Generation Overview
| Series | PCIe | Max SAS | NVMe | Cache |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9361 | PCIe 3.0 x8 | 12Gb/s SAS-3 | No | 1GB / 2GB DDR3 |
| 9500 | PCIe 4.0 x8 | 12Gb/s SAS-3 | Yes (Tri-Mode) | None (HBA) |
| 9600 | PCIe 4.0 x8 | 24Gb/s SAS-4 | Yes (Tri-Mode) | 8GB DDR4 |
MegaRAID 9361: The Workhorse
The 9361 is a widely deployed enterprise RAID controller. A used 9361-8i with 2GB cache covers most of these builds. Best for cost-sensitive SATA/SAS SSD arrays and VMware ESXi deployments.
9500: Tri-Mode HBA, Generation 1
The 9500 is an HBA, not a cached RAID controller: Tri-Mode SAS/SATA/NVMe on PCIe 4.0, with no RAID processing and no cache module. Best for mixed SAS + NVMe deployments and database servers.
MegaRAID 9600: Tri-Mode Generation 2
The 9600 adds 24Gb/s SAS-4 with 2x IOPS and bandwidth for NVMe workloads. Best for all-NVMe arrays and future-proof deployments.
Quick Recommendations
- Budget VMware lab: 9361-8i 2GB
- Production ESXi: 9361-8i 2GB
- Database with NVMe: 9500-16i
- All-NVMe array: 9600-16i
- Boot: 9540-2M2 (data drives on a separate HBA or RAID controller)
Browse RAID controllers at zhongxindata.hk
Where each controller fits in a data center array
- 9361 is the SAS-only workhorse for classic spindle arrays and older chassis
- 9500 is the tri-mode HBA step: same 12Gb/s SAS plus NVMe on the same card
- 9600 is tri-mode at 24Gb/s SAS, for chassis that expose newer backplanes
Tri-mode, HBA mode and what changes for your filesystem
- HBA mode passes drives straight to the OS, which is what ZFS and TrueNAS want
- RAID mode needs the controller’s own cache and battery protection for write-back arrays
- NVMe behind a tri-mode card needs the right backplane and correct controller mode
How we test RAID controllers on our own test line
- Each unit is cleaned, re-flashed and bench-tested, then the firmware level and CacheVault status are recorded
- We confirm the cache size, the connector count and the port mapping against the part number
- We report any CacheVault or supercap warning we find rather than hiding it
Related reading
- MegaRAID 9361-8i — the SAS-only baseline in the comparison
- MegaRAID 9500-8e — the tri-mode HBA option
- RAID controller guide — broader controller fundamentals
- RAID controllers — category hub
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between MegaRAID 9361 and 9500?
The 9361 is a SAS-3 only RAID controller on PCIe 3.0 with no NVMe support. The 9500 is tri-mode on PCIe 4.0: it keeps 12Gb/s SAS and adds NVMe, and it can run in HBA mode where the 9361 cannot. If your chassis has NVMe bays, the 9500 is the meaningful upgrade; if it is SAS-only, the 9361 does the job for less.
Is the MegaRAID 9600 worth it over the 9500?
The 9600 moves to 24Gb/s SAS and a newer controller generation. That matters when your backplane and drive shelf are wired for 24Gb/s. On a 12Gb/s shelf the extra SAS bandwidth is unused, and the 9500 is the better value. Many data centers keep 9500s in general-purpose arrays and reserve 9600s for new-build storage tiers.
Can a MegaRAID 9500 run as a plain HBA?
Yes. The 9500 series supports HBA mode, where it passes drives through to the operating system without presenting a virtual disk. That is the mode you want for ZFS, TrueNAS and any pool where the filesystem does its own redundancy. Note that the 9361 does not support NVMe passthrough in this way.
Does a Broadcom RAID controller need a battery or supercap?
It needs cache protection. Without a healthy CacheVault supercap, a write-back array can lose cached data on power loss, and the controller will drop to write-through mode. On the 9361 and 9500 the supercap is a small rechargeable unit; we test and report its status on every unit we list.
How do you check a used RAID controller is working?
We clean, re-flash and bench-test on our own test line, then verify the part number, cache size, connector count, port mapping and firmware level. For cache-protected models we also read the CacheVault supercap status and report it. Ask us for photos of the actual card and the test result before you commit.
Is the MegaRAID 9361 still worth buying?
Yes, for SAS-only arrays it remains a solid and inexpensive choice, and the 9361-8i is widely available in the secondary market. It is a reasonable fit for a legacy chassis that has no NVMe bays and no need for HBA mode. It is not the right card for a new tri-mode build.