A question about install on HP N40L microserver

[furnas]

I've been running NAS4Free on a DIY box (see sig) for quite a while, but I'm now planning to run it instead / aswell (not sure yet) on a HP N40L microserver. This time I will go for ZFS on 4 x 2TB (stuff I've read suggests Z2). The N40L has 8GB RAM.

Before I do this, though, I have a question that I'm hoping someone will kindly answer: I believe that the SATA in the N40L works at 1.5Gb/s, rather than 3Gb/s, and I've discovered that there is an unofficial BIOS mod that will enable 3Gb/s. Would there be any point in doing this (assuming appropriately fast drives are used), would I actually see any benefit?

[raulfg3]

better to use Hacked BIOS, you can use 5 SATA ports not only 4:

http://n40l.wikia.com/wiki/HP_MicroServer_N40L_Wiki

http://homeservershow.com/hp-proliant-n ... sited.html

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4829&p=25865

[furnas]

Well, even though I don't need 5 SATA ports / the capacity that >4 HDDs would provide (and I've read that 4 or 6, rather than 5 drives is better for Z2 striping), and I don't need hot-swap etc., I decided to install the hacked BIOS anyway. The main reason was for the 3Gb/s SATA, however I noticed before changing the BIOS that the original BIOS already allows this - looks like I had duff info about that.

[ChriZathens]

The hacked BIOS allows to use the 5th & 6th SATA at full speed and also adds hot swapping possibility.
If you will use 4 drives and no need for hot swap, then you can stay with the original BIOS.