Broadcom MegaRAID 9562-16i interface card PCI Express x8 SFF-8654 12 Gbit/s

The Broadcom MegaRAID 9562-16i interface card PCI Express x8 SFF-8654 12 Gbit/s is an internal RAID controller designed to manage mixed NVMe, SAS and SATA storage within server environments. It supports a wide range of RAID levels — 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60 — and provides an SFF-8654 external connection style suitable for OCP 3.0 style deployments. The card uses a PCI Express x8 host interface and delivers up to 12 Gbit/s per SAS link, with a passive cooling design and an MTBF of approximately 3 million hours for continuous operation.

Advantages

The MegaRAID 9562-16i consolidates NVMe, SAS and SATA device support in a single adapter, enabling flexible storage topologies and simplified cabling when using OCP slots. Its support for multiple enterprise RAID levels offers data protection and performance tuning options for different workloads. Passive cooling reduces moving parts and can improve reliability in systems with adequate chassis airflow.

Suitable for

• Server environments requiring mixed NVMe, SAS and SATA device support in one adapter.
• Systems that use OCP 3.0 slots to save standard PCIe expansion slots.
• RAID configurations that need support for levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60.
• Enterprise or data center workloads where high availability and predictable MTBF are important.

When it may not be suitable

This controller is not appropriate for consumer desktops or small-workstation use where server-grade RAID and multi-protocol support are unnecessary. Systems without adequate chassis airflow may not be ideal because the card relies on passive cooling; in such cases, active-cooled controllers or adapters with integrated fans should be considered.

Key specifications

• Host interface: PCI Express x8 (PCIe 4.0 compatible)
• Drive interfaces: SFF-8654 tri-mode (NVMe/SAS/SATA)
• Maximum per-link transfer rate: 12 Gbit/s (SAS)
• Supported RAID levels: 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60
• Memory/cache: 4 GB (on-board cache as used in typical variants)
• Ports: 16 logical ports via OCP/SFF-8654 connection
• Cooling type: Passive
• Reliability: MTBF ~3,000,000 hours
• Form factor: OCP 3.0 / low-profile server adapter compatibility

How to use

Install the MegaRAID 9562-16i into an appropriate OCP 3.0 slot or compatible PCIe x8 connector following your server vendor's installation guidelines. Connect storage devices through SFF-8654-compatible cabling or OCP backplane wiring to expose NVMe, SAS or SATA drives to the adapter. Configure RAID arrays via the Broadcom MegaRAID management utility or the server BIOS/UEFI storage configuration interface. Ensure the server firmware and card firmware/driver versions are compatible and updated before deploying production workloads.

What to consider before purchase

• Confirm your server supports OCP 3.0 or has an available PCIe x8 slot and proper backplane/cabling for SFF-8654.
• Verify that passive cooling is sufficient given your chassis airflow and thermal design.
• Check compatibility with intended NVMe, SAS and SATA drives and with your operating system / hypervisor drivers.
• Evaluate required RAID levels and ensure the controller's supported levels meet your redundancy and performance needs.

Usage recommendations

Deploy this adapter in servers with proper airflow and OCP 3.0 support. Keep firmware and management software up to date, and plan RAID arrays according to workload characteristics—use higher redundancy levels for critical data and stripe/mirror configurations for performance-sensitive volumes.