controler sata pci-e

[Enquiries]

Need help for HBA IT mode controler compatibility with ZimaBoard 2, or any solution if i can get 8 Sata ports or more.

[ed]

The ZimaBoard 2 has limited PCIe bandwidth through its single x4 slot, so when adding an HBA card for additional SATA or SAS drives, you’ll need a low-power PCIe 3.0 x4 controller in IT mode. That means it passes drives directly to your OS (TrueNAS, Unraid, etc.) without RAID interference.

Here are a few reliable options that work well with the ZimaBoard 2:
• Broadcom / LSI SAS 9300-8i (PCIe 3.0 x8) – Works perfectly if you use a PCIe x8-to-x4 riser, supports 8 SATA/SAS drives via two SFF-8643 cables.
• Dell H310 Mini or IBM M1015 (flashed to IT mode) – Older but excellent value if you can find one used; needs an external power feed if using in small cases.
• SilverStone ECS06 (6 SATA ports) – Native PCIe 3.0 x2 controller that fits directly into the slot and works out of the box with Linux and TrueNAS.
• IO Crest SI-PEX40137 (8 SATA ports, Marvell 88SE9215 chipset) – Plug and play with most Linux-based NAS OS, no IT flashing needed.

Because the ZimaBoard 2 runs a full x4 PCIe lane, all these cards will work, but performance will be capped at around 3.5–3.8 GB/s shared across all drives, which is fine for a RAID 5 HDD array.

If you plan to run TrueNAS SCALE or Unraid, I recommend the LSI 9300-8i flashed in IT mode with two breakout cables — it gives the most stable operation and direct drive access.

[ed]

Hi,

The ZimaBoard 2 has limited PCIe bandwidth through its single x4 slot, so when adding an HBA card for additional SATA or SAS drives, you’ll need a low-power PCIe 3.0 x4 controller in IT mode. That means it passes drives directly to your OS (TrueNAS, Unraid, etc.) without RAID interference.

Here are a few reliable options that work well with the ZimaBoard 2:
• Broadcom / LSI SAS 9300-8i (PCIe 3.0 x8) – Works perfectly if you use a PCIe x8-to-x4 riser, supports 8 SATA/SAS drives via two SFF-8643 cables.
• Dell H310 Mini or IBM M1015 (flashed to IT mode) – Older but excellent value if you can find one used; needs an external power feed if using in small cases.
• SilverStone ECS06 (6 SATA ports) – Native PCIe 3.0 x2 controller that fits directly into the slot and works out of the box with Linux and TrueNAS.
• IO Crest SI-PEX40137 (8 SATA ports, Marvell 88SE9215 chipset) – Plug and play with most Linux-based NAS OS, no IT flashing needed.

Because the ZimaBoard 2 runs a full x4 PCIe lane, all these cards will work, but performance will be capped at around 3.5–3.8 GB/s shared across all drives, which is fine for a RAID 5 HDD array.

If you plan to run TrueNAS SCALE or Unraid, I recommend the LSI 9300-8i flashed in IT mode with two breakout cables — it gives the most stable operation and direct drive access.