Here are the IDE and SCSI host adapters we recommend.

Parallel ATA host adapter

Promise Technology Ultra133 TX2 (check price)
SIIG UltraATA 133 PCI (check price)

An add-on IDE adapter is needed to upgrade systems with older motherboards or in which an embedded ATA adapter has failed. Either of these inexpensive adapters will do the job. They have similar feature sets and cost about the same. We give a slight nod to the SIIG unit because it has a 5-year warranty versus only two years on the Promise unit.

Serial ATA host adapter

SIIG Serial ATA PCI (check price)
Promise SATA150 TX4 (check price)

Serial ATA hard drives are now readily available, and will eventually replace parallel ATA drives entirely. If you upgrade older PATA systems and would prefer to use SATA drives, you can add SATA support by installing an inexpensive SATA adapter. Although SATA adapters are available from several companies, the only ones we’ve used are those made by SIIG. They’re cheap, easy to find, and just work. The SIIG unit we recommend has only two SATA ports. If we needed four ports, we'd probably choose the Promise SATA150 TX4, although we have not tested it.

Parallel ATA RAID host adapter

2-channel, RAID 0, 1, 0+1: Promise Technology FastTrak TX2000 (check price)
4-channel, RAID 0, 1, 0+1: Promise Technology FastTrak TX4000 (check price)

RAID was historically limited by cost to SCSI servers or high-end workstations, but Promise FastTrak controllers make RAID affordable by using inexpensive IDE drives. The FastTrak TX2000 is a bootable, two-channel ATA adapter that uses only one IRQ and supports RAID 0 striping for performance, RAID 1 mirroring for data security, and RAID 0+1 to provide both. With fast IDE hard disks selling for $1/GB, using the TX2000 with two hard disks allows you to build a redundant disk subsystem at minimal cost. Using one drive per channel in a RAID 1 array allows you to hot swap drives if those drives are installed in Promise SuperSwap chasses.

We have not actually tested the TX2000 or TX4000. However, we did a FastTrak100 TX2 (the predecessor of the TX2000) in RAID 1 mode in one of our servers, where it operated for months under heavy load without problems. We extensively tested the supported RAID levels and found that all worked exactly as advertised. On the basis of our favorable experience with this earlier Promise RAID adapter, we have no hesitation in recommending their current models. (Note: If you are running Linux, make certain that TX2000/TX4000 drivers are available for your distribution and version.)

If you need both high performance and redundancy, using four ATA hard disks in RAID 0+1 mode provides an inexpensive solution, although hot-swapping is no longer possible. The TX4000 has four channels and uses two IRQs. The advantage of the TX4000 is that it can support as many as eight ATA drives if hot-swapping is not required. Having four channels means you can instead install only four drives, each as Master on its own channel, allowing hot-swap to be used with a four-drive configuration.

If all you need is basic hardware RAID, it may already be built into your motherboard. Many high-end motherboards include hardware RAID based on Promise or HighPoint RAID chipsets. Such embedded RAID solutions are often slower and less feature-laden than add-on cards (e.g., they may provide only RAID 0 or RAID 0 and RAID 1, but not stacked RAID), but they may suffice. If you have a recent Intel motherboard based on the 875P or 865-series chipsets, you may already have built in RAID 0. The Intel ICH5R southbridge supports two (single-channel) S-ATA interfaces, and permits configuring two S-ATA drives as a RAID 0. Note that many third-party 875P and 865-series motherboards do not use ICH5R, but instead use ICH5, which does not support embedded RAID.

RAID 0, RAID 1, and stacked RAID 0+1 are relatively easy to implement and not hardware intensive. RAID 5 is a different matter, because parity blocks must be calculated for the data blocks as they are written to the array. Accordingly, RAID 5 adapters are more complex and more expensive than the simpler models we have tested because they generally include a dedicated processor to calculate parity data. We do not have sufficient experience with RAID 5 adapters to make a recommendation. If we had to choose one without testing, we'd probably choose the Promise unit, although units from Adaptec, 3Ware, and others also have good reputations.

