Broadcom 9500‑8i Tri‑Mode Storage Adapter (HBA)

The Broadcom 9500‑8i is a high‑performance, enterprise‑grade Host Bus Adapter (HBA) designed for modern data‑centre and workstation storage needs. It supports SAS, SATA and NVMe devices via a “Tri‑Mode” interface and features a PCIe Gen 4.0 x8 host interface, eight internal ports, and support for up to 1,024 SAS/SATA devices or 32 NVMe drives. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Key Features

• Tri‑Mode Storage Interface: Supports 12 Gb/s SAS, 6 Gb/s SATA and PCIe 4.0 NVMe on one adapter. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• Host Bus Interface: PCI Express 4.0 x8 (backwards compatible with x4, x2, x1) for high throughput and scalability. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
• Internal Ports & Connectors: 8 internal storage ports, via one SFF‑8654 (SlimSAS) internal connector. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• High Device Support: Up to 1,024 SAS/SATA devices or up to 32 NVMe devices. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• Low Profile Form Factor: Card size approximately 6.127" × 2.712" (low‑profile and full‑height compatible). :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Efficient Power Consumption: Typical power draw ~5.96 W in operation. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Specifications (Selected)

• Model / Part Number: 9500‑8i (05‑50134‑01) :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
• Controller Chip: SAS3808 I/O controller. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
• Ports: 8 internal storage ports. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
• Performance: Up to ~13.7 GB/s sequential read (256 K) and ~3 M IOPS (4K random) as per datasheet. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
• Operating Temperature: 0 °C to 55 °C. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
• Dimensions: Low‑profile card width ~155.63 mm (6.127″) × depth ~68.88 mm (2.712″) :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
• MTBF: > 5,000,000 hours at 40 °C. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

Why Choose the 9500‑8i?

• Provides a single‑card solution for mixed storage types—SAS, SATA and NVMe—ideal for flexible data‑centre infrastructures.
• High scalability and connectivity: supports large device counts and high throughput for demanding workloads.
• Modern PCIe 4.0 host interface ensures readiness for future high‑speed storage architectures.
• Efficient power and form factor make it suitable even for space‑ and power‑constrained server builds.

Considerations

• While the interface is PCIe 4.0 x8, if installed in a PCIe 3.0 or fewer lanes slot, you may see reduced throughput; check your motherboard/slot capabilities.
• Cable/connectivity compatibility: ensure your backplane or breakout cables support the SFF‑8654 internal connector and the storage port definitions. Users in home‑lab settings note specific cable issues. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
• Firmware and driver support may require update, especially for NAS or home‑lab use (e.g., FreeBSD/TrueNAS). :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

Keywords

Broadcom 9500‑8i, Tri‑Mode HBA, SAS/SATA/NVMe adapter, PCIe 4.0 x8 host bus adapter, 8 internal ports, enterprise storage HBA