IC-Mart Your Trusted Source for SCSI Interface Chips

(from leading manufacturers)

Global Mainstream SCSI/SAS Chip Manufacturers and Representative Models

1. Broadcom

Industry Status: The absolute dominant force in modern enterprise storage control and expander chips. By acquiring LSI Logic and Symbios Logic, Broadcom inherited the core technological assets from the SCSI to SAS evolution.

Product Category	Technology Generation	Typical Chip Models	Core Applications & Features
Protocol Controller IC	Serial SAS-3 (12G)	SAS3008 / SAS3224	Server motherboard onboard (IOC) or RAID card core, supporting 8/24 ports.
	Serial SAS-4 (24G)	SAS4116	Next-gen ultra-high-bandwidth storage controller supporting PCIe 4.0.
	Parallel SCSI (Legacy)	LSI 53C895A / 53C1030	Classic Ultra2/Ultra320 controllers for early workstations and servers.
Expander IC	Serial SAS-3 (12G)	SAS35x36 / SAS35x48	Storage backplane (JBOD) core, supporting 36-port and 48-port topologies respectively.
	Serial SAS-4 (24G)	SAS4x24 / SAS4x48	High-density 24G serial storage expander switch chips.

2. Microchip Technology

Industry Status: Another giant in storage control. Through acquiring PMC-Sierra and the traditional SCSI titan Adaptec, it rivals Broadcom in enterprise server RAID cards and high-density storage arrays (disk enclosures).

Product Category	Technology Generation	Typical Chip Models	Core Applications & Features
Protocol Controller IC	Serial SAS-3 (12G)	SmartIOC 2100 / PM8060	I/O Controller (IOC), widely used in high-reliability enterprise HBA cards.
	Serial SAS-4 (24G)	SmartIOC 3200 Series	24G SAS/PCIe Gen4 Tri-Mode controllers.
	Parallel SCSI (Legacy)	AIC-7890 / AIC-7899	Classic Adaptec chips that dominated late-90s PC motherboard advanced storage interfaces.
Expander IC	Serial SAS-3 (12G)	PM8054 (SXP 12G Series)	High-port-density SAS expanders, mainly used in blade servers and high-density disk enclosures.
	Serial SAS-4 (24G)	PM6010 (SXP 24G Series)	The industry’s ultra-low latency 24G SAS expander switch chips.
Active Terminator IC	Parallel SCSI (Legacy)	LX5218 / LX5200	Classic parallel bus active terminators under former Microsemi (discontinued).

3. Texas Instruments (TI)

Industry Status: The king of signal chain and analog chips. TI doesn’t build complex upper-layer protocol controllers. However, it was an indispensable cornerstone in physical layer signal conditioning (transceivers/redrivers) and active termination.

Product Category	Technology Generation	Typical Chip Models	Core Applications & Features
Physical Layer Transceiver IC	Parallel SCSI (Differential)	SN75971B / SN75LBC976	9-channel/9-pair differential transceivers for high-speed level shifting on parallel data lines.
Redriver / Retimer IC	Serial SAS-3 (12G)	DS125BR820	12.5Gbps 8-channel linear redriver for long-distance SAS cable driving.
	Serial SAS-4 (24G)	DS250G-25	Ultra-high-speed dual-channel retimer for conditioning 24G SAS signal jitter.
Active Terminator IC	Parallel SCSI (LVD/SE)	UCC5618 / UCC5628	Famous 18-line SCSI active terminators from former Unitrode, supporting multi-mode auto-sensing.

4. Marvell

Industry Status: Focuses on high-speed data transfer and storage architectures. In the SAS domain, it mainly targets SMB storage, SAS-to-SATA bridge chips, and specific control units.

Product Category	Technology Generation	Typical Chip Models	Core Applications & Features
Protocol Controller IC	Serial SAS-2/3	88SE9485 / 88RC9580	SAS I/O controllers and RAID core chips supporting 8 ports.
Bridge/Converter IC	Serial SAS-to-SATA	88SF9110 / 88SF9210	Classic SAS to SATA protocol converters (used in cloud data centers to connect cheap SATA drives into SAS topologies).

Key Chinese Domestic Manufacturers for SCSI/SAS Interface and Control Chips

1. Sage Microelectronics

Industry Status: The earliest and most deeply invested “icebreaker” in China’s SAS interface chip sector. It is the first Chinese company to ship SAS interface SSD controllers in volume. It remains one of the few domestic semiconductor firms with independent, full-duplex, high-speed SAS interface IP.

