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Green low-profile PCIe RAID card with single mini-SAS HD port and capacitor module

Microsemi

Microsemi 2294900-R SmartRAID 3151-4i RAID controller

SKU CH-VB49-QR67K MPN 2294900-R

Low-profile RAID card adds four 12 Gb/s SAS/SATA ports via PCIe 3.0 x8 with 1 GB DDR4 cache and flash-backed protection

  • Interface typePCI-Express 3.0 x8
  • Form factorMD2 - Low Profile
  • Part type or number2294900-R
  • Internal connectors1 x SFF-8643 mini-SAS HD
  • Transfer speedUp to 12Gb/s
  • Processor cache1 GB DDR4 / 2100 MHz
  • 12 Gb/s transfer rate via PCIe 3.0 x8 interface
  • 1 GB DDR4 cache at 2100 MHz with flash backup
  • Four internal ports through one SFF-8643 connector
  • Low-profile MD2 form factor fits 2.54 x 6.60 in slots
  • Broad OS support including Windows, Linux, VMware and Solaris

Low-profile 12Gb/s RAID controller

The Microsemi SmartRAID 3151-4i is a low-profile MD2 adapter that adds four internal SAS or SATA ports through a single SFF-8643 mini-SAS HD connector. It targets server and workstation builders who need hardware RAID with 1GB of DDR4 cache backed by a tethered capacitor module.

PCIe 3.0 x8 interface limits

The card operates on a PCI-Express 3.0 x8 link, so peak throughput cannot exceed the bus ceiling of roughly 8GB/s regardless of the 12Gb/s SAS rating. Systems limited to PCIe 2.0 or fewer lanes will see proportionally lower bandwidth.

1GB cache and 12Gb/s headroom

The 1GB DDR4 cache at 2100MHz absorbs burst write traffic and enables maxCache 4.0 acceleration with solid-state drives. Four ports share the 12Gb/s aggregate limit, so heavy multi-drive workloads will saturate the controller before individual drives reach their rated speed.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in RAID & Drive Controller Cards, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $447.99
Pricier than about 72% of the 219 comparable items (median $155.99).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameMicrosemi
Model name3151-4i
Part type or number2294900-R
Product typeSATA / SAS
Performance
Transfer speedUp to 12Gb/s
Processor
Processor cache1 GB DDR4 / 2100 MHz
Ports & slots
Interface typePCI-Express 3.0 x8
Internal connectors1 x SFF-8643 mini-SAS HD
Size & build
Form factorMD2 - Low Profile
Product dimensions2.54 in × 6.6 in (H × L)
Shipping weight0.91 kg
Package size381 × 267 × 38 mm
Compatibility
Supported operating systemsMicrosoft Windows
Red Hat Linux
SUSE Linux
Debian Linux
Ubuntu Linux
Solaris
FreeBSD
VMware ESXi
Citrix XenServer
In the box
In the boxSmartRAID 3151-4i adapter
Additional low profile vented bracket

Questions about this item

Should I choose the 3151-4i or the 3154-8i8e model for my server?

The 3151-4i provides four internal ports via one SFF-8643 connector on a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, while the 3154-8i8e offers additional external connectivity not present on this adapter.

What does the 12Gb/s transfer rate deliver inside a live system?

Each attached SAS or SATA drive can run at up to 12Gb/s, giving high bandwidth and IOPS when paired with 12Gb/s SSDs and the onboard 1GB DDR4 cache running at 2100 MHz.

How does the PCIe 3.0 x8 interface limit real-world throughput?

The x8 Gen 3 link caps total controller throughput at roughly 64Gb/s, so the four 12Gb/s ports can operate simultaneously without saturating the bus.

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