EVGA

AnsweredHot!Z490 Dark PCIe slot

Author
simbio
New Member
  • Total Posts : 20
  • Reward points : 0
  • Joined: 2007/05/07 15:06:37
  • Status: offline
  • Ribbons : 0
2024/03/10 08:37:02 (permalink)
Hello I have a Z490 Dark in the main PCIe slot 16X I have a 4090 video card,  in the other PCIe slot I want to attach an adapter with 4 slot M.2 SSD NVME, but I can only see one SSD of the 4.
is it because is only 4X or 8X, I don't understand the logic sorry for my ignorance.
Do those adapters only work on PCIe slots with one single m.2 ?
What is also the M.2 Key-E Enabled in the motherboard another type of M. 2 SSD but you need to remove the cover to use it ?
thank's for info


#1
Sajin
EVGA Forum Moderator
  • Total Posts : 49170
  • Reward points : 0
  • Joined: 2010/06/07 21:11:51
  • Location: Texas, USA.
  • Status: offline
  • Ribbons : 199
Re: Z490 Dark PCIe slot 2024/03/10 20:28:57 (permalink)
I believe that adapter allows you to combine all the ssd's into one, so that would explain why you only see one.
#2
vcbb10
Superclocked Member
  • Total Posts : 107
  • Reward points : 0
  • Joined: 2021/05/19 10:45:21
  • Status: offline
  • Ribbons : 5
Re: Z490 Dark PCIe slot 2024/03/11 09:50:10 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Cool GTX 2024/03/12 14:21:37
These adapters require 16x electrical lanes from the system and bifurcation to work properly with all 4 drives.  Most consumer socket, non-HEDT motherboards don't have 16x slots outside of the main slot used for the GPU.  This is a chipset/platform limitation (the CPU only has 16x lanes).
 
Each M.2 SSD on the adapter requires 4x PCIe lanes from the slot/system to work.
 
The Z490 Dark can split the PCIe lanes between the first and second slot with each being x8 slots.  This would give your GPU 8x PCIe 3.0 lanes and the second slot 8x PCIe lanes.  In this configuration, the system should be able to see 2 NVMe SSDs from that adapter.  You might also have to change a setting in the BIOS for PCIe lane distribution.  It would be labeled something like PCIe bifurcation or splitting lanes x4 x4 or similar.  See page 27 of the manual here for more information on lane distribution: https://www.evga.com/support/manuals/files/131-CL-E499-KR.pdf
 
The only way to see all 4 drives would be to use the main PCIe slot with nothing in the second PCIe slot.  Your GPU would need to be in one of the 4x PCIe slots and that may not even work.  It also would not be desired because it would limit your GPU performance severely.  Would be ok for a dedicated NAS if you used onboard graphics though (but why do this on a Z490 Dark?).
 
This also all assumes the Z490 Dark supports PCIe bifurcation- which I assume it does.
 
So, basically it's probably not a good idea to use even 2 NVMe if you have a high performance GPU that would be hampered by only having 8x PCIe 3.0 lanes.  I would not do this with a 4090, it probably needs all 16x PCIe 3.0 lanes.  If you HAVE to add more, I'd get an adapter that supports 1 or maybe 2 NVMe drives as an add-in.  Also read through the PCIe Slot Breakdown and M.2/U.2 Slot breakdown (page 27 of the manual, because using some M.2/U.2 will disable other devices!).  Again, this is also a CPU, platform limitation.  These adapters are best suited for HEDT or server systems that have more PCIe lanes.
 
You can also look at adapters that have a PLX chip (basically a PCIe lane switch).  They'll be advertised as "PCIe Bifurcation not required", etc.  But, they are normally $150+ for 2 drives and not worth it.
post edited by vcbb10 - 2024/03/11 09:54:29

EVGA GPU Collection
EVGA Tribute Build
Searching for: 285 Classy, 770 Classy (Non-ACX)
#3
simbio
New Member
  • Total Posts : 20
  • Reward points : 0
  • Joined: 2007/05/07 15:06:37
  • Status: offline
  • Ribbons : 0
Re: Z490 Dark PCIe slot 2024/03/11 16:37:59 (permalink)
Hello, thank you for the extensive explanation, So there is only one solution use three single M.2 adapters and place them on the 3 PCIe slots left.
post edited by simbio - 2024/03/11 16:44:43
#4
vcbb10
Superclocked Member
  • Total Posts : 107
  • Reward points : 0
  • Joined: 2021/05/19 10:45:21
  • Status: offline
  • Ribbons : 5
Re: Z490 Dark PCIe slot 2024/03/11 16:54:30 (permalink) ☼ Best Answerby simbio 2024/03/12 08:24:55
1. Populate both M.2 slots on the board itself with NVMe M.2.  Note: using the second M.2 slot will disable PE3 (the short 4x slot).
2. After this you would have to 'steal' 8 PCIe lanes from your main 16x PCIe slot.  This will hamper the performance of your 4090, so I wouldn't recommend it.
3. If you want to steal lanes from the main slot:
  • Buy two single M.2 to PCIe adapters.  Put one in PE2 and one in PE4.  This would give you 4 M.2 drives total.  PE2 might actually be physically blocked by your GPU.
  • Or: It should also be possible to run 2 M.2 drives in PE2 with an adapter (but, again, it's probably blocked by your 4090).
  • Or: It might also be possible to put a 2x PCIe M.2 adapter in PE1 (PCIe Slot 1) of the motherboard and the GPU in PE2 (Slot 2).  This at least wouldn't block the other slot.
 
Use GPU-Z to see how many PCIe lanes your GPU has in Windows.  Next to "Bus Interface" on the first screen, click the "?" to run the bandwidth benchmark and than check the number of lanes.
 
If you need more bulk storage, SATA SSD's or SATA HDD's might be a better option if you want the full performance of the 4090.  Z490 is PCIe 3.0, not 4.0 and cutting that in half by only giving it 8 PCIe 3.0 lanes will hurt performance.  I'd buy a bigger NVMe for the second slot if that's possible.
post edited by vcbb10 - 2024/03/11 16:57:18

EVGA GPU Collection
EVGA Tribute Build
Searching for: 285 Classy, 770 Classy (Non-ACX)
#5
simbio
New Member
  • Total Posts : 20
  • Reward points : 0
  • Joined: 2007/05/07 15:06:37
  • Status: offline
  • Ribbons : 0
Re: Z490 Dark PCIe slot 2024/03/12 12:09:11 (permalink)
Wow, you can add a Wikipedia with all that info.
Thank you
#6
Jump to:
  • Back to Mobile