Key SAS Categories and Milestones:

• SAS Protocol Controller ICs:
  • Representative Product: Its self-developed SAS storage controller chip won the 2020 “China Heart” award for excellent technical innovation. It broke through high-speed SerDes circuit technology, achieving full autonomy from core IP to the complete chip. It is mainly used in enterprise SSDs or Host Bus Adapters (HBAs).
• SAS Expander ICs:
  • Representative Product: In 2024, Sage mass-produced and released China’s first SAS Expander chip. This filled the domestic gap for enterprise high-density storage backplane switch chips.
• Bridge ICs: Provides bridge control chips to convert legacy interfaces to new protocols.

2. Lingda Technology

Industry Status: A core member of the “Guanghe Organization” led by Sugon, featuring a strong national computing infrastructure background. Its goal is to provide domestic underlying I/O components to replace Broadcom chips on server motherboards and RAID cards.

Key SAS Categories and Milestones:

• Enterprise Storage Controller / HBA / Expander Chips:
  • Representative Products: Lingda provides Tri-Mode (supporting SAS / SATA / NVMe simultaneously) RAID control chips, HBA controllers, and SAS Expanders. At a recent 2026 industry expo, Lingda emerged as the only domestic vendor offering a full-scenario storage expansion chip solution covering SAS/SATA/NVMe. Its chips are widely used for storage head nodes in domestic AI servers and cloud data centers.

3. Montage Technology

Industry Status: Montage doesn’t design upper-layer SAS protocol controllers directly. However, it is the absolute domestic leader in underlying high-speed physical link (physical layer signal conditioning ICs) technology. Modern high-speed SAS-3 (12G), SAS-4 (24G), or mixed PCIe architectures face severe signal attenuation, demanding Retimer chips.

Key Related Categories and Typical Models:

• High-Speed Signal Retimer ICs:
  • Representative Models: M88RT Series (e.g., M88RT40816, M88RT51632).
  • Application Logic: While primarily labeled as PCIe 4.0 / PCIe 5.0 / CXL Retimers, the underlying high-speed SerDes channels are multiplexed in modern enterprise storage (like the Tri-Mode backplanes mentioned above). Montage’s Retimers compete directly with TI and Astera Labs. They solve signal distortion issues during long-distance cable transmission for domestic high-speed serial buses (including advanced storage buses).

SCSI Interface IC Core Functions of SCSI/SAS Interface ICs

Different SCSI Interface ICs play distinct roles within a system. The three main functions are:

• Protocol Control (Controllers/HBAs): The “brain” of the system. They parse complex SCSI command sets, manage data queuing logic, and execute Direct Memory Access (DMA) data transfers between system memory and storage devices.
• Signal Transceiving and Retiming (Transceivers/Retimers): The “physical drivers.” They send and receive extremely weak high-speed differential signals over long cables or backplanes. They also eliminate signal jitter and attenuation.
• Topology Expansion (Expanders): Similar to network “switches.” They allow hundreds or thousands of storage devices to connect to a limited number of host controller ports.

Typical Application Scenarios

SCSI/SAS protocols inherently offer high concurrency, low CPU utilization, and extreme reliability. Consequently, these chips dominate enterprise and industrial markets requiring maximum stability:

1. Enterprise Servers and Data Centers (Core Application)

This is currently the largest market for SAS interface ICs.

• RAID Cards and HBAs: Servers usually contain a RAID card or Host Bus Adapter. A powerful SAS controller IC sits at the core of these cards. It manages multiple enterprise drives within the server, ensuring data redundancy (e.g., RAID 5/6) and extreme read/write speeds.

2. Large Storage Arrays and Disk Enclosures (SAN/NAS/JBOD)

In cloud computing and large enterprise server rooms, data is often stored in massive “disk expansion enclosures” (JBODs).

• Backplane Data Switching: JBOD backplane circuits are packed with SAS Expander ICs. These function as routers. They allow a single server controller to manage hundreds or thousands of enterprise SAS/SATA drives via cascading.

3. Tape Libraries and Cold Data Backup Systems

While personal tape use is obsolete, LTO (Linear Tape-Open) tape libraries remain the standard for enterprise “cold data” archiving (e.g., banking records, film footage).

• High-Speed Connectivity: Almost all modern enterprise tape drives and tape library robotic arms use SAS interface ICs to connect with control servers for high-speed, high-bandwidth data transfer.

4. Legacy Industrial Equipment and Special Medical/Military Systems (Traditional Parallel SCSI)

This sector primarily relies on older parallel SCSI chips (like bus terminators and transceivers).

