53C860

53C860 is a model number used on hardware devices in the field of computer SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) controllers. In various catalogs and datasheets, 53C860 is described as an ASIC or integrated controller designed to provide the interface between a computer system and SCSI devices such as hard drives and CD/DVD drives. The designation does not refer to a single, universally identical part; multiple manufacturers have used similar numbers for different revisions or variants within a SCSI controller family.

Functionally, devices bearing a 53C860 designation are typically described as host adapters or controllers that handle the SCSI protocol, perform command processing, and manage data transfer between the system bus and the SCSI bus. They may include features such as DMA support, on-chip buffering, and logic for negotiating SCSI transfers, along with support for narrow and/or wide SCSI channels depending on revision and vendor implementation. The exact bus interface (for example PCI, ISA, or other computer buses) and performance characteristics vary by production lot and manufacturer.

Historical context places many such controllers in use during the 1990s and early 2000s, a period when SCSI was a common solution for connecting fast storage devices to servers and workstations. As storage interfaces evolved toward SATA and later SAS, the prominence of SCSI controller chips like those bearing the 53C860 label diminished in mainstream consumer systems, though variants may persist in legacy equipment.

See also: SCSI, host bus adapter, SCSI-1, SCSI-2, PCI-based SCSI controllers.