We are talking 32-bit PCI. Currently there are 4 slots available and 5 total. The other is populated by a gigabit NIC. Yeah, I'm aware 32-bit PCI can't fully support a gigabit NIC. Blah blah blah....

I have used RAID5 software in Linux before (although I didn't set up the array) and that seemed to work. Of course, the drives never died, so I am unaware how well it does during crunch time. Other than that, I have used and set up a RAID5 array with a $1300 Mylex 3 channel UW SCSI card. That thing was pretty excellent when a drive died.

So, it seems that the only problem with RAID software is when it's made by Microsoft? I can believe it.