Controllers Information
RAID Controllers
If you do not intend to put your hard drives in a RAID array, then you do not need a RAID controller.
Dedicated hardware RAID controllers offer a much better solution for RAID than simple onboard controllers. These have better driver compatibility, work in both Windows and Linux, and support a wider range of array types. They also have dedicated processors, so that no extra load is put on the main CPU. For a high-end RAID solution where performance and stability are important, one of these is a must.
To help you select which one is best for you, match the type of connection available on your motherboard and the number of drives you need. Alternatively, talk to one of our customer service representatives and we can make sure you get the best product for your needs.
For more info on RAID arrays, check out our hardware article.
Other controllers
If you need additional ports above and beyond what your motherboard and case provide, we offer additional controller cards for most common port types.
| StarTech Type C USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbit/s Card | Asus HYPER M.2 X16 Gen 4 Card | Vantec 4-port 5Gbps USB 3.0 Card | Asus IPMI Expansion Card | Blackmagic Design DeckLink Mini Monitor 4K | Highpoint RocketRAID 3720C 8 Port RAID Controller | Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 HDMI PCI-E Capture Card | Elgato Cam Link Pro Multi Camera PCI-E Capture Card | LSI 9361-8i SAS/SATA RAID Controller | Blackmagic Design DeckLink Studio 4K 6G-SDI | HighPoint SSD7505 Gen4 M.2 Card | Blackmagic Design DeckLink 8K Pro Capture Card | Nvidia Quadro Sync II Kit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card Specifications | |||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Startech | Vantec | Asus | Blackmagic | Highpoint | Elgato | Elgato | LSI | Blackmagic | Highpoint | Blackmagic | ||
| Type of Ports | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gbit/s) | USB 3.0 | Mini-SAS SFF8643 | Mini-SAS SFF8643 | |||||||||
| Number of Ports | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||||||
| Port Location(s) | External | Rear | Rear | External | External | Internal | N/A | ||||||
| RAID Modes Supported | 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 | 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60 | Single, 0, 1, 10 | ||||||||||
| Native Supported Disks | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||
| Maximum Supported Disks | 8 | 128 | 4 | ||||||||||
| Battery Backup Available? | Yes | No | |||||||||||
| Motherboard Connection | PCI Express x4 | PCI Express x16 | PCI Express x4 | PCI Express x1 | PCI Express x4 | PCI Express x8 | PCI Express x4 | PCI Express x4 | PCI Express x8 | PCI Express x4 | PCI Express x16 | PCI Express x8 | |
| Interface | PCI Express 3.0 x4 | PCI Express 4.0 x16 | PCI Express 2.0 x4 | PCI Express 3.0 x1 | PCI Express 2.0 x4 | PCI Express 3.0 x8 | PCI Express 2.0 x4 | PCI Express 2.0 x4 | PCI Express 3.0 x8 | PCI Express 2.0 x4 | PCI Express 4.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x8 | |
| Form Factor | Low/Full Height | Low/Full Height | Low/Full Height | Low/Full Height | Low/Full Height | Low/Full Height | Full Height | Low/Full Height | Full Height | Full Height | Full Height | ||
| Power Connector(s) | Molex | 6-Pin PCIe | 6-Pin PCIe | 6-Pin PCIe | |||||||||
| Controller Chip | |||||||||||||
| Brand | Asmedia | Aspeed | LSI | Highpoint | |||||||||
| Model | ASM3242 | AST2600 | LSISAS3108 dual core RAID on Chip (ROC) | 7500 series | |||||||||
| Memory Amount | 1024 MB | ||||||||||||
| Memory Expandable? | No | ||||||||||||
| Dimensions | |||||||||||||
| Height | 69 mm | 56 mm | 56 mm | 112 mm | 111 mm | ||||||||
| Width | 18.5 mm | 14 mm | 14 mm | 195 mm | 19 mm | ||||||||
| Depth | 143 mm | 122 mm | 122 mm | 21 mm | 152 mm | ||||||||
| Net Weight | 0.175 kg | 0.075 kg | 0.14 kg | 0.291 kg | 0.15 kg | 0.102 kg | 0.146 kg | 0.331 kg | 0.331 kg | .60 kg | 0.331 kg | 0.341 kg |