I'm upset because of the recent actions by Intel.
I'm upset because of the recent actions by Intel.
Which motherboard you choose will be indicated in the manual regarding which M.2 slots support PCIe 4.0. Consumer CPUs usually offer around 20 lanes, allocating 16 to graphics slots and 4 to storage (plus extra for the CPU-chipset connection, which isn't reusable). The remaining slots and M.2 ports come from the chipset itself. This applies to both Intel and Ryzen processors. To have PCIe 4.0 across all M.2 ports, you'll need a platform with more lanes—such as a workstation, HEDT, or server. The newest Threadripper CPUs can handle up to 64 PCIe 4.0 lanes.
It remains feasible even with PCIe 3.0 support. I’m not very experienced with RTX IO, but it appears enabled through DirectStorage. Microsoft has confirmed DirectStorage will function with PCIe 3.0 interfaces. It’s unclear if combining two devices equals two, but it’s worth exploring further.
I added some details to my post. I'm running the ASUS z590-E board. Thought about building a thread ripper setup, but stayed within my budget. I'm really sorry I didn't plan for that at the time.
DirectStorage works alongside RTX IO, but you still need to apply for the developer program. It’s mainly the library that connects NVME 4.0 with the GPU. Direct Storage acts as a layer for how Microsoft plans to deliver RTX IO technology. I own a Nvidia developer account, but I had to apply for RTX IO separately. If approved, I’ll share compatibility details between RTX IO and Intel Gen 11.
M.2_1 port (Key M), model 2242/2260/2280/22110 - Only 11th Core™ CPUs are compatible with PCIe 4.0 x4, this port will remain inactive for other processors. M.2_2 port (Key M), model 2242/2260/2280/22110 - 11th Core™ CPUs are compatible with PCIe 4.0 x4 - 10th Core processors work with PCIe 3.0 x4 mode. Intel® Z590 chipset is supported. M.2_3 port (Key M), model 2242/2260/2280/22110 (compatible with PCIe 3.0 x4) M.2_4 port (Key M), model 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA modes)* Refer to page 13 of the motherboard guide for shared bandwidth details. Also check the configuration table at the end. You can use M.2_1 and M.2_2 slots for PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives, which are the two main M.2 slots. Using them restricts the GPU’s maximum speed to x8. (Only 20 lanes from CPU, so it must share lanes from the top PCIe slot). Based on the manual, you should be able to run two drives at 4.0 speeds in the highlighted red slots. If I’m right, you can likely operate two Sabrent 4.0 drives at 4.0 with an 11th generation CPU, though it will cap the GPU performance at x8. Consider installing both drives in the red slots and test the speeds.
Here they are placed where they should be. I'm about to launch my PC and rearrange them, though only one appears in BIOS while the other isn't visible in Windows. I'm gearing up for work today, so I'll probably dive deeper into this later. I'll keep the discussion updated once speeds are stable.
Avoid displaying in disk management. New drives must be formatted first before appearing in My Computer. To open disk management, press Run (Windows key + R) and type "diskmgnt.msc" then press Enter, or use Windows Settings and search for Disk Management. Check why the second drive isn't showing in BIOS. When possible, remove the drives one at a time and test each slot. Confirm functionality by installing both and verifying their presence. Edited July 12, 2021 by Spotty
Do you have the ability to test whether the drive functions properly? (For example, using it on another computer or installing it in an external M.2 slot?) I’d begin by checking the drive and its specifications. Thank you for bringing this up—this might seem basic, but it’s important.
This setup is unusual compared to what we've seen before :p. You get two SATA 6Gb/s ports on one controller and four 3Gb/s ports on the other. However, the other controller had higher latency and other issues.
After finishing my work today, I plan to test one of the drives by taking it out and trying it. Since I don’t have another computer that supports nvme 4.0, I’m not sure if there’s another way to check it right now. I hope the issue isn’t with the motherboard.