[ Yes, SP^M'n the list with follow-ups to myself ;-]
From: Bryan J. Smith
If you are building a new system with such storage requirements, I would really push you towards a 3Ware Escalade 8006-2 or 8506-4.
When cost is supreme, then just a Escalade 7006-2 or 8006-2 with (2) [P]ATA or [S]ATA drives is what you want. It only adds ~$125 to system cost.
When you want to minimize cost, but also minimize troubles, I recommend an Escalade 8506-4LP with an EN-8721A02 (Beige) or EN-8721B02 (Black) 5.25" x 3U (3xHH) internal enclosure. SATA was explicitly designed for hot-swap with fixed, SCA-like, staggered, fixed-position connectors with _no_ extra interconnect (i.e., like SCA SCSI drives, SATA drives _should_ connect _directly_ to the backplane, and the "can" is just a frame/handle), so _avoid_ doing such with [P]ATA which is only asking for issues.
The EN-8721x02 will only set you back $150, so it's well worth it (especially when you're already spending $300 for the Escalade 8506-4LP, it's only 50% more). It's also nice to have an "extra can" for either holding a spare, or mounting a replacement without having to take one of the existing drives out before it is replaced.
Enlight EN-8721: http://us.enlightcorp.com/products/server/detel.php?serial=42
Enlight EN-8721_SATA (x02) Guide: http://us.enlightcorp.com/products/server/pdf_files/EN-8721_SATA.pdf
-- Bryan J. Smith mailto:b.j.smith@ieee.org