Ultra160 controller on 32bit pci
Currently using Adaptec 29160, works fine, but it's only 160/2, after all.
I'm curious if other controllers can provide better performance when used on a 32bit pci bus?
In a few month I might switch to a pci-express/opteron setup, so I'd like some indication about controllers for that bus.
I'm using two u320 10K disks + one fast10 device on a development server/workstation, so I don't need an interprise-level ctrl.; but both the pci32 and pci-express thingy should preferebly provide a narrow connector as well.
I'm not currently on the scsi list, so if anyone would care to shed some lights, please address me directly.
Thanks.
Signature · 5 lines
Kind regards, Mogens Valentin Networking, Security www.danbbs.dk/~monz Phone +45 32 525 878
Quoted 4 lines · Mogens Valentin
Currently using Adaptec 29160, works fine, but it's only 160/2, after all.
I'm curious if other controllers can provide better performance when used on a 32bit pci bus?
Theoretical bandwidth on a 33MHz 32-bit PCI bus is around 132MB/s. In practice you never attain that because of overhead in turning the bus around and typical figures quoted in the PCI spec are between 60-107MB/s. So you already saturated the PCI bus (never mind what else you have on that bus).
Quoted 2 lines
In a few month I might switch to a pci-express/opteron setup, so I'd like some indication about controllers for that bus.
Depends what people are going to ship. I've heard rumours the initial chipsets will have an x16 link for graphics and an x4 link for other I/O. Express gives you 256MB/s in each direction for an x1 link, so expect to get 1GB/s *in each direction* from an Express SCSI card. Will there be parallel SCSI Express cards? Not sure, everything seems to indicate SAS instead.
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Quoted 7 lines · Matthew Wilcox
Quoted 4 lines · Mogens Valentin
Currently using Adaptec 29160, works fine, but it's only 160/2, after all.
I'm curious if other controllers can provide better performance when used on a 32bit pci bus?
Quoted 5 lines
Theoretical bandwidth on a 33MHz 32-bit PCI bus is around 132MB/s. In practice you never attain that because of overhead in turning the bus around and typical figures quoted in the PCI spec are between 60-107MB/s. So you already saturated the PCI bus (never mind what else you have on that bus).
I'm aware of that. I have a 40MHz pci bus, no problems with any devices (most modern cards are build for 66MHz anyway), so I'm interested in scsi controllers possible utilising a 32bit interface better (than the 29160).
Haven't seen any though, thus the question.
Quoted 5 lines
Quoted 2 lines
In a few month I might switch to a pci-express/opteron setup, so I'd like some indication about controllers for that bus.
Depends what people are going to ship. I've heard rumours the initial chipsets will have an x16 link for graphics and an x4 link for other I/O.
Yes, a few such boards already exist. No matter which combinations will be on boards, I'll be happy with on x16 slot for video and one x-whatever for a scsi controller.
Thanks for replying..
Signature · 5 lines
Kind regards, Mogens Valentin Networking, Security www.danbbs.dk/~monz Phone +45 32 525 878