LSI Logic 9750-4i 8-Port SATA RAID Controller - Reliable 6Gb/s PCIe

Our review of the LSI Logic 9750-4i 8-Port SATA RAID Controller finds it best suited for system builders and IT technicians who need a compact, entry-level hardware RAID card with solid compatibility. The bottom line: this controller provides reliable SATA and SAS connectivity at 6Gb/s per port and a hardware-assisted RAID solution with onboard memory, making it a pragmatic choice for small servers, workstation storage arrays, or RAID upgrades where proven silicon and PCIe 2.0 compatibility matter.

Key Features

• 8-Port Connectivity: Provides multiple internal ports to expand storage capacity and attach a mix of SATA and SAS drives for flexible array configurations.
• 6Gb/s Per Port Performance: Offers 6 gigabit per second link speed support to maximize throughput on supported drives and reduce transfer bottlenecks.
• PCIe 2.0 Interface: Uses a PCI Express 2.0 slot for wide compatibility with many server and desktop motherboards without requiring the latest platform.
• Onboard 512MB Cache: Includes 512MB of memory to buffer I/O and improve sustained performance under mixed workloads.
• Hardware RAID Support: Implements RAID functions in hardware, offloading work from the host CPU and simplifying array management for common RAID levels.

Who It's For

The LSI Logic 9750-4i is aimed at IT professionals and hobbyists building small RAID arrays who want a dependable controller with 6Gb/s support and onboard cache. It works well in retrofit scenarios where processors and motherboards do not require a PCIe 3.0 card and where proven LSI/3WARE firmware compatibility is valuable.

Users who need the absolute latest NVMe speeds, very high port counts without backplanes, or vendor support for new server platforms should look elsewhere. This card fits best where SATA/SAS drives and a modest port count meet budget and stability priorities.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Solid 6Gb/s per-port throughput that benefits modern SATA and SAS drives.
• 512MB onboard cache improves sustained writes and buffering under load.
• Hardware RAID offload keeps host CPU overhead low during array operations.
• PCIe 2.0 compatibility ensures installation in a wide range of older systems.

Cons

• PCIe 2.0 interface may limit peak bandwidth compared with newer PCIe generations for very high-throughput setups.
• Not focused on NVMe or flash-optimized features, so it is less suitable for ultra low-latency storage needs.

Specifications

Product Name	LSI Logic 9750-4i 8-Port SATA RAID Controller
Controller Chip	LSI Logic LSI00215 3WARE SAS 9750-4I
Port Count	8 internal SATA/SAS ports (4-port kit reference)
Interface	PCIe 2.0
Link Speed	6Gb/s per port
Onboard Memory	512MB cache

Our Verdict

The LSI Logic 9750-4i is a practical, cost-conscious RAID controller for users who need dependable 6Gb/s SATA and SAS performance with hardware RAID and onboard cache. It is good value in scenarios that prioritize stability and compatibility over bleeding-edge throughput, making it a sensible upgrade for small servers and desktop RAID builds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this card support both SATA and SAS drives?
Yes, the controller supports SATA and SAS drives and can be used in mixed-drive arrays where the backplane or cabling supports both.

What slot does it require?
The card uses a PCIe 2.0 x8/x16 compatible slot, which fits most server and desktop motherboards that provide PCI Express lanes.

Is onboard cache included?
Yes, the card ships with 512MB of onboard memory to buffer I/O and improve sustained performance under load.