{"product_id":"lsi-logic-lsi00197-4-port-sas-raid-controller-6gb-s-512mb","title":"LSI Logic LSI00197 4-Port SAS RAID Controller - 6Gb\/s 512MB","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review the LSI Logic LSI00197 4-Port SAS RAID Controller is evaluated for small servers and workstation users who need reliable hardware RAID without excess complexity. The bottom line: it is a practical, no-frills controller that delivers \u003cstrong\u003ehardware RAID\u003c\/strong\u003e acceleration and 6Gb\/s SAS\/SATA support in a compact PCI Express x8 card. For IT pros replacing aging controllers or building a modest RAID array, this card offers straightforward performance and compatibility at a reasonable price point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e4 internal SAS ports:\u003c\/strong\u003e The single SFF-8087 Mini-SAS connector provides four lanes to attach multiple drives while keeping cabling tidy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e6Gb\/s interface:\u003c\/strong\u003e Native 6 gigabit per second SAS and SATA support lets modern drives operate at their intended throughput.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e512MB DDR SDRAM cache:\u003c\/strong\u003e Onboard cache helps maintain consistent I\/O performance for RAID operations and improves write efficiency.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCI Express x8 form factor:\u003c\/strong\u003e The PCIe 2.0 x8 interface provides enough host bandwidth for multi-drive setups in server and workstation slots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompact single-card solution:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fits into standard PCIe slots and uses a single internal Mini-SAS connector for easy installation in dense systems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe LSI00197 is aimed at small business servers, home lab builders, and IT technicians who need a dependable \u003cstrong\u003eSAS RAID controller\u003c\/strong\u003e with four port connectivity and onboard cache. It is a good match when upgrading older systems that still have PCIe x8 capacity and require hardware RAID for mixed SAS and SATA drives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUsers who need very high-end features such as large onboard memory, battery-backed cache, or advanced management suites should look elsewhere. Likewise, buyers seeking NVMe RAID or external SAS expanders for dozens of drives will need a different class of controller.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGood balance of features for the price, with 6Gb\/s support and 512MB cache that help real-world RAID performance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSimple installation using a single SFF-8087 Mini-SAS connector keeps internal cabling compact.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePCI Express x8 card fits most server and workstation motherboards where an x8 slot is available.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNot targeted at enterprise users who require battery-backed cache or very large onboard memory for intense write workloads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLSI\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLSI00197 (SAS9260-4i)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCache\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e512MB DDR SDRAM\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eInterface\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCI Express x8 (PCIe 2.0)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePorts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 x SFF-8087 Mini-SAS (4 internal lanes)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDrive Support\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6Gb\/s SAS and SATA\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe LSI Logic LSI00197 4-Port SAS RAID Controller is a solid choice for small servers and lab systems that need reliable \u003cstrong\u003e4-port SAS RAID\u003c\/strong\u003e capability without premium extras. It delivers practical performance with 6Gb\/s support and 512MB cache, making it a cost-effective upgrade for mixed SAS\/SATA setups where enterprise features are not required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this card support SATA drives?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. It supports both 6Gb\/s SAS and SATA drives through the Mini-SAS SFF-8087 connector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat slot does this require?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe controller uses a PCI Express x8 interface and will fit in compatible x8 or larger PCIe slots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs cache battery backed?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. The onboard 512MB DDR SDRAM cache is not shown with battery backup in the product description, so consider that for critical write-heavy workloads.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LSI","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48602229801179,"sku":"B005WJDIC6","price":70.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/41RkMWKtOPL._AC.jpg?v=1778402315","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/lsi-logic-lsi00197-4-port-sas-raid-controller-6gb-s-512mb","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}