• Equipment Maintenance and Life Extension: Many high-end machines built from the late 90s to the early 2000s—such as large CNC machines, semiconductor lithography equipment, older MRI scanners, and certain aerospace/military systems—were designed using parallel SCSI buses. Due to high replacement costs and certification hurdles, these systems are rarely upgraded. Older SCSI interface ICs are still widely used for their daily maintenance and component replacement.

SCSI Interface IC Classifications

1. SCSI Protocol Controller ICs (Protocol Controllers / Host Bus Adapters)

The “brain” of the SCSI system. They handle OS SCSI commands, execute Direct Memory Access (DMA), and manage underlying queuing logic.

• Typical Features: High pin count (BGA or large QFP packages). Modern versions are typically integrated as large System-on-Chips (SoCs).
• Typical Chip Models:
  • Parallel SCSI Era Classics: Symbios/LSI 53C895A (Ultra2 SCSI Controller); Adaptec AIC-7890 (Ultra2 LVD Controller).
  • Modern SAS Era Mainstays: Broadcom SAS3008 (8-port 12Gb/s SAS/SATA Controller); Microchip SmartIOC 2100 Series.
• Key Manufacturers:
  • Broadcom: Acquired early industry giants LSI Logic and Symbios Logic.
  • Microchip: Acquired PMC-Sierra and early SCSI titan Adaptec.
  • Marvell: Holds a significant market share in modern SAS/SATA storage controllers.

2. SCSI Physical Layer and Transceiver ICs (Transceivers / PHY / Redrivers)

The “translators” and “signal amplifiers.” In the parallel era, controllers and transceivers were often separate. In the modern SAS era, they condition high-speed signals, retime, or redrive them to extend transmission distances over long cables.

• Typical Features: Emphasizes drive capability, differential signal processing, low latency, and high-bandwidth/high-frequency characteristics.
• Typical Chip Models:
  • Parallel SCSI Transceivers: SN75971 (TI’s 9-channel differential transceiver, supporting LVD and single-ended signals); MAX3241 (Maxim produced similar multi-channel differential drivers, though often leaning toward RS-232).
  • Modern SAS Redrivers/Retimers: DS125BR820 (TI’s 12.5Gbps 8-channel linear redriver, common in SAS-3 links); Astera Labs PT416 (PCIe/SAS Retimer).
• Key Manufacturers:
  • Texas Instruments (TI): The absolute powerhouse in high-speed interface transceivers and redrivers.
  • NXP: High-speed signal conditioning ICs.
  • Analog Devices (ADI) / Maxim Integrated: Provides specific high-speed signal interface chips.

3. SCSI Active Terminator ICs (Active Terminators)

These chips are almost exclusive to the parallel SCSI era. Because the parallel SCSI bus acts like a long “clothesline” loaded with devices, terminators must be connected at both physical ends to absorb excess signals and prevent reflection interference.

• Typical Features: Usually contain multiple voltage regulators and resistor networks (e.g., 9-line, 18-line, or 27-line termination), supporting Hot Swap.
• Typical Chip Models:
  • UCC5618 / UCC5628: TI’s 18-line LVD/SE SCSI active terminators with automatic mode detection.
  • LX5200 / LX5218: SCSI terminator ICs from Microsemi.
• Key Manufacturers:
  • Texas Instruments (TI / Unitrode): Formerly one of the largest suppliers in this space.
  • ON Semiconductor / STMicroelectronics: Produced large volumes of these standard interface components early on.

4. SAS Expander ICs (SAS Expanders / Switches)

The “switches” or “routers” exclusive to the modern SAS era. Early parallel SCSI could only daisy-chain 15 devices, but modern SAS can connect hundreds or thousands of enterprise drives via expanders.

• Typical Features: Massive pin count (supporting 24, 36, or even 68 ports), internal routing tables, multiplexing logic, and ultra-high-frequency signal throughput.
• Typical Chip Models:
  • SAS35x36 / SAS35x48: Broadcom’s 36/48-port 12Gb/s SAS expanders.
  • PM805x / SXP Series: Microchip/PMC’s 12G/24G high-density SAS expander chips.
• Key Manufacturers:
  • Broadcom: Commands a massive market share in server backplane expanders.
  • Microchip: The core competitor, highly prevalent in enterprise storage array backplanes.

Sourcing Implications Driven by Technology Evolution:

If you are purchasing or designing today, Category 3 (Terminator ICs) is essentially obsolete or end-of-life (used only for repairing old industrial equipment). Modern R&D strictly focuses on SAS Controllers (Category 1), High-Speed Signal Redrivers/PHYs (Category 2), and SAS Expanders for high-capacity storage backplanes (Category 4).