{"product_id":"lsi-sas3008-9300-8i-it-mode-hba-8-port-sas3-reliable-12gb-s-io","title":"LSI SAS3008 9300-8I IT-Mode HBA 8-Port SAS3 - Reliable 12Gb\/s IO","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur review of the LSI SAS3008 9300-8I IT-Mode HBA finds it best suited for storage builders who need straightforward JBOD connectivity and native pass-through for software RAID systems. The main reason to buy is the controller's focus on HBA IT mode and 12Gb\/s SAS3 lanes, which make it a practical choice for FreeNAS, ZFS, and unRAID setups where drives must be exposed directly to the OS. This card favors reliability and compatibility over flashy extras, and it is useful when you require two Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643 ports to feed multiple drive enclosures from a single card.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e12Gb\/s Data Transfer Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Delivers high-speed SAS3 throughput for faster rebuilds and data access across multiple drives in a JBOD configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLSI SAS3008 Controller:\u003c\/strong\u003e Uses a proven controller chip designed for stable HBA operation and broad compatibility with storage OS platforms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHBA IT Mode:\u003c\/strong\u003e Exposes individual drives to the host for use with ZFS, FreeNAS, and unRAID without hardware RAID interference.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643:\u003c\/strong\u003e Provides dual external\/internal ports to connect multiple drive trays or breakout cables for up to eight drives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePCI-E 3.0 Interface:\u003c\/strong\u003e Uses a PCI-E 3.0 lane set to maintain low latency and adequate bandwidth for typical multi-drive home or small-lab arrays.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe card is ideal for home lab enthusiasts, small office NAS builders, and IT pros who run \u003cstrong\u003eZFS\u003c\/strong\u003e or similar software-defined storage systems and need direct access to individual drives. It works well when paired with enclosures or SATA breakout cables that connect to the two SFF-8643 ports to populate multiple 3.5in or 2.5in drives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsers seeking an all-in-one hardware RAID solution, preconfigured management features, or on-card cache will want a dedicated RAID controller instead. Also, if you need built-in drive power connectors or hot-swap backplane management, look for a full NAS backplane solution rather than this HBA card.\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\u003eProven \u003cstrong\u003eLSI SAS3008\u003c\/strong\u003e chipset provides reliable HBA operation and wide OS compatibility.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDual SFF-8643 ports allow connecting multiple drives or external trays from one card.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eNative IT mode is perfect for \u003cstrong\u003eFreeNAS\u003c\/strong\u003e and unRAID deployments that require pass-through drives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e12Gb\/s per port class performance reduces bottlenecks for multi-drive reads and rebuilds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDoes not include on-card hardware RAID features, so users wanting that functionality need a different controller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eRequires compatible breakout cables or enclosures to connect standard SATA drives; these are not included in the card description.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eController\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLSI SAS3008\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePorts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 SATA\/SAS (via 2x SFF-8643)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eInterface\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePCI-E 3.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTransfer Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12Gb\/s per SAS3 port\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMode\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHBA IT Mode (JBOD\/pass-through)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompatible Systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZFS, FreeNAS, unRAID\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe LSI SAS3008 9300-8I is a no-frills HBA that gives builders dependable \u003cstrong\u003e12Gb\/s\u003c\/strong\u003e connectivity and clean pass-through for software RAID and ZFS-based storage. It is good value for users who need direct drive access and stable performance across multiple drives, but it is not the right choice for those who require integrated hardware RAID or bundled cabling. For most home lab and small NAS deployments it provides the right balance of compatibility and throughput.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this card support ZFS and FreeNAS?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the HBA operates in IT mode which exposes drives directly to the host OS and is compatible with ZFS and FreeNAS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I connect standard SATA drives?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUse Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643 to 4x SATA breakout cables or a compatible drive enclosure to connect SATA drives to the two card ports.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs hardware RAID available on this card?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, this product is an HBA in IT mode and does not provide onboard hardware RAID features; it is intended for pass-through JBOD use.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SXTAIGOOD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48256806584539,"sku":"B0DCGP6Z87","price":84.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/61pDIqWOcOL._AC.jpg?v=1778289883","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/lsi-sas3008-9300-8i-it-mode-hba-8-port-sas3-reliable-12gb-s-io","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}