“Supermicro SAS3 HBA” most likely refers to the AOC-S3008L-L8e: an internal eight-port 12Gb/s SAS host bus adapter built around Broadcom’s 3008 controller. It connects SAS or SATA drives in IT/HBA mode, not hardware RAID. Supermicro says the standard card is compatible with Supermicro systems only, so confirm the exact card label and revision, motherboard, PCIe slot, and backplane before buying.
What is the Supermicro SAS3 HBA?
The likely model is the Supermicro AOC-S3008L-L8e. “SAS3 HBA” can describe a broader class of adapters, so check the label on your card rather than assuming every Supermicro SAS3 adapter is this model. The specifications below are Supermicro’s product claims, not independent performance measurements.
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| Specification | AOC-S3008L-L8e |
|---|---|
| Controller | Broadcom 3008, according to Supermicro’s product page |
| Drive interface and rated link speed | SAS and SATA; up to 12Gb/s per port, per Supermicro’s undated product specification |
| Internal connectors | Two SFF-8643 Mini-SAS HD connectors |
| Port count | Eight internal ports |
| Device count | Up to 122 devices in HBA mode, per Supermicro’s undated product specification; topology and expander support affect the practical configuration |
| Operating mode | IT/HBA only; no IR RAID mode |
A 12Gb/s port rating is not a promise of that much application throughput per drive or for a workload. No independent benchmark specific to this adapter is established by the cited product information.
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No. The L8e is an IT/HBA-only card. In a support FAQ, Supermicro technical support says it is “only IT mode (just an HBA) no RAID”; the company also says it cannot be converted to IR firmware. See Supermicro FAQ 35521.
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Supermicro lists the related AOC-S3008L-L8i separately, with RAID 0, 1, and 10 in its storage-card catalog/product information. The L8i is a distinct model, not a firmware conversion path for the L8e. Choose based on whether you need an HBA or the RAID modes specified for the L8i.
Will the AOC-S3008L-L8e work in your system?
Compatibility is the main buying check. Supermicro’s product page says the standard card is compatible with Supermicro motherboards only. Its older user guide describes plug-and-play support on X9, X10, and X11 boards with a standard PCIe x8 slot; treat that as historical platform guidance, not a guarantee for every system or later configuration.
Rank #2
- AOC-S3008L-L8E
- 12Gb/S Data Transfer Rate
- ZFS FreeNAS unRAID
- Supermicro AOC-S3008L-L8E
- PCI E 3.0
- Identify the card. Read the full model and revision printed on the card. If it says AOC-S3008L-L8e-RI13, see the variant note below rather than assuming its firmware is interchangeable.
- Check the host board. Confirm your exact motherboard model against Supermicro’s current compatibility information and the board manual. The user guide’s X9/X10/X11 statement does not establish support for all non-Supermicro hosts.
- Check the slot. Verify the available PCIe slot is physically suitable and electrically wired as required in the motherboard manual; a full-length connector alone does not prove the slot has the needed lanes.
- Check the storage path. Confirm that the chassis backplane accepts the cabling from the card and that your SAS or SATA drive topology, including any expander, is supported.
The older Supermicro user guide gives useful installation context, but the current motherboard manual and exact card configuration should govern a specific build.
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The card has two internal SFF-8643 connectors, so connecting it to a compatible backplane requires the appropriate internal Mini-SAS HD cable. Supermicro lists cable options on the product page; cable length and routing depend on the chassis and backplane. Match both ends of the cable to the actual card and backplane connectors before ordering.
Rank #3
- Supermicro AOC-S3008L-L8I 12Gb/s Eight-Port SAS Internal RAID Adapter
Firmware, updates, and the RI13 revision
Finding firmware
Supermicro’s firmware FAQ directs AOC-S3008L-L8e owners to its Broadcom 3008 firmware directory. Firmware and BIOS packages are version-sensitive; use the package intended for the exact card and read its documentation and current notes rather than relying on an old version number.
Planning an update
A 2025 Supermicro support FAQ advises scheduling downtime for card firmware or BIOS changes and removing other add-on cards while updating the selected card. Follow the specific package instructions and Supermicro FAQ 42762 before proceeding; do not treat a firmware update as a routine drive-level setting.
Rank #4
- The Supermicro host bus adapter serves as a hardware interface for storage devices.
- Ports: PCIe x8 3.0, 2 miniSAS SFF-8643 Ports for up to 8 internal SATA / SAS drives
- The maximum data transfer rate is 12 Gbps.
- IT mode firmware 16.00.14 is installed.
- Full and low profile brackets are included.
What “-RI13” means
Supermicro says the AOC-S3008L-L8e-RI13 is the same basic card released with firmware requested by an OEM, as described in Supermicro FAQ 39659. That explanation does not establish universal firmware interchangeability across revisions. Ask Supermicro to confirm the correct package before cross-flashing or substituting firmware.
How to choose or compare an SAS HBA
When comparing the L8e with another adapter, check the factors that determine whether it fits your use and hardware:
Best Value
- 12Gbps
- SAS HBA IT mode
- ZFS FreeNAS unRAID
- =LSI 9300-8i
- Mode: IT/HBA passthrough versus supported RAID features.
- Port layout: internal or external ports, connector type, and cable compatibility.
- Capacity and generation: port count and SAS generation/rated data rate.
- Host compatibility: supported motherboard or platform and slot requirements.
- Drive topology: drive-count limits and whether the configuration depends on an expander.
- Firmware provenance: exact card revision, firmware source, and update path.
For the two Supermicro models highlighted here, the clearest distinction is functional: the L8e is HBA-only, while Supermicro lists RAID 0/1/10 for the separate L8i. Confirm exact model specifications before substituting one for the other.
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