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Lemon Tree LSI 9300-8i IT Mode 8-Port 12Gb SAS HBA Card — main product image
Lemon Tree LSI 9300-8i IT Mode 8-Port 12Gb SAS HBA Card
Lemon Tree LSI 9300-8i IT Mode 8-Port 12Gb SAS HBA Card
Lemon Tree LSI 9300-8i IT Mode 8-Port 12Gb SAS HBA Card
Lemon tree

Lemon Tree LSI 9300-8i IT Mode 8-Port 12Gb SAS HBA Card

A pre-flashed IT Mode HBA that hands your drives straight to ZFS, TrueNAS, and unRAID with no RAID layer in the way

$93.99*
✓ In Stock on Amazon.com
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 22, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Lemon tree HBA card targets a specific builder: the home-lab and NAS enthusiast who wants disks handed to the operating system untouched. It is compatible with the LSI 9300-8i and carries the SAS3008 controller, and crucially it comes flashed in HBA IT Mode rather than a RAID firmware. That distinction matters. Software-defined storage platforms like ZFS expect raw access to each drive, and this card is designed to give exactly that. The feature list names ZFS, FreeNAS/TrueNAS, unRAID, Proxmox, and ESXi as intended homes, which reads as a clear signal of who it is for.

On the connectivity side, the card seats in a PCIe 3.0 x8 slot and exposes two internal SFF-8643 connectors. Those feed eight drives directly, with headroom for more through a compatible SAS expander. Data moves at 12Gb/s for SAS or 6Gb/s for SATA. The box includes the card and two SFF-8643 to SFF-8482 cables, but note the practical detail: those cables serve SAS drives only. A SATA-based array will need SFF-8643 to 4x SATA breakout cables, purchased separately, or the seller's matched kit. Plan the cabling before the parts arrive and the install goes smoothly.

Key Features

Compatible with: LSI 9300-8i; Controller: SAS3008. Designed for HBA pass-through storage applications.

Firmware (FW): HBA IT Mode (Non-RAID); Data Transfer Rate: 12Gb/s SAS or SATA 6Gb/s.

Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8; Internal Connectors: 2x SFF-8643. Direct attach up to 8 drives, expandable via compatible SAS expander.

PERFECT FOR: ZFS, FreeNAS/TrueNAS, unRAID, Proxmox, ESXi home-lab & NAS storage.

Packing List: HBA Card: 1; SFF-8643 to SFF-8482 SAS Cables: 2. Cables in box are for SAS drives. They are not compatible with SATA drives. To connect SATA drives, use SFF-8643 to 4x SATA breakout cables (sold separately) or our matched HBA + cable kit.

Specifications

Brand
Lemon tree
Compatible With
LSI 9300-8i
Controller
SAS3008
Firmware
HBA IT Mode (Non-RAID)
Data Transfer Rate
12Gb/s SAS / 6Gb/s SATA
Host Interface
PCIe 3.0 x8
Internal Connectors
2x SFF-8643
Drive Support
Up to 8 drives, expandable via SAS expander
Included Cables
2x SFF-8643 to SFF-8482 (SAS)

Frequently Asked Questions

It ships pre-flashed in HBA IT Mode (Non-RAID). Drives pass through directly to the operating system, so there is no need to reflash the firmware before use.
No. The two bundled SFF-8643 to SFF-8482 cables are for SAS drives only. SATA drives require SFF-8643 to 4x SATA breakout cables, which are sold separately.
Up to eight drives can be direct-attached through its two SFF-8643 connectors. For larger arrays, it expands further using a compatible SAS expander.
Yes. The source lists ZFS, FreeNAS/TrueNAS, unRAID, Proxmox, and ESXi as intended uses, and IT Mode is exactly what those platforms expect for raw drive access.
It uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 host interface and delivers up to 12Gb/s on SAS or 6Gb/s on SATA connections.

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