What is the HP SN1600Q used for?

It connects a server to a Fibre Channel storage area network at up to 32Gbps per port. It is meant for enterprise SANs, not desktop or home use.

Is it backward compatible with 16Gb or 8Gb fabrics?

Fibre Channel HBAs negotiate down, so it should link at the fabric's speed. You only get 32Gb throughput with a 32Gb switch and cabling.

This is the single-port version. If you need redundancy or multipath, plan for a second HBA or a dual-port model.

It is a PCIe card for a server's expansion slot. Check your server's PCIe generation and slot availability before installing.

Host bus adapters are typically sold as the card alone. Optics and cabling for the SAN are usually bought separately.

6 stores we checked sell it, including Gotodirect, Inside Systems, HardDrivesDirect, StoragePartsDirect.com, ORM Systems.

7436345885874

At Inside Systems, for $258.00, 57% under what the other stores charge, as of our latest check.

$258.00at Inside SystemsChecked 2 h ago

57% under what the other stores charge

Compared across 6 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.