GIGABYTE Unveils AORUS Gen4 AIC Adapter Just in Time for TRX40

[btarunr]

Just in time for AMD's 3rd generation Ryzen Threadripper processors and the AMD TRX40 chipset, GIGABYTE launched the AORUS Gen4 AIC Adapter, an add-on card that converts a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 upstream link to four M.2-22110 slots with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring, each. This isn't the first card of this kind, but is certified to work with PCIe gen 4.0 SSDs. The TRX40 platform provides at least two PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slots, from which one can be allocated to your graphics cards, and the other to a fast storage solution like this, so you can use your motherboard's NVMe RAID features. The card is backwards compatible with older generations of PCIe.

The card features a large copper heatsink that cools the drives under the airflow of a fan. The PCB of this card features a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 interface, four M.2-22110 slots with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring, each, and a controller that uses eight thermal diodes to sense drive temperatures and accordingly adjust the speed of the 50 mm lateral-flow fan that pushes air through the heatsink and out of the rear panel. The card also has four LEDs that provide link+activity indication. It meets the electrical specification of PCI-Express gen 4.0, and features gen 4.0 re-drivers. An aluminium alloy shroud and back-plate with brushed-metal finish and diamond-cut edges make for the rest of it. We expect this card to be priced around USD $130. A credible source tells us that the card will also be included with some of GIGABYTE's premium TRX40 motherboards.



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[TheLostSwede]

But is the armour only arrow proof, or also bullet proof?

 

[cygnus_1]

Can anyone speculate how a card like this would behave if plugged into an x8 3.0 slot of an older Xeon E5 system? Any chance it has a switch chip and you can still use all 4 SSD’s? Or would it basically only connect 2 of the SSD’s? Or since the older chipset probably doesn’t support bifurcation just connect the first one and the other 3 would do nothing?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Can anyone speculate how a card like this would behave if plugged into an x8 3.0 slot of an older Xeon E5 system? Any chance it has a switch chip and you can still use all 4 SSD’s? Or would it basically only connect 2 of the SSD’s? Or since the older chipset probably doesn’t support bifurcation just connect the first one and the other 3 would do nothing?

Assuming this specific card behaves just like it's PCIe 3.0 predecessor, then no, it doesn't have a switch chip, it relies on bifurcation.
What you need is something like this.

NVMe RAID AIC Adapter | HighPoint Technologies，Inc.

HighPoint's performance focused PCIe 4.0 & 3.0 NVMe RAID AICs, for M.2, U.2/U.3 & E1.S SSD, come with advanced cooling systems to prevent performance throttling.

www.highpoint-tech.com

Or for two drives, this.

Dual M.2 NVMe Ports to PCIe 3.0 x16 Bifurcation Riser Controller - Support Non-BiFurcation Motherboard - SI-PEX40129

SI-PEX40129,pcie nvme solid state drive;pci ssd 1tb;two ssd drives;nvme m2;nvme ssd connector;m 2 pcie nvme;pci express ssd;nvme ssd adapter;pci express hard drive;pcie nvme ssd adapter;pci ssd;pcie nvme;pcie nvme ssd;ssd m2 nvme;nvme m 2 adapter;nvme m 2

www.sybausa.com

 

[btarunr]

Can anyone speculate how a card like this would behave if plugged into an x8 3.0 slot of an older Xeon E5 system? Any chance it has a switch chip and you can still use all 4 SSD’s? Or would it basically only connect 2 of the SSD’s? Or since the older chipset probably doesn’t support bifurcation just connect the first one and the other 3 would do nothing?

Those drives will work in gen 3.0 mode. Other than re-drivers, this card doesn't have any switching logic.

 

[Lionheart]

I got my hopes up, seriously thought Gigabyte was bringing out a single slot graphics card, I should really learn to read the title first instead of looking at pretty pics.

 

[kapone32]

Interesting indeed. I know every MB company have made these types of cards. My issue with these is that the Asus variant (PCI_E 3.0) is the only one readily available for purchase at 1/2 the MSRP.

 

[cygnus_1]

Those drives will work in gen 3.0 mode. Other than re-drivers, this card doesn't have any switching logic.

View attachment 134707

Wasn't so much worried about which gen mode it would run, more how many slots on the card would actually be functional if you put it in an x8 slot on a board that does not support bifurcation. Based on what others have mentioned, I think best case would be a single nvme slot of the card would actually function with this card in a system like that.

 

[Sabishii Hito]

Wasn't so much worried about which gen mode it would run, more how many slots on the card would actually be functional if you put it in an x8 slot on a board that does not support bifurcation. Based on what others have mentioned, I think best case would be a single nvme slot of the card would actually function with this card in a system like that.

Some Z390 boards support bifurcation for CPU NVMe RAID. Only two of the drives would work on an x8 slot.

 

[pjhender]

Will the Gigabyte PCI 4 m.2 Card work in the ASUS Zenith Extreme II motherboard - assuming I have a 16 Slot available? Thanks! P