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Helpful ReplyX99 FTW K with 28 Lane CPU RAID boot?

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Krzysztof47
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2017/08/18 22:58:05 (permalink)
Hello,
 
I have an X99 FTW K and a i7 6800K, I currently use all 28 PCIe lanes, and wanted to add a RAID Card for my M.2.  It is the HDX 5, so the HDX 5 is a 4x Lane card and if I put 2x M.2's in it would be considered an 8x?  I am just not sure, would appreciate any insight into this.  Again, currently I use all 28 PCIe lanes in this order (GPU1 8x, GPU2 8x, GPU3 8x, and Angel Bird PX1 4x).   This RAID card would go in my last PCIe slot on the motherboard. 
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    arestavo
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    Re: X99 FTW K with 28 Lane CPU RAID boot? 2017/08/19 05:04:15 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Krzysztof47 2017/08/19 13:30:10
    Pulled from your motherboard manual:

    PCI-E Lane Distribution (28 Lane Processor)
     PE1 – x16 (x8 if PE3 are used)
     PE2 – x1 (Gen2, lane is pulled from PCH)
     PE3 – x8
     PE4 – x8 (Not functional with a 28 lane processor.)
     PE5 – x8
     PE6 – x4 (Disabled if M.2 is used)

    The HDX 5 is PCIE X4 that supports two M.2 SATA drives - adding in two m.2 SATA drives doesn't change that, it will still be X4. Just make sure that you buy SATA m.2 drives and not NVME m.2 drives (which won't work in it).

    Are you running SLI on your three GPUs? If so, my guess is that one of them will be forced to run in X4 mode and break SLI (which requires all cards to run at X8 speed) as you are already using all 28 CPU lanes. Or the card might not be detected at all if one of the X8 lanes running a GPU can't be reduced to X4, which as far as I know should be automatic and can't be set manually.

    You might consider picking up a cheap used 40 lane processor off of Ebay. With Skylake-X out, many folks are dumping / have dumped their Haswell-E and Broadwell-E processors. Just an example, but this brand new 6850K can be had for $340, and you can sell your 6800K and recoup some money - http://m.ebay.com/itm/Int...fffab0e0%257Ciid%253A1
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    Krzysztof47
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    Re: X99 FTW K with 28 Lane CPU RAID boot? 2017/08/19 13:29:29 (permalink)
    arestavo
    Pulled from your motherboard manual:

    PCI-E Lane Distribution (28 Lane Processor)
     PE1 – x16 (x8 if PE3 are used)
     PE2 – x1 (Gen2, lane is pulled from PCH)
     PE3 – x8
     PE4 – x8 (Not functional with a 28 lane processor.)
     PE5 – x8
     PE6 – x4 (Disabled if M.2 is used)

    The HDX 5 is PCIE X4 that supports two M.2 SATA drives - adding in two m.2 SATA drives doesn't change that, it will still be X4. Just make sure that you buy SATA m.2 drives and not NVME m.2 drives (which won't work in it).

    Are you running SLI on your three GPUs? If so, my guess is that one of them will be forced to run in X4 mode and break SLI (which requires all cards to run at X8 speed) as you are already using all 28 CPU lanes. Or the card might not be detected at all if one of the X8 lanes running a GPU can't be reduced to X4, which as far as I know should be automatic and can't be set manually.

    You might consider picking up a cheap used 40 lane processor off of Ebay. With Skylake-X out, many folks are dumping / have dumped their Haswell-E and Broadwell-E processors. Just an example, but this brand new 6850K can be had for $340, and you can sell your 6800K and recoup some money - http://m.ebay.com/itm/Int...fffab0e0%257Ciid%253A1



    Thank you very much for this great info, I really appreciate it.  Yes, I am running 3 Way SLI on my GPU's (8x,8x,8x) and 4x going to my M.2 PCIe card.  I originally wanted to get the i7 6850K but it was priced at over $1000 and I simply could not afford it, that's why I went with the i7 6800K, which runs great for me.  Maybe in a few years I might consider getting a 40 lane CPU, but as of now things are running good.  And thank you for clarifying the NVME and M.2 for the HDX 5.  I currently use a Kingston Hyper X Predator 480GB M.2, I am going to try to get another one, once prices settle.  
     
    Got the HDX 5 and well it takes only B-Key type M.2's so unfortunately I could not use my HyperX.  Alphacool does not state this in their product description, which doesn't help.     
    post edited by Krzysztof47 - 2017/09/04 20:56:19
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