adaptec aec-82885t sas expander#

nifty little thing. the lenovo and white label versions make up most of the versions you can buy. the adaptec proper and intel ones are likely knock-offs.

part numbers#

adaptec/microchip order code: 2283400-r
adaptec/microchip name: aec-82885t card
lenovo part number: fru00lf095
intel’s name: intel raid res3fv288
white label:

unless you can get actual pictures it will be very hard to tell which version you’ll get some vendors reuse the same images, some have no idea what they sell, some are lying.

the trend seems to be that the intel and adaptec version go for a big premium (up to 10-15times more). all cards i have lenovo stickers. the specdocs did not point out any glaring differences. my untrained eye did not find anything obvious in the firmwares either.

as such i have no reason to assume that any of the versions are better or worse, nor do i see a reason to overpay for a specific vendor.

todo: did adaptec license their core, are there fakes, am i paranoid?

buyer’s guide#

how to identify a card, the details that are missed and not get tricked into overpaying: .

todo: a word on pci subsys id’s and verify all my cards.

firmware#

adaptec: 0.59
intel: 0.57 (also includes cpld 2.1.0)
lenovo: 0.63

it’s not clear to me what the difference might be between these versions. i hope to get some insight should i be able to track down an adaptec or intel card.

updating the firmware on these adapters is explained in more detail here.

todo: is firmware portable over subsys id’s?

general specs#

chipset: pm8044 sxp 36sx12g
host interface: none
connectors:
- 6 sff-8643 which can connect to drives
- 1 sff-8643 to connect to controller or expander
- 2 sff-8644 to connect to controller or expander
sas 12, 6 & 3gb/s
sata 6, 3 & 1.5gb/s
cascading expander support
stp

power and cooling#

16watt (1.34a @ 12v)
200lfm airflow

connectors#

6 connectors can have direct attached devices (for a total of 24) devices

the external connectors (sff-8644) cannot be used to attach drives, only expanders or controllers
the leftmost internal connector (sff-8643) cannot be used to attach drives, only expanders & controllers
the internal connector next to the leftmost can be used to attach drives but not on very old firmwares
the 5 remaining internal connectors can be used to attach drives

software#

expanders do not need software or drivers to work, actual plug & play.

opinion#

pro
- can be powered via either pcie or the molex connector
  - can transform a case with psu into a drive chassis
- makes sata 1.5gbps work with newer hbas
- comes with vented full and half size bracket
- supports wide ports on external and internal connectors
- can be daisy chained
- todo picture of card mounted on atx standoffs
con
- todo lenovo health alert (cosmetic most likely)
- needs some decent airflow to cool
- needs adaptec controller to use cli config tool
  - i do doubt this since lenovo bundles this with a broadcom hba while seemingly supporting cli config
  - updating firmware & some other basic things do work through storcli
- documentation could be better
- ~~eol & eos, even though lenovo released a firmware update in 2025~~ todo: is it?
  - eol/eos intel, in production microchip
- most sellers seem to either don’t know which version they’re selling or trying to rip you off