choosing a lsi card advice

[tnjona]

hello, I'm thinking of buying a hba lsi card, since I became aware of the topic. But I still have some questions that someone from the community may be able to help me with.

I have seen that there are different models 9207, 9211, ...
Compared is the 9207 and the 9217 but better than the 9211. So from the controllers I'm not quite clear. I also noticed that there are several SAS generations (1000s 2000s 3000s), which I understand but do not see anywhere on eBay.
I will only use HDDs with the card, which model would be recommended? And what I with these cheap cards from China, they are recommended?
Are the following cards recommended?

9211-8i 6Gbps HBA LSI FW:P20 IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID 2* SFF-8087 SATA | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 9211-8i 6Gbps HBA LSI FW:P20 IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID 2* SFF-8087 SATA at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

LSI 9223 9200 9240-8i HBA FW:P20 9211-8i IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID 2* SFF SATA | eBay

9200-8i 9220-8i 9210-8i 9223-8i 9240-8i Sent randomly, but they have been updated to 9211-8i it mode, P20 version. We keep our promises that we will provide you with the best solution within 24 hours.

www.ebay.com

LSI 9240-8i 6Gbps SAS HBA FW:P20 9211-8i IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID 2* SFF SATA | eBay

We keep our promises that we will provide you with the best solution within 24 hours.

www.ebay.com

I also read in a forum that you can no longer run these server cards with new Intel CPUs from the 11th generation, because these probably do not support legacy boot? This would be a problem for me, because I plan to use my Intel PC CPU in the future as a server CPU.

I am grateful to anyone who can help me understand the topic better.
Jonathan

 

[tnjona]

btw the system would be a i5 11600, z590, 32gb ddr config

 

[Ericloewe]

I also read in a forum that you can no longer run these server cards with new Intel CPUs from the 11th generation, because these probably do not support legacy boot?

I don't know what you've been reading, but don't read it. Not only do all LSI SAS2 and SAS3 controllers have the option to flash a UEFI extension ROM that allows you to boot from the controller, you'd only need it if you're booting from the controller.

the system would be a i5 11600, z590

Why?

And what I with these cheap cards from China, they are recommended?

Definitely not. Fakes, factory rejects, third shift production... There are many theories, but the bottom line is they're best avoided.

I also noticed that there are several SAS generations (1000s 2000s 3000s)

Well, SAS1 must be avoided like the plague due to silly hardware limitations (Maximum disk size of around 2 TB with 512-byte sectors). SAS2 and SAS3 are fine, SAS4 is way too new and way too different to be recommended at this stage.

I have seen that there are different models 9207, 9211, ...
Compared is the 9207 and the 9217 but better than the 9211

You should probably read the following documents:

FreeNAS® Quick Hardware Guide

This is the FreeNAS Quick Hardware Guide. It is not meant as a replacement for the Hardware Recommendations Guide - it is just a sort of quick reference for popular parts. To download this document use the orange button. If you know of...

www.truenas.com

Don't be afraid to be SAS-sy ... a primer on basic SAS and SATA

With the introduction of SAS 12Gbps, seems like "it's time" to do a braindump on SAS. Work in progress, as usual. History By the late '90's, SCSI and PATA were the dominant technologies to attach disks. Both were parallel bus multiple drop...

www.truenas.com

 

[tnjona]

Thanks for youre answer @Ericloewe

Why?

my current server runs a ryzen 1600x, which needs to be replaced because its too slow. so i will upgrade my gaming system and use the old hardware as a server, like the 1600x was repurposed.

Definitely not. Fakes, factory rejects, third shift production... There are many theories, but the bottom line is they're best avoided.

but the offers i linked seemed legit to me. I heard artsoftheserver is a good seller, but im from germany and would pay 25 for shipping plus 20% for import taxes. The only alternative are china cards. The following card would be available from germany, but is expansive and overkill für hdds:

LSI ServeRaid M1015 SATA / SAS 6Gbps RAID-Controller (46M0831) for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for LSI ServeRaid M1015 SATA / SAS 6Gbps RAID-Controller (46M0831) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Maybe someone has some links for legit cards ...

 

[NugentS]

There are European based dismantlers which would likely have a card that would probably need flashing
Art of Server is a good supplier
@tnjona that card you linked to from ebay is expensive for what it is. But the seller looks legit

 

[tnjona]

There are European based dismantlers which would likely have a card that would probably need flashing
Art of Server is a good supplier
@tnjona that card you linked to from ebay is expensive for what it is. But the seller looks legit

thx for youre respond, how much should a similar card cost?

 

[NugentS]

The 9200's and their ilk are great for HDD's, not so hot for many SSD's. SAS 6Gb
The 9300's and their ilk are great for both SSD's and SSD's. SAS 12Gb. They cost a bit more
There are many cards that are in fact LSI cards, just rebranded.

For example: Ebay Link which is a SAS 9200 with a IBM stick on it. This also has the advantage (allegedly) of having the right firmware on it and is not a ridiculous price

The Dell Perc HBA 330 is a 9300: Ebay Link at about twice the price. Note that you will almost certainly have to flash this one to IT software (as opposed to IR) but that shouldn't be hard

There are lots of different cards available. Just be careful to get what is in fact an LSI card but NOT a RAID card (ie MegaRAID) which is bad

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

DO NOTE there is a minimum airflow requirement of 200 LFM, typically.

Art Of Server has a lot of helpful videos and according to members here a very trustworthy store. This video might help you considerably:

Comparing HBA IT mode SAS controllers

In this video, I compare and contrast a variety of HBA (host bus adapter) SAS controllers with IT mode firmware.If you're looking to buy an HBA or IT mode SA...

www.youtube.com

 

[tnjona]

The 9200's and their ilk are great for HDD's, not so hot for many SSD's. SAS 6Gb
The 9300's and their ilk are great for both SSD's and SSD's. SAS 12Gb. They cost a bit more

That means I get 6Gb per SATA port, so 3GB per SAS port, or only 6Gb per SAS port?
nevermind the video explains it. For others reading this: it's 6Gb per lane.

DO NOTE there is a minimum airflow requirement of 200 LFM, typically.

Art Of Server has a lot of helpful videos and according to members here a very trustworthy store. This video might help you considerably:

Comparing HBA IT mode SAS controllers

In this video, I compare and contrast a variety of HBA (host bus adapter) SAS controllers with IT mode firmware.If you're looking to buy an HBA or IT mode SA...

www.youtube.com

hi, I have also thought about this. The best solution is a small fan, right? For most heatspreader probably 40mm ... the video really helped.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

A Ryzen 1600x is "probably" not in a high-flow server case...and if it is in a conventional case I would guess there might not be enough flow, however most of those cards will manage with 100 LFM just fine except for the one on the right with that huge heatsink...that one truly needs airflow as it's a scorcher. Then again, maybe you've a bunch of 120mm fans, or a Blowie-Matron, or bigger, so...

For the smaller heatsinks:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000510SS

For the whopper:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H5KPY8P