Purchased SAS drives over SATA drives—what should you do next?
Purchased SAS drives over SATA drives—what should you do next?
To simplify the situation, I purchased several used HDDs—two 4TB units each. I assumed I was getting a good deal for $50 on two 4TB drives. Unfortunately, Windows 10 is the operating system, and I’m not sure about the SAS specifications. After some research, I learned that SAS drives need a controller that connects to the motherboard via cables. I found a 12-dollar controller called ADAPTEC ASR-7805, but I’m unsure if it fits. I also need guidance on connecting the SAS drives to the controller using the right cables. My motherboard only has one PCIe slot, while most SAS controllers require multiple slots. I’m wondering if using a 1x to 16x PCIe riser could work, though performance might be affected.
Hi Ramamataz, I faced the same issue previously. The SAS drives don’t match the standard SATA interface used for hard disks, so you’ll need a SAS controller. The ADAPTEC ASR-7805 should fit, but verify it matches your motherboard and OS. You’ll also need SAS cables to link the drives to the controller. The CableCreation cables you referenced should be suitable. For the PCIe slot, a 1x to 16x riser can work, though it won’t boost lane count. This might limit performance. Be aware that risers can cause stability problems, so they’re not ideal for critical systems requiring full uptime. In short, you’ll require a SAS controller and cables. A riser can connect the controller to your board but may affect speed. Always check your motherboard and controller docs before buying. I hope you resolve this and get your drives working again.
The issue has been resolved, you know. If anyone else faces the same concern, just check the Sas controller details. SAS cable adapters linking to SAS drives and the controller should have power supplied as well. For SAS drives, ensure you use the correct PCIe riser card if a 1x SAS controller is needed. There are common forums discussing affordable SATA controllers. The ADAPTEC ASR-7805 works with Windows 10 and is budget-friendly. It fits into your PCIe slot if available; I used it because it’s simple to get, inexpensive, and easy to set up. Connect the SAS drives using the proper cables. The SATA controller will handle the initial BIOS screen. Depending on your controller, you can just use the one linked—it’s straightforward and cost-effective. Finally, choose the option that activates the SAS drives, configuring them for independent read access rather than RAID. After that, enable the HDDs in Windows and run a test.