIKER EXTREME / MAXIMUS FORMULA
Raid Card : LSI MegaRaid 8308ELP / 8888ELP

all works fine!

[RealTelstar]

Yes, all nv 680i mobos support all raid pci-e cards.