LSI Logic MegaRAID SAS 9361-8i Controller Card - Reliable RAID 8-Port

Our review of the LSI Logic MegaRAID SAS 9361-8i finds it best suited for system builders and IT professionals who need a robust, hardware RAID controller with broad SATA and SAS compatibility. The card delivers dependable RAID handling with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60 and a dedicated 2GB cache, making it a solid choice where data integrity and throughput matter. It is a practical, low-profile PCIe 3.0 x8 solution for servers or workstations that require 12 gbps SAS links and up to eight external or internal ports without investing in an enterprise SAN appliance.

Key Features

• 8-Port Connectivity: Eight SAS/SATA ports provide flexible connection for multiple drives, simplifying expansion and enclosure support.
• 2GB Cache: The onboard 2GB cache helps smooth burst I/O and improve write performance under mixed workloads.
• RAID Level Support: Hardware support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60 delivers a range of redundancy and performance options for different use cases.
• High Throughput Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x8 and 12 gbps SAS links offer headroom for high-bandwidth storage arrays and fast SSDs.
• Low Profile Form Factor: Low profile design makes the card compatible with compact server and workstation chassis where space is limited.

Who It's For

The MegaRAID SAS 9361-8i is aimed at IT professionals, homelab enthusiasts, and small business servers that need reliable, hardware-accelerated RAID without moving to proprietary controller ecosystems. It is well suited to environments combining SATA 6gb/s drives and SAS 12gb/s devices where manageability and redundancy are priorities.

Those who should look elsewhere include casual desktop users who never run RAID arrays or anyone seeking a turnkey external storage appliance with bundled enclosures and warranties; this card is a component-level solution that expects familiarity with RAID configuration and driver installation.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Robust hardware RAID support across multiple levels provides flexibility for redundancy and performance.
• 2GB of onboard cache improves sustained write performance in I/O-heavy tasks.
• PCIe 3.0 x8 and 12 gbps SAS support give strong throughput for mixed SAS/SATA arrays.

Cons

• As a component card, it requires driver setup and RAID configuration, so it is not plug-and-play for inexperienced users.

Specifications

Brand	LSI Logic
Model	MegaRAID SAS 9361-8i
Ports	8 SATA/SAS ports
Cache	2GB onboard
RAID Levels	0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60
Interface	PCI Express 3.0 x8
Drive Speeds	SATA 6gb/s, SAS 12gb/s

Our Verdict

The LSI Logic MegaRAID SAS 9361-8i is a dependable, value-oriented RAID controller for servers and advanced workstations that need hardware RAID, strong throughput, and multi-drive flexibility. IT pros and builders will appreciate the 2GB cache and broad RAID level support; those comfortable with driver installation and array configuration will find it a practical way to add enterprise-style redundancy and performance without excessive cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this card support both SATA and SAS drives?
Yes. It supports SATA 6gb/s and SAS 12gb/s devices on its eight ports.

What interface is required on the host system?
The card uses PCI Express 3.0 x8 and requires an available x8 or larger PCIe slot.

Which RAID levels can it handle?
It supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60 for a wide range of redundancy and performance configurations.