R640 M.2 NVME SSD ?

[tryllz]

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy Dell R640 Server, and wanted to get some clarification if anyone can help..

Does R640 supports bifurcation for PCIe ? I'm a bit confused between what I'm reading from various forums, and from Copilot that the bifurcation in R640 is for Backplane and not PCIe.

I'm looking to use the Asus Hyper M.2 for nvme which requires BIOS bifurcation. If the bifurcation is for backplane then will buying an M.2 nvme adapter with PLX switch that does not require BIOS bifurcation work ?

I have the following cards on my mind..

- LRNV9547L-4I

- RIITOP

Hoping someone can guide me in the right direction..

Thanks..

 

[tryllz]

Also I have been reading about PCIe lanes, and the R640 bifurcation is x4x4x8 or x8x4x4.

Does this mean 3 nvme disks will work because of x4x4x8 (2 ssd work in x4, and 1 in x8).

Or only 2 will work because the PCIe adapter is x4 and R640 has 2 x4.

Or none will work because the PCIe adapter is x4x4x4x4 only ? Because according to some users if the bios is not x4x4x4x4 only 1 drive will show..

 

[name stolen]

IF the PCIe lanes are bifurcated x8x4x4 within a single x16 slot, then a 4-way adapter will work with 3 drives (Slots 1, 3, 4, but not slot 2.)

 

[tryllz]

Thanks for clarifying..

 

[tryllz]

Would you know if the Asus Hyper M.2 X16 work with Dell R640, it should work its a PCIe device being used in a PCIe slot, just want to be sure..

 

[Wasmachineman_NL]

Would you know if the Asus Hyper M.2 X16 work with Dell R640, it should work its a PCIe device being used in a PCIe slot, just want to be sure..

It's a simple passive PCIe device, you need bifurcation support in BIOS to use more than one SSD though. (and a x16 slot if you want x4x4x4x4)

 

[tryllz]

Thanks, I also checked Dell's documents and R640 supports x4x4x8, and checked with Asus, they said with 4x4x8 only 3 nvme will work..

At present I'm trying to determine if it will fit physically in 640 after removing Full Height bracket of Asus Hyper as I onlt have Half Height PCIe slots..