GA-H55-USB3, Can I use the PCIeX16 slot for a PCIex8 RAID card?

[mjscott]

Hi All,

I have the GA-H55-USB3 REV 1 board, and have purchased an external SansDigital SAS enclosure.   It comes bundled with the HighPoint 2722 PCIeX8 SAS RAID Controller.

Issue:  When I use the RAID card to build the array, it hangs for about 30 seconds, drops the discs, and then fails.

I am going to try a different RAID Card - Areca 1880X PCIx8 Card - HOWEVER - before I do:   can anyone confirm that I can use my only PCIeX16 slot for this purpose?    Or do I really need to only use that slot for GRPHX Cards...?


Background:  I see in the forum that others have had this exact same issue (with the 2720 card) - and they ended up switching to another MoBo.  Well - I am not going to switch.    So I want to make sure that I am using the MoBo in such a way that is supported.       I was going to try the Areca ARC 1880X SAS Controller next - but it is $700 bucks.     So - before I go thru the head-ache..

Maybe Pierre can chime-in on this one?   

I know you are going to ask the following:

PSU is 650W
Ram is Corsair 8GB
RAID on the board is disabled
Intel Core i7
Windows Server 2008 R2
Latest Firmware and drivers for the highpoint 2722 card are installed
Connecting to External SansDigital TR8M enclosure with WD RE4-GP (Enterprise) drives.

Did I miss anything?
Help?

[Aussie Allan]

    mjscott ..........I'm not French but .......

    Any video card will operate at full res/speed in an 8x slot.....just as the Raid card will work in 8x or 16x.....would probable work in a 4 times slot as well.

  I'm sure there'll be other to say if I'm wrong or right   For what it,s worth.....I have the Highpoint 640 card and it works a treat with 4 drives attached

 Aussie Allan

[Dark Mantis]

You are quite correct about the bandwidth required for graphics cards Allan. x8 is quite sufficient and I would agree about the x4 for drive cards although I must admit I haven't actually worked that one out.

[mjscott]

Thanks for the reply folks.

I guess my question is:  Does the PCIeX16 slot in my motherboard support cards other than a Video Card?

[Aussie Allan]

 
     YES!....In fact , any PCI-E card will work in a PCI-E slot.......please call again......luv these really taxing questions

  Aussie Allan

[Dark Mantis]

Technical stuff that Allan! Have a rest now before doing any more!

[Aussie Allan]

 WOW!   Didn't think anybody was going to keep up with me on that one! 

  Sarco Al