Hello all

I'm building a box for use in learning VM's as well as other OS installs (FreeNAS, Windows Server, etc) and after getting it up and running I realized that ESXi doesn't support the RAID controller built into my motherboard, go figure. It was one of the reason I picked this board over others, because it supported 6 SATA drives but I didn't know it was software RAID5. But that's why I'm doing this, to learn.

From what I've been reading around the web, many people are using the Dell RAID cards. I've seen the CERC 5/6 and PERC 5/6 cards recommended and they seem to be fairly plentiful and cheap on eBay. My question is, what are the differences between the PERC and CERC lines and what is the differences between the 5/6 series cards?

I'm looking for something that will control 6 SATA III drives and I know I'll have to buy an SAS to SATA cable and from what I can find, they only come in a 4 SATA configuration, so the card I'll get will have to have 2 SAS ports correct?

The main use of this box is going to be a FreeNAS server to store all my audio/video files and backups. I'll run other VMs but that one will be up full time.

Here's my current build:
Gigabyte GA-870A-USB3 motherboard
AMD Athlon IIx4 620 processor
6x Vantec Easy Swap 4 drive bays for my existing tower
Intel gigabit NIC since Intel NICs are bulletproof
16 GB of G.Skill Ripjaw DDR3 dual channel memory
6x WD Red WD10EFRX - hard drive - 1 TB - SATA-600 hopefully in RAID of some kind for my storage needs
Koutech USB 2.0 Header-Pin to Dual Type-A Adapter to put the ESXi on a thumb drive inside the case
Supermicro SC750-A Extended ATX Full Tower
INLANDPRO GOLD 600 WATT ATX PSU
ZOTAC 8400GS 512TC PCIE video card just to get things running.

Edit: added processor

Recommed you go with PERC6 512MB Cache w/ BBU (Battery Backup).
- Larger Strip size, upto 1024KB with LSI firmware, as compared to PERC5
- Optional 512MB Cache module as compared to default 256MB.
- NCQ support on PERC6, where as PERC5 does not support NCQ
- eBay pricing for PERC6 w/ BBU $110-$150 USD, where as PERC5 $50-$100 USD

Difference between PERC5 -vs- PERC6: http://www.dell.com/Downloads/Global/Power/ps2q08-20080255-Dixit.pdf

Difference between PERC -vs- CERC: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/storage/RAID/PERC6/en/UG/HTML/chapterd.htm#wp1073993

Fantastic source for PERC5 and PERC6 controller MODS: http://www.overclock.net/t/359025/perc-5-i-raid-card-tips-and-benchmarks

Thanks for all the info. I actually thought I lucked out. A local guy had 10 T300 servers he was parting out and he said he had PERC 6i cards in them. I drove all the way out there to get my $40 card only to be disappointed. So it's back to searching eBay.

I have a couple more questions that weren't really answered in any of the links provided and I couldn't find anything when searching.

You mentioned optional 512mb Cache module but from what I can find, that only applies to the PERC 6e models correct? It doesn't look like the 6i has a replaceable module.

Also, most of the cards I'm finding are the "tray" style with the blue plastic around the PCI connection and no mounting frame. Can I just remove the tray and buy one of the frames and it will work in a regular non-Dell box?

PERC6/i most likely will require PCI case bracket mode for a Whitebox

Recommended is an example of PERC6/e for whitebox.
- Modified with fan for airflow
- Breakout SFF-8470 to 4xSATA cables (although only one cable)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-PERC-6E-SAS-RAID-Controller-Used-Working-/300780928631?

I guess that would work, but all my drives are internal so I could just run the SATA cables back into one of the openings in the case. That would require some long SATA cables though. The tower is pretty tall, almost 31", and the drives are in the upper half with the motherboard in the lower half.
http://www.anandtech.com/print/383

These are what I was finding more of yesterday on eBay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-WY335-Perc-6i-Dual-Channel-SAS-Raid-Controller-with-Tray-Battery-/310404799186?pt=US_Computer_Disk_Controllers_RAID_Cards&hash=item4845915ad2

And I was thinking I could just remove the tray and buy this bracket
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Perc-5i-6i-Standard-Height-Mounting-PCI-Bracket-/120896716151?pt=US_Computer_Disk_Controllers_RAID_Cards&hash=item1c26017d77

Be sure you get a BBU (Battery Backup Unit) as the performance is a significant difference with as compared to without. Just to be clear.

Also a Fan mod is recommend.... without fan mod the heatsink is very HOT... no joke.

Yeah I've been reading about that. Not to mention that just buying the BBU is another added expense.
I've also been reading that 602 page thread and people have come up with some great ideas for cooling the chips so I've already scoped out a few things.
This whole RAID thing is killing me. I have the entire system built and running but don't want to bring it online because I'm just going to have to re-do all the drives anyway and start over.

Thanks for pointing this out for me. It never appeared in my searches on eBay and I ended up winning the auction. Now I just need to pick up another cable and I'll be on my way finally.

Well done, $90 USD is a great value.