Look for a motherboard that fits your requirements.
Look for a motherboard that fits your requirements.
Looking for a solid upgrade with multiple NVMe M.2 slots at high performance. Seeking RAID configurations using as many SATA ports as feasible. Wanting more storage options via HBA cards or add-ons. Preferring 4x DIMM slots of 64GB or bigger, ideally ATX size. Not interested in getting caught up in the latest tech hype and prefer quick decisions. Appreciate your help!
Most boards use PCIe Gen 4x4, but only two PCIe slots are typically available. One connects directly from CPU to NVMe, while the other links CPU to chipset to NVMe. This setup shares bandwidth with other components like SATA drives. Using NVMe expansion cards could be a better alternative.
I don’t have to meet a specific requirement unless it uses up the bandwidth. Would you like some suggestions? It’s been a while since I’m in the game, but I need to finally upgrade my editing rig past the 3600. I’m thinking about adding an HBA card to boost storage. Can I combine an add-on card and two extra slots? My brother will handle the RAID setup. If the right OS is chosen, it should be straightforward, though I’ll be using Windows 10.
In fact, the information I found suggests two M.2 slots on the X570 Strix. This matches my expectation since I picked Strix because it offers two PCIe x16 ports—either two x8 or one x16—giving extra bandwidth compared to other CPUs that only have one x16 slot. You’d likely use the extra for a GPU, probably with software RAID. For Windows 7, someone might know about boards with three M.2 slots; maybe we’ll get more insights later.
Even when locating a suitable board, there are doubts about running a raid with three NVMe drives. I question whether it's feasible to connect drives across PCIe lanes from the CPU and separate PCIe lanes from the CPU. You'd typically get one M.2 NVMe from the CPU, then the chipset could supply 6-10 PCIe lanes that can be directed to PCIe slots or M.2 ports. That explains why most B550 boards include an extra M.2 NVMe drive while X570 boards might have two additional ones due to extra PCIe lanes. On certain boards, they may turn off a few SATA ports when adding a third M.2 SSD because there aren't enough PCIe lanes available. There are exceptions, such as the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master, which divides the PCIe X16 slot into X8 and two M.2 NVMe connectors—installing an SSD in either can cause the video card to operate at PCIe X8.
Thanks for the details. I'm seeking the quickest NVMe configuration for investment purposes. Currently, my 3600 processor with 64GB CL16 RAM (possibly CL16) and an RTX 2060 hangs up when trying to view full resolution or load multiple layers. I need a fast setup. My system runs on HDDs, intended for general use—data backups will happen during off-hours while I sleep. Looking for the fastest NVMe solution.
There isn't a specific reason to avoid HEDT since it aligns closely with your needs.
Budget for the motherboard and CPU is being considered carefully. It's not something I'm ignoring just because it might be a video editing project this year—though I wouldn't have invested in a 3600 system otherwise. If it doesn't exist, I can increase the budget later. Once built, it should last about five years. HEDT will handle that too, but with higher costs for the CPU and motherboard.
Choose a B550 board with good VRMS—generally any board priced over $100—and add expansion cards as needed.