NVMe drive adapter for PCIe Gen 3?

Berserker · 7 Feb 2022 at 13:45

Looking for an adapter that'll let me connect two M.2 NVMe drives to an empty PCIe Gen 3 slot on my motherboard (which has no onboard M.2 NVMe). Any suggestions please?

I've seen the ASUS one that takes 4 NVMe drives, but while I do have empty x16 slots, my motherboard doesn't support 4 x4 bifurcation (only x4,x4,x8), so not sure if that will work.

Armageus · 7 Feb 2022 at 13:58

Without PCI-E bifurcation support you would need an adapter with a PLX chip to physical split the PCI-E lanes, which unfortunately aren't as common, and tend to cost £100+

Otherwise the best you could really do is either the Akasa that uses a Ribbon cable to connect to a 2nd PCI-E slot, or one like the Silverstone that does 1x NVMe and 1x SATA M2.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Akasa Dual M.2 PCIe SSD Adapter Card with Digital Addressable RGB LED Lighting and Heatsink= £34.99
1 x Silverstone ECM22 M.2 PCIe Expansion Card= £26.99

Total: £70.68 (includes shipping: £8.70)

Berserker · 7 Feb 2022 at 14:49

I can do bifurcation - just not the combination that the ASUS board needs.

I saw the Silverstone one, but declined because I already have an M2 SATA board (as I discovered when the NVMe drives didn't work).

I didn't realise that was what the cable out the top of the Akasa one did. If I don't connect the RGB headers will that be enough to disable that feature? My home office is already in danger of looking like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise - I don't need any more LEDs!

Armageus · 7 Feb 2022 at 15:07

Berserker said:
I didn't realise that was what the cable out the top of the Akasa one did. If I don't connect the RGB headers will that be enough to disable that feature? My home office is already in danger of looking like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise - I don't need any more LEDs!

I would imagine if the RGB isn't connected it will probably default to a standard rainbow pattern, so would probably be best to connect it and then disable via your motherboard RGB software (or more extreme method would be to physically cut any traces to the LEDs).

It does have a Function button on the back, but imagine even if it did have an "off" mode then it will need changing every time.

In terms of other adapters - this one might be suitable if you can find it (maybe around £50?)
https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/accessories/addon/AOC-SLG3-2M2.php

mentioned here:
https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/pcie-card-for-dual-m2-nvme.23537/post-219187

Berserker · 7 Feb 2022 at 17:26

Its a server board, so no RGB headers. As such, that SuperMicro option may indeed be the most appropriate choice.

If not, I'll just tape over the LEDs if they're objectionable (don't want to void the warranty by using violence). More than likely won't be visible anyway.

I'll have a hunt around, thanks.

EsaT · 7 Feb 2022 at 18:46

There are non-RGB adapters:
Akasa M.2 SSD to PCIe Adapter Card= £13.99
Akasa M.2 X4 PCI-E 3.0 Adapter Card - Black= £16.99
Aqua Computer kryoM.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 adapter for M.2 NGFF PCIe SSD, M-Key= £16.99

Fitting multiple drives to adapter needs more lanes from the PCIe slot, or cable to another slot. (or expensive adapter with PLX chip)
There are also adapters to x1 PCIe slot, if you have such.
Of course those are limited to bandwidth of single lane.

Berserker · 7 Feb 2022 at 19:33

Thanks. Having been caught out once, I'd need to be sure those are all NVMe, and not SATA.

I have plenty of PCIe slots, so I have no issue with using these if they do what's needed (they work out cheaper than the SuperMicro alternative).