#serverdiy

Attention all server enthusiasts, NAS builders, and those tinkering with used hard drive enclosures! 👋

Recently, I wanted to connect some SAS hard drives to my HBA card at home, only to find that a brand new Amphenol SAS cable costs over a hundred yuan?!

I turned to scavenging—used, salvaged SAS cables were everywhere, only 10 or 20 yuan a handful.

But! The used SAS cable market is truly treacherous 💦 I've encountered problems like the cable not being recognized, slow speeds causing drive drops, and broken clips…

Today I've compiled a guide to avoiding common pitfalls and recommending cost-effective models for used SAS cables. I hope it will be helpful for those of you who enjoy tinkering with computers! 👇

⚠️ Four Key Points to Avoid Pitfalls (Must Read Before Buying)

1️⃣ Don't Get the Interface Wrong

SFF-8087 (Older built-in)

SFF-8643 (12Gbps mainstream)

SFF-8482 (Direct connection to hard drives)

Be sure to take photos of your card and backplate before buying!

2️⃣ Longer isn't always better

0.5m is suitable for most tower/4U models. Longer cables are harder to bend and can damage the connectors.

3️⃣ Check the cable gauge: 28AWG is better than 30AWG. Cables with "28AWG Shielded" printed on the sheath are more stable, especially when exceeding 1 meter.

4️⃣ New appearance ≠ good inside Check if the cable has deep marks or sharp bends from cable ties. After receiving the cable, gently squeeze it by hand; if possible, run an fIO test on a machine.

💰 Three High-Performance Used SAS Cables Recommended

🔹 Amphenol SFF-8087 to SFF-8482 1-to-4 Split

→ Direct connection to HBA for 4 hard drives (no backplate)

→ Used: 15-25 RMB

🔹 Molex SFF-8643 to SFF-8639 (U.2)

→ Connect to 12Gbps HBA for U.2 SSD

→ Used: 30-50 RMB, solid build quality but the cable is a bit stiff

🔹 Foxconn SFF-8087 to SFF-8087

→ Connect to a case with a backplate

→ Used: 8-12 RMB, excellent value, recommended length ≤ 0.8m

✅ Three Must-Do Verifications Upon Receiving the Cables:

Visually inspect the pins + plug and unplug three times (do the latches spring back normally?)

First connect one SATA drive. Check if the mechanical hard drive can be recognized.

Run a 10-minute continuous read/write test and check the system logs for link errors.

One last honest truth: Buying used SAS cables saves money, but it requires a discerning eye.

Avoid the pitfalls mentioned above, and you can buy a stable and reliable cable for just over ten dollars.