ASrock Rack ROMED8-2T questions (Jumper settings and OCuLink ports)

[beakhole]

Hello,

MOBO Manual: https://download.asrock.com/Manual/ROMED8-2T.pdf

The TL;DR is I would really love to use 2x NVME M2 drives and both MINI SAS HDD ports (so all 8 SATA ports) with this MOBO. Is this possible?

It looked like based on the manual it was not possible, as using one of the M2 ports would force me to disable one of the MINI SAS HDD ports, forcing me to choose between either 2 M2 drives or both MINI SAS HDD's.

This is the relevant manual page about jumper settings to pick and choose what is enabled/disabled:

http://imgur.com/d7ewBDJ

And here is the block diagram also showing same thing:

http://imgur.com/DPpbZhV

So I had the bright idea to "just use OCuLink" (which I had never heard of before buying this MOBO) to expand an extra M2 slot. That way I can still use M2_1 and all 8 SATA drives, and then add a second M2 via OCuLink. So, I set my jumpers appropriately:

http://imgur.com/RcQguuj

, and then bought one of these OCuLink to M2 NVME cards:

http://imgur.com/tw5GfVO

(Amazon link to it, and amazon link to cable used with it). Unfortunately, there is no sign of this OCuLinked M2 drive anywhere in BIOS or in OS, so I am assuming there are some sort of specifics I am unfamiliar with regarding what is actually supported with this MOBO's OCuLink ports.

This seems supported by another post here which says something about the OCuLink ports on this MOBO only being compatible with specific cables and only working with specific drives (U2 drives only)?

Anyway, I am just looking for any advice on how to properly use the OCuLink ports and what my options are with them, or how else I can properly expand so I can use both M2 ports on the board along with 8+ sata ports.

 

[RolloZ170]

you can use both M.2 and OCuLink, but PCIE2 is disabled then.
both jumper 2-3
OCuLink: M.2 don't like long cables. some drives work, some not.

 

[beakhole]

Yep, I have both jumpers on 2-3. It's fine that PCIe2 is disabled, I do not need it.

The problem is, I don't think I can use both MiniSASHD's if I am using both M2 slots on the MOBO, right? I think because of this:

My end goal if it is possible is to have 10 SATA drives and 2 M2 NVME drives, so losoing half of the Sata drives on the board in order to use M2_2 seemed like a big problem.

 

[RolloZ170]

The problem is, I don't think I can use both MiniSASHD's if I am using both M2 slots on the MOBO, right? I think because of this:

G3 0...3 M2_2
G3 4...7 SATA_0_3

 

[beakhole]

Oh, so it isn't one or the other for those? So is this answer incorrect (Newegg questions on the same MOBO on newegg):
If I can use M2_1, M2_2, and all 8 SATA ports at once, that's great

 

[RolloZ170]

Oh, so it isn't one or the other for those? So is this answer incorrect (Newegg questions on the same MOBO on newegg):

looks so.
its not easy visible in the schematics that there are 8 lanes going from G3 to M2_2(first separation) & SATA_0_3(second separation last 4)

 

[beakhole]

Well, some of my SATA drives are arriving tonight, so I will try to install 4 SATA drives in SATA0_3 and both M2_1 and M2_2 all at the same time, and I guess I will find out for sure if they all work or not simultaneously. Thank you for your help and information, I will post back if it works.

 

[RolloZ170]

in the manual is the share of M2_1 declared, but nothing about share of M2_2.
if not work: manual is wrong.

some of my SATA drives are arriving tonight

hehe, under cover of darkness

 

[beakhole]

@RolloZ170 Hey, 2 SSD's arrived and I plugged them in, along with both M2 NVME drives (M2_1 and M2_2). I plugged in the 2 SSDs in spots 0 and 1, and sure enough I can see all 4 drives in BIOS and also in the OS (as seen in following images)

http://imgur.com/v6HMhW3

So you were right, I guess the Newegg answer was wrong? I didn't use all 4 SATA slots but even just using 0 and 1 proves they should all work, right?

 

[RolloZ170]

I didn't use all 4 SATA slots but even just using 0 and 1 proves they should all work, right?

yes, some can be shared with M2 slots for M2 SATA SSD like DOM, check manual for this.

 

[beakhole]

@RolloZ170 ASRock Rack support just told me it was one or the other:

" The SATA 0-3 via the mini HD SAS port is using a PCIe bus link x4 controlled by the CPU. If M.2 #2 slot is populated, it will use up the whole x4 bus link, leaving no available bus link bandwidth to the SATA 0-3 bus link. If SATA 0-3 bus link is populated first, then it will not have available x4 bus link for the M.2 #2 slot. It’s an either or usage situation. "

 

[beakhole]

Went ahead and plugged in all 4 SSD's in SATA0_3 along with M2_1 and M2_2 simultaneously

http://imgur.com/7AKfyXv

 

[RolloZ170]

@RolloZ170 ASRock Rack support just told me it was one or the other:

" The SATA 0-3 via the mini HD SAS port is using a PCIe bus link x4 controlled by the CPU. If M.2 #2 slot is populated, it will use up the whole x4 bus link, leaving no available bus link bandwidth to the SATA 0-3 bus link. If SATA 0-3 bus link is populated first, then it will not have available x4 bus link for the M.2 #2 slot. It’s an either or usage situation. "

ASRock support has no clue then:
" The SATA 0-3 via the mini HD SAS port is using a PCIe bus link x4 controlled by the CPU"
FALSE ! there are 4 extra lanes, x4 PCIe and SATA3 x4
and there is not a switch
(PCIe Gen4 x4) G3 0...3
and
(SATA3 x4) G3 4...8
check pic here

https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/asrock-rack-romed8-2t-questions-jumper-settings-and-oculink-ports.40136/post-377679