Looking for the most affordable PCI lanes?
Looking for the most affordable PCI lanes?
operating an outdated PC as a server with a 4790k processor and 24GB RAM on an older Z97 motherboard. The setup includes a 10GBE PCI-X NIC for NVMe storage, a 2TB fast-access NVMe drive for CAD archives, an LSI Megaraid card with full lanes, and a 10GBE NIC. Additional LSI controllers are present. The system runs many discs and needs more PCI lanes for transcoding tasks. The CPU is adequate for CAD work, but extra PCI lanes are required. You're seeking the most cost-effective board and CPU that provide similar performance with significantly more PCI lanes—either continuing to look for used models targeting a 1920x board or considering Xeon-based systems with around 32-40 lanes at 3.0 speeds.
It varies, but Threadripper is a solid choice. Most Threadripper models come with 64 PCIe lanes, except the 3990X which features 88 lanes. Pairing it with an X399 motherboard gives you: On the CPU side—two PCIe x16 slots at Gen3 lanes, two more at Gen3 x8, two M2 NVMe slots at Gen3 x4, and eight lanes for the X399 chipset. This setup lets you connect LSI cards, a 10GbE NIC, a strong graphics card, and four NVMe PCIe add-in cards simultaneously. The exact configuration depends on the motherboard maker, but typically you’ll get extra M2 NVMe slots at x4 and up to ten SATA ports. Some boards, like the Gigabyte X399 Aorus Pro, include additional PCIe x4 slots.
The main issue is the cost of the motherboard. Even a 1900x model offers all 64 lanes, and with 8 cores it's a solid alternative for budget. Cheaper boards are three times more expensive than the CPU, while TR4X boards match the price. There are no listings available in Denmark for used ones.
It's understandable, it's still emerging technology. If possible, look for a Gigabyte X399 Aorus Pro motherboard in Malaysia priced near USD 350.
I search for used dual socket Xeon systems. You can find affordable low-core dual boards with 36-44 PCIe 3.0 lanes each, totaling over 72 lanes before the chipset affects performance. Surplus servers offer many boards from decommissioned machines on eBay. Target socket versions 2011 or 2011v3 (possibly Xeon E5 v3/4).