Adaptec Series 6E Unified Serial SATA/SAS RAID controllers deliver the robustness of hardware RAID and the Adaptec RAID Code, enterprise class management features, and full OS support -- including open source drivers for Linux and FreeBSD -- into the entry level RAID space. Delivering the same 6Gb/s performance of the Series 6 controllers, the Series 6E are optimized for the platform where a Series 6 controller would not fit in from a price, form factor or host connectivity standpoint.
Series 6E controllers support SATA and SAS devices, and have been qualified with the same systems, motherboards, backplanes and drives as Series 6 controller. They include the same drivers, BIOS and storage management tools as Series 6 controllers and do not require additional training or qualification. Series 6E controllers are thoroughly tested with entry-level storage devices for desktop use and entry-level server platform, workstation and motherboards most typically used for basic server, performance workstation and industrial PCs.
I/O Connectivity and Data ProtectionWith its entry-level price point, Adaptec 6405E can be used as a connectivity product, with support for up to 4 SATA and SAS devices, and 128MB of DDR2-800 MHz DRAM cache for device acceleration. At the same time, the Adaptec RAID Code (ARC) delivers maximum reliability with RAID levels 0, 1, 1E, 10 and JBOD. ARC also offers RAID Level Migration (the ability to easily migrate RAID levels), Online Capacity Expansion (expand capacity without powering down the server), and Copyback Hot Spare (when a failed drive has been replaced, data is automatically copied from the hot spare back to the restored drive).
Hybrid RAIDWith Hybrid RAID 1 and 10 the Series 6E controllers offer maximum performance and reliability by combining Solid State Drives (SSDs) and Hard Disk Drives in a single array. By performing read operations from the fastest SSD and write operations on both the SSDs and HDDs it offers tremendous performance gains over standard HDD RAID arrays. By combining SSDs and HDDs it offers the benefits of both technologies and allows a better cost per GB ratio than comparable SSD only arrays.
The Case for CacheThe fastest way for a RAID controller to fulfill a read or write request is to serve data out of its cache. Savvy network administrator knows that enabling the RAID controller cache offers significant performance benefits, such as reduced latency in I/O request, bandwidth and queue depths that surpass software application limits, and on-the-fly parity calculations on sequential writes.
Intelligent Power ManagementIntelligent Power Management (IPM) slashed power and cooling costs by up to 70% using intelligent I/O caching combined with disk drive power savings via standby and power-off modes.
Pros: Hardware RAID Supports SSD drives
Cons: A fan is needed for this card as heat is a noted issue. Adaptec sells a fan kit for it. Part number is 2275100-R. However, it is hard to find online. Any 40mm fan will work. I am using a Noctua fan. Newegg part number is N82E16835608033. Noctua fans are quiet and very reliable. I took one star off for using the word "single" instead of "bare bones" or "without cable, software, and installation guide" or "card only". I took another star off for not including a fan when Adaptec admits that cooling is a problem and the heat sink used on the card is designed to hold a fan.
Overall Review: A cable is required for this card. Adaptec makes three different cables for this card. Two are for SAS and one is for SATA. Newegg sells two of them: 2275300-R for SAS and 2272300-R for SATA. The third is 2275200-R. The word "single" at the end of the product title means that it includes only the card and a low profile bracket. It does not include: -Quick Installation Guide(English/French/German/Italian/Spanish/Japanese) -Software and documentation DVDs -Cable: one mSASx4-4SATA x1-SB, 0.7m Newegg sells the same card with these items with the word "kit" at the end of the product title. It comes with the above items. Part number is N82E16816103229.