Cost Comparison for Tower Solutions
15 or 16 Bays (as of December 13, 2012)

SAS Expanders

SAS (no expanders)

SATA Multilane

Port Multipliers

15-bay Tower ($1499)

2 x 8-bay Tower ($680)

2 x 8-bay Tower ($680)

3 x 5-bay Tower ($750)

LSI 9286-8e ($760)

see also:
Areca ARC-1882x

LSI 9280-16i4e ($949)

see also:
Areca ARC-1882ix-16

3ware 9650SE-16ML ($840)

4-Port PCIe ($170)

15 x Toshiba 2TB ($1575)

16 x Toshiba 2TB ($1680)

16 x Toshiba 2TB ($1680)

15 x Toshiba 2TB ($1575)

1m SFF-8088 ($47)

4 x .5m SFF-8087 ($110)
4 x 1m SFF-8470 ($188)

4 x .5m SFF-8087 ($110)
4 x 1m SFF-8470 ($188)

3 x 1m eSATA ($22.50)

4 port 8087-8088 ($109)

4 port 8087-8088 ($109)

$3920.00
total cost

$3716.00
total cost

$3607.00
total cost

$2517.50
total cost

$261.33
per drive

$232.25
per drive

$225.44
per drive

$167.83
per drive

$130.66
per TB

$116.12
per TB

$112.72
per TB

$83.92
per TB

SAS Expanders = comparable cost + the latest controllers + potential for expansion

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