Smart-2/p Array Controller

[Ayman Altounji]

I pulled 2 SCSI cards out of a retired Prosignia 500. They say replace with part number 199633-001 and seem to be Smart-2/p array controllers. I want to purchase two small drives to hook up to each one and place in a new desk top running Windows XP. I already put in one of the cards an a CD-ROM drive from the Prosignia. The drive works well and XP identifies the card as an LSI Logic device with a 53C825/A chip. Can anyone tell me: 1.) What specifications to look for when ordering the drives? i.e: LVD, 16-bit, ultra wide, SCA, SCSI-2, etc. 2.) Where I can download a manual for the controller. 3.) Can these cards be configured to run RAID-0 and how?
Thank you.

[Ayman Altounji]

Based on the ProSignia 500 Maintenance & Service Guide, that part number is defined as a FAST-WIDE SCSI-2P Controller, and NOT a SMART-2P array controller.

Unfortunately I have no documentation for, nor experience with the FAST-WIDE SCSI-2P controller and cannot provide details or specifications - I can make suggestions.

First - since the card is not an array controller - you can't run RAID.

Second - SCSI devices are typically backward compatible and you can PROBABLY run anything upto and including Ultra-160 disks on this card, although the throughput will be limited by the card.

I'm suggesting this based on personal experience - and the fact that I am running 18Gb Ultra-160 disks on an Adaptec Fast-WIDE controller in my ProSignia

[Ayman Altounji]

As an after thought - unless you specifically need SCSI - it's probably cheaper to go with EIDE/ATA.