The 400SC only has PCI slots, so you'll have to look for a PCI raid controller. A PCI-X controller might work, but you'd have to check if the motherboard has room for the overhanging part of the card (extension of where the extra 32-bits of bandwidth). Obviously you wouldn't have the complete bandwidth that the card could use, but PCI-X cards are supposed to work in a PCI slot.

Well, I was thinking of getting a new server.

 

What PowerEdge model would you suggest? And again, what controller card?

 

Thanks,

Here are some current servers. The T105 seems a bit more interesting than the 440SC as it comes with a DVD-rom instead of the CD-rom that the 440SC comes with (can pay more to get a DVD in here though).

Looking a bit further, the T105 with dual 160G drives is still that listed US$399.

The system is available with the SAS6iR in a raid 1 for redundancy. This card does cost $199, but if you just buy the default drive size and then buy 2 x 500GB elsewhere (Dell charges $180 for the upgrade to 500GB, which can get to a 1TB drive elsewhere or 2 x 500).

The T105 has the same limitation as the 400SC, only 2 drive bays. If I am going to buy a new system, I want something with at least 4 drive bays.

If you want 4 drive bays you're looking at the T300. You can get it with 4 hot plug bays, or 4 cabled bays (non-hotplug).

You can then either get a SAS6iR (raid 0 and 1 support) or a PERC6 (raid 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60 (but not enough bays in the T300 for 50 or 60)).

If your budget reaches, I'd recommend getting the PERC6i over the SAS6iR for the extra $100. It's a much more powerful and capable card.