Does SAS cable brand matter?

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dexvx

Member
Mar 6, 2014
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Need some new SAS-8643 breakout cables, and I've never given any real thought to branding, so I thought to ask here.

Looking on eBay, Newegg/Amazon, you have the following selection (shipped prices for 0.5-0.75m):

Coboc , $11
eBay generic, $13-15
Cable Matters, $18
iStarUSA, $21
Areca, $45

Was leaning towards Cable Matters, because that's what we tend to use in the labs. Thoughts?
 

BLinux

cat lover server enthusiast
Jul 7, 2016
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it's not so much the "brand" as how they are actually wired that matters. the part that usually causes a problem are the sideband wires. because sideband use is optional, some cables don't wire it (to save a few bucks?). on systems that use the sideband, this could cause an error. I think "Cable Matters" is one of the brands that some times have this problem.
 

i386

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2016
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I had a variation of Adaptec/Microsemi and Supermicro cables.
I like the supermicro ones becuase they are very flexible and not as sturdy as the adaptec cables. With the adaptec cables I always had that feel that I would rip the sff cages of the hba/raid controller or the backplanes.
 

dexvx

Member
Mar 6, 2014
43
4
8
Ended up purchasing 2x 60cm breakout (with sideband) cables from Supermicro. Although TBH, not really sure how sideband cable works with a RAID card.

Cost was $12/cable + $10 shipped = ~$32. I have a higher level of trust with Supermicro.