Need help on buying the right PCI SCSI Card for new SCSI HD

[bufffbison]

Okay guys bear with me, as I've never set up a server before and i've never used SCSI before. I know the HD I bought isn't huge for a server, but I know it's enough for what I need to do.

The SCSI hard drive i just bought is this (SEAGATE IBM SCSI HD ST318451LW ULTRA160 15K 18GB 68-PIN)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8750495857&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1


My question is, what kind of PCI SCSI Card should i use for this HD? In the description they used the SCSI adapter card (Adaptec AHA-2940U2) however that adapter transfers 80mb/s, while the HD is capable transfering 160mb/s. So I could use a different SCSI adapter that can transfer 160mb/s like the one below....?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Adaptec-39160-Ultra-160-Dual-Channel-SCSI-Card-360MG_W0QQitemZ8753239377QQcategoryZ39969QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Basically what I'm concerned is, which adapter to get that is the right Bit. I've seen 16, 32, 64bit adapters, (and which i believe i should use a 64 bit, since the data is transfering 160mb/s; although my computer is only a 32bit. i dont know if thats what they mean, or the BIT is pertaining to the HD/adapter and not the system....following me?) However if you guys have other suggestions, it would be great.

The adapter/HD will be installed in this system,
Giga byte GA-7DX
AMD XP 2100+
1 GB PC2700
Windows XP Pro, may switch to Linux once I get this system up and running.


thanks a lot guys!

[bemildred]

1. You want an Ultra160 SCSI Controller.

I've always preferred Adaptec, but opinions on that will vary.
That's a fairly old MoBo, I have one of similar age, based on the same chipset.
It still works great.

[bufffbison]

2. Thanks, but one question remains.

Will i need to find a 32bit Ultra160, or are all Ultra160 scsi controllers 64bit? My computer is obviously a 32bit system, so I don't know if a 64bit controller would be compatible or I'll have to find a 32bit controller.


haha yeah this system is an oldie, but it serves me good. I cannot complain though, because i won the computer from AMD's Roadtrip contest a few years back.

[bemildred]

3. I am no expert, I don't keep up with this stuff, however

my 2 cents would be to get the 64-bit adapters,
which still ought to be fine in your machine, PCI is PCI.

I THINK the 64-bits is the width of the SCSI bus, not your
system or PCI bus anyway.

You WOULD want a controller with SCSI cable sockets that match
your hard drive, there are several varieties, or else cable adapters
to make the cable fit on both ends.

The worst thing that would happen with a 64-bit controller is
that some or all of that horsepower would be wasted because your
MoBo can't handle it, but I doubt it.

[jayfish]

4. A 64-Bit...

exclusive card will not work in a 32-bit pci-slot. You will need to look for cards that are 64/32-bit compatible (I think the ebay card you linked to is an example of one). These 64/32 cards do not look like they will fit in a 32-bit slot but they will. That ebay card looks like a good deal. Make sure it's a 64/32 card and use the "but it now" option. DELL was doing a promo deal in Nov./Dec. where they gave this card away with server purchases. I'm sure that's where the ebay cards came from.

Jay

[bemildred]

5. So they have 64-bit PCI now for 64-bit CPUs?

That sounds good.

I expect one good reason to go to FreeBSD 6.x is for the 64-bit support.
I have an Athlon64 which is supported fine in 5.3, but I don't know how much good it's doing me. It's fast enough that I don't care.

The old Athlon Thunderbird 1.2G I have has on board SCSI on the MoBo, and I've stopped bothering with SCSI since then, so it's been a long time since I fiddled with cards.

And thanks for correcting my bad guess.

[jayfish]

6. No, 64-bit PCI Slots...

have been around for longer than x86-64 procs.. They are usually found on server level main-boards. They are 1&1/3 times the size of a standard PCI slot. When you put a 64/32-bit PCI card into a standard PCI slot, 2/3 of the pin-outs rest in the PCI slot and the the other 1/3 are left exposed. The card automatically falls back to operate in 32-bit mode.




SCSI has some real advantages (SATA is close)but it's still way too expensive for everyday use. I like to use small, old Ultra160 drives as pagefile holders.

Jay

[bemildred]

7. Ah never seen those.

Makes perfect sense in the context of a SCSI farm.
So does a 64/32 SCSI card buy you anything vs a 32-bit SCSI card in a 32-bit PCI slot?

[jayfish]

8. Depends On The Card,...

but I would think not. In a 64-bit slot thought it can theoretically pump twice the data, twice as fast.

Jay

[bemildred]

9. Thanks. nt

[bufffbison]

10. thanks for the help guys!! :-)

[Sgent]

11. The big issue for you

is 68-pin SCSI card (vs. 80-pin or SCA), and a 32 compatible card.

One drive, by itself, won't achieve anywhere near the speed needed to stretch a SCSI bus. Remember, most modern SCSI cards are made to drive 7-15 drives, all operating at full speed, in a RAID.