DIY RAID chassis using Areca 8026 expander

I've seen some of the DIY RAID chassis builds here, and while perusing the site I also came across the Areca 8026 expander. By the looks of the unit, it appears that using this product in a DIY build would eliminate the need for a motherboard inside the chassis. Can anyone confirm if that is correct?

Also, does the expander need some sort of configuration to achieve the high speeds required for 2k video?

If it does need to be configured, can this be done without using RS-422 connection on the expander?

And lastly, does anyone have experience with this expander and an Atto RAID controller. Specifically the R680?


...I am a DIY enthusiast, I can't resist saving money and getting to know how my products work more intimately...