The original post: /r/datahoarder by /u/Nexusyak on 2024-12-23 10:18:42.

I’m looking to expand the number of drives in my regular PC (not a NAS build) as I’ve run out of motherboard SATA ports. I’m trying to decide between a regular PCIe SATA expansion card and an HBA card. I have never done this before and not 100% sure on how to do it.

Current Setup:

-Gigabyte Aorus Elite Z390 -8 drives SATA, SSD, NMVE drives currently connected -4x 20TB SATA drives I want to add already. (I will have space for 3-5 more additional drives after those) -Using a Fractal Define R6 Case with additional trays.

Questions:

1. For a regular PC user, what are the real-world advantages/disadvantages of using an HBA card vs a PCIe SATA expansion card?
2. If HBA is the way to go, would something like the LSI 9211-8i be a good choice for a regular desktop user?
3. Are there any compatibility issues I should be aware of?
4. What’s the typical power consumption difference between these options?
5. Additional parts you think I will need besides the expansion card?

Budget: No budget restrictions.

Additional Information:

• I’ll be using this for a regular desktop PC, not for a NAS or server
• Primary concern is reliability and ease of use
• Looking to understand the real-world performance differences
• Not looking to do a raid setup. Not crucial data.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,