Serial ATA RAID host adapter

No recommendation

We have not yet had the opportunity to test any of the Serial ATA RAID controllers available from Promise, SIIG, Adapter, and others. We have briefly tested the embedded RAID 0 provided by the Intel ICH5R southbridge in the Intel 875P and 865-series chipsets. Our impression is that it is reliable (or as reliable as a non-redundant "RAID 0" system can be) but is sufficient only for those who require only basic RAID 0 capabilities.

For SCSI host adapters, we recommend Adaptec exclusively. They are universally supported and we never have problems with them. Every time we’ve been tempted to pay a bit less for another brand, we’ve later regretted that false economy. If you install SCSI in a system, use an Adaptec host adapter. Period.

SCSI host adapter (desktop system)

Adaptec 19160 (check price)

For desktop systems or entry-level workstations with one or two U2W or Ultra160 SCSI hard drives and other SCSI devices such as CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and CD-R(W) drives, choose the 19160. This host adapter provides one internal 68-pin LVD connector, one internal 50-pin UltraSCSI connector, and one external 50-pin UltraSCSI connector. The 19160 includes drivers for Windows 2000 Pro, Windows XP, Windows 9X, and Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, but not for server operating systems. Barbara uses a 19160 in her main system.

The 29160N host adapter is similar to the 19160, but adds drivers for NetWare, various Unices, and Windows NT/2000 Server, as well as replacing the standard 3-position internal LVD cable with a 5-position cable. Rather than a 29160N, you might just as well buy a 29160, described below, which sells for the same price as the 29160N and adds 64-bit PCI support.

SCSI host adapter (server/workstation)

Adaptec 29160 (check price)

For small to mid-range servers or workstations with 64-bit PCI slots, choose the Adaptec 29160, which is optimized to support multiple LVD hard disks internally and externally, and also supports multiple supplementary SCSI devices. This host adapter provides one internal 68-pin LVD connector, one internal 68-pin Ultra Wide SCSI connector, one internal 50-pin UltraSCSI connector, and one external 68-pin LVD connector. The 29160 includes drivers for all common workstation and server operating systems. We use a 29160 in our main network server, and Robert uses a 29160 in his workstation. Although the 29160 supports 64-bit PCI, it can also be used in a 32-bit PC slot.

For times when you use an ATA hard disk, but need an inexpensive 10 MB/s (SCSI-1, SCSI-2, Fast-SCSI) or 20 MB/s (UltraSCSI) host adapter to support other peripherals, we recommend the following:

Fast SCSI host adapter

Adaptec 2906 (check price)

The 2906 bus mastering PCI host adapter is suitable for non-hard disk SCSI peripherals such as CD drives, tape drives, scanners, and other devices for which 10 MB/s is sufficient.

UltraSCSI host adapter

Adaptec 2930U (check price)

The 2930U is appropriate for peripherals for which 20 MB/s is sufficient.

Most people don’t think much about cables, but high-quality cables are as important a part of your disk subsystem as the host adapter or the disk itself. We recommend the following cables:

ATA cables

The cables supplied with most high-quality motherboards, host adapters, and disk drives are good enough, if not the best available. We generally use those cables and have never had a problem with them. But cheap cables, like those supplied with no-name motherboards or sold for $2.00 in the bargain bin at the computer store, are junk. Computer stores and on-line vendors often carry two lines of ATA cables, a “value” series and a “premium” series. Our experience has been that “value” cables are a waste of money whereas the “premium” cables are usually perfectly acceptable.

SCSI cables

Adaptec

We have used Adaptec SCSI cables for years and have never had any problem with any of them. Adaptec sells a complete line of high-quality SCSI cables at reasonable prices, and we see no reason to spend more. Belkin and Granite Digital sell top-quality SCSI cables, which are priced accordingly. We’ve never had occasion to use them, although we know many people who swear by them.