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All productsChoosing the right RAID card is important when upgrading or replacing a storage controller in an xFusion FusionServer. The 9460-8i 4G, 9560-8i 4G, and XR450 4G may look similar because they all provide 4GB cache and support common RAID configurations, but they are designed for different server platforms and storage architectures.
The table below highlights the key differences to help you quickly identify the most suitable controller for your FusionServer configuration.
| Comparison | 9460-8i 4G | 9560-8i 4G | XR450 4G |
| Positioning | Previous-generation general-purpose RAID | Newer-generation PCIe Gen4 RAID | xFusion-specific RAID |
| Controller Platform | Broadcom SAS3508 / SAS3516 family | Broadcom SAS3908 | SAS3508-based |
| Host Interface | PCIe 3.1 x8 | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 3.0 x8 |
| Approx. Host Bandwidth | ~15.8 GB/s | ~31.5 GB/s | ~15.8 GB/s |
| Cache | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB |
| Cache Protection | Cache protection module supported | CacheVault supported | xFusion-designed cache protection |
| Storage Protocol | SAS / SATA / NVMe | SAS / SATA / NVMe | SAS / SATA |
| NVMe Support | Yes, Tri-Mode | Yes, Tri-Mode | No |
| NVMe Generation | Up to PCIe Gen3 | Up to PCIe Gen4 | N/A |
| Tri-Mode Support | Yes | Yes | No |
| SAS Interface Speed | Up to 12Gb/s | Up to 12Gb/s | Up to 12Gb/s |
| Internal Ports | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Internal Connector | 2xSFF-8643 | 1xSFF-8654 (SlimSAS) | (SlimSAS) xFusion-specific connector/cable |
| RAID Levels | RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50/60 | RAID 0/1/5/6/10/50/60 | |
| JBOD Support | Yes | Yes | Configuration dependent |
| Maximum SAS/SATA Devices | Up to 240* | Up to 240 | Platform dependent |
| Maximum NVMe Devices | Controller-dependent | Up to 32 | Not supported |
| Form Factor | Low-profile | Low-profile | xFusion server-specific |
| Typical Server Generation | V5 / V6 platforms | V7 and newer PCIe Gen4 platforms | Selected xFusion V5/V6 platforms |
| Typical FusionServer Models | FusionServer 1288H V6, 2288H V6 and other compatible configurations | FusionServer 1288H V7, 2288H V7 and other compatible V7 configurations | Selected FusionServer V6 configurations |
| Best Fit | Existing systems and mixed SAS/SATA/NVMe storage | High-performance V7 platforms and PCIe Gen4 storage | xFusion-specific replacement and maintenance |
| Main Advantage | Mature Tri-Mode design and broad compatibility | Higher PCIe bandwidth and newer architecture | Designed specifically for xFusion server platforms |
Which One Should You Choose?
For older FusionServer platforms, the 9460-8i 4G is a practical choice when the server requires a PCIe Gen3 Tri-Mode RAID controller.
For newer platforms such as the FusionServer 1288H V7 and FusionServer 2288H V7, the 9560-8i 4G is better suited to systems built around PCIe Gen4. xFusion configurations have included the 9560-8i 4G as a PCIe 4.0 x8 RAID controller.
The XR450 4G is different from the two Broadcom MegaRAID models. It is intended for specific xFusion server configurations, so compatibility should be checked against the exact server model, backplane and cable configuration before purchase.
Final Takeaway
The easiest way to distinguish these three controllers is:
9460-8i 4G → PCIe Gen3 + Tri-Mode + older/mature platforms
9560-8i 4G → PCIe Gen4 + Tri-Mode + newer V7 platforms
XR450 4G → xFusion-specific solution + SAS/SATA storage
For a RAID controller replacement, do not select the card based on cache size alone. The server model, PCIe generation, backplane, connector type, storage protocol and firmware compatibility should all be checked before ordering.
