RAID Controllers

RAID Controllers questions

Which RAID Controllers brands does Memory Clearance carry?

The most listed brands in RAID Controllers are Dell, HP, IBM, Adaptec, LSI Logic and HPE. Every listing names its manufacturer and part number, so you can search by either.

Are these RAID Controllers products new or refurbished?

Both. Of the 3,749 listings, 1,638 state a condition: 1,449 are refurbished and 189 are new. The other 2,111 do not record one, so ask for it when you request a quote. The condition shown on a listing is the condition you receive.

How do I get a price on a RAID Controllers part?

1,080 RAID Controllers listings show a price you can order at. Items marked "Call for Price" have a Request for Quote button; send the part number and quantity and the sales team replies weekdays between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm PST.

How to choose a RAID controller

If you're replacing a failed controller in a working array, protect the array's configuration first. A RAID array's metadata and cache layout are written by the firmware of the family that built it; a different family's controller will not import it. This category lists 3,749 controllers across 65 brands, led by Dell (1,241), HP (625), IBM (528), Adaptec (257) and LSI Logic (236). PERC (575) is Dell, Smart Array (256) is HP and HPE, ServeRAID (219) is IBM, MegaRAID (212) and NetRAID (48) are LSI Logic and Broadcom. Match the family and firmware of the card you're replacing before you order.

Host interface and generation are next: SAS 6Gb/s and 12Gb/s, 24G tri-mode SAS/SATA/NVMe, 16Gb/s Fibre Channel, and PCIe 3.0 x8 to PCIe 4.0 x16 all appear here. A faster card still powers on in an older system, but the array runs at the speed of its drives and backplane, not the controller's ceiling. Read the interface and generation off the part label rather than assuming a newer card is a drop-in replacement.

Drive count and port layout come from the model name. A port suffix like 16i (16 internal ports) or 16-P (16 total) tells you how many drives connect directly; more drives than that needs a SAS expander to the backplane. This category mixes hardware types: 1,780 listings are SAS Controller, 515 SCSI Controller, 388 SATA/SAS Controller, 126 SATA Controller, 92 Fibre Channel Controller, 32 plainly RAID Controller, 27 iSCSI Controller and 19 Host Bus Adapter; 1,818 listings confirm RAID support in their attributes. Which RAID levels a card supports (0, 1, 5, 6, 10) is set by its firmware, not the drives, so check the specific model.

Cache size and backup power aren't always built into the card: standalone cache modules are sold here too, such as a 1GB flash-backed write cache with no battery, a separate 1GB kit complete with a battery, and 512MB flash-backed modules for other Smart Array controllers. Keep the cache module with the battery or capacitor pack it shipped with when you order.

Condition and price close the decision. 166 listings here are stated new and 1,371 refurbished; where a listing doesn't state one, ask at quote. 1,098 of the 3,749 listings carry an online price; the rest carry a Request for Quote button. Quotes are answered weekdays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm PST on (800) 733-1169.

RAID controller buying questions

Will a RAID array built on one controller work on a different controller?

Only if the replacement is the same family and a compatible firmware revision as the card that built the array. A Dell PERC array will not import onto an HPE Smart Array, an IBM ServeRAID, or a MegaRAID controller, even when the SAS generation matches. Read the model and firmware off the failed card's label, and keep its cache module and battery or flash pack with it.

What's the difference between a RAID controller and an HBA?

A RAID controller manages the array and presents finished volumes to the operating system; a Host Bus Adapter passes each drive through individually with no RAID layer. This category includes 19 listings tagged Host Bus Adapter and 32 tagged plainly as RAID Controller. See the RAID controller vs HBA guide if you're not sure which your rebuild needs.

How many drives can one RAID controller support?

It depends on the ports built into the card and whether you add an expander. A 16i or 16-P suffix in the model name means 16 ports; more drives than that requires a SAS expander to the backplane. Check the exact port count on the model you're ordering.

What's the difference between battery-backed and flash-backed RAID cache?

Both protect data in write cache during a power loss. A battery-backed unit keeps the cache DIMM powered until the array comes back up, and the battery self-discharges over years. A flash-backed write cache (FBWC) copies the cache to NAND flash using a capacitor for power, so nothing depends on a battery staying charged. This category carries both, including flash-backed cache sold specifically with or without its battery kit.