3ware or Areca for sataII multilane pci-e x8 controller?

I'm torn between two choices, wondering if anyone knows the pros and
cons of each if any...

I prefer the 3ware brand, but i'm not opposed to Areca, as we've had
them before and they work well.

My main goal is to have dynamically expandable array ability without
recreating the array, which i know the 3ware does, but not sure on the
Areca.

Here are the two in question:

3ware 9650SE-12ML-KIT http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?Sku=7229801
(full height); RAID10

areca arc-1230 http://www.directron.com/arc1230.html (low profile)
RAID1E

I noticed the areca only has RAID1E, but i guess this is just as good
if not more flexible than 10? This is key too as we will be using
RAID10.. Our case is also not full height or technically riser
capable, though we were planning on buying an 8x riser and using
standoffs to make the full height 3ware work in our 2u case (this
should be fine, but requires a little more effort).

Would we be just as well off going with the areca as the 3ware? Will
both perform just as well?

Also.. we have SAS ability and I know 3ware makes cables that would
work with our non multilane SAS backplane, not sure on the areca,
should we switch a few years later (from SATAII to SAS).

Thanks

Previously markm75 <markm75c.RemoveThis@msn.com> wrote:
> I'm torn between two choices, wondering if anyone knows the pros and
> cons of each if any...

> I prefer the 3ware brand, but i'm not opposed to Areca, as we've had
> them before and they work well.

> My main goal is to have dynamically expandable array ability without
> recreating the array, which i know the 3ware does, but not sure on the
> Areca.

> Here are the two in question:

> 3ware 9650SE-12ML-KIT http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?Sku=7229801
> (full height); RAID10

> areca arc-1230 http://www.directron.com/arc1230.html (low profile)
> RAID1E

> I noticed the areca only has RAID1E, but i guess this is just as good
> if not more flexible than 10? This is key too as we will be using
> RAID10.. Our case is also not full height or technically riser
> capable, though we were planning on buying an 8x riser and using
> standoffs to make the full height 3ware work in our 2u case (this
> should be fine, but requires a little more effort).

> Would we be just as well off going with the areca as the 3ware? Will
> both perform just as well?

> Also.. we have SAS ability and I know 3ware makes cables that would
> work with our non multilane SAS backplane, not sure on the areca,
> should we switch a few years later (from SATAII to SAS).

If it is Linux, 3ware is preferrable, since their driver is
in-kernel. The Arcea drivers work well also, but you have to patch
them in yourself. It also has no complete SMART support, which I think
is a big minus. 3ware has. As to dynamic extension, I am not sure
also. We have some Arcea 8 port controllers running, but that question
did not come up.

Arno