What's the go-to NVMe AIC

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whitey

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Jun 30, 2014
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Is a funtin adapter still a good choice?

https://www.amazon.com/Funtin-PCIe-Adapter-SFF-8639-Interface/dp/B011YJ7WLK

That thing sure looks like full height bracket/4U systems only, are my eyes deceiving me? Trying to accommodate an Intel Optane 900P in my X9SRL-F systems but all my chassis are 2U SM SC216's.

I know there is also the venerable AOC-SLG3-2E4 as well right?

Supermicro AOC-SLG3-2E4 Wired

DAMN that's a pretty good pricepoint on that guy, thought it was like $220 or so?

TIA, whitey
 
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i386

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Mar 18, 2016
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Why not just go with the AIC version of the 900p?
My guess: the aic version will take a mechanical x8 slot* but run only at x4 electrically. With an adapter and bifurcation one x8 slot can be used for two u.2 ssds.

*assuming it's a supermicro server/workstation mainboard
 

whitey

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Jun 30, 2014
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Why not just go with the AIC version of the 900p?
Well I intend to 'eventually' transition to a system/chassis w/ native NVME so I do prefer the 2.5 version. Maybe that's not justifiable and I just made a mistake...have to think on this a bit.

I'm gonna eat another $200 for my silly ass mistake/stubborness right?
 

whitey

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Jun 30, 2014
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My 900p came with both brackets, so 2U is no problem.
Sorry I ordered the 2.5" 15mm U.2 version.

EDIT: Dammit, newegg shipped already, can't cancel/change order. I fail today. Guess I can return it if I need to, the $45 funtin adapter I could have stomached but since that does not look like it will fit in any 2U chassis I don't think I can eat $200 for AOC-SLG3-2E4 and $30 for U.2 cable all to 'future-proof myself'.

SMFH
 
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whitey

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Any kind souls laughing/cringing with me have a spare AOC-SLG3-2E4 they wanna unload on the cheap or is the vote just send it back and get the AIC version?
 

Rand__

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Mar 6, 2014
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Yes and no I am not sure, have not tested it and have no x9 board.
But the card has worked with a single drive on all x10/e5 x11/e3 boards I tested. Mind not dual, that needs bifurcation support. But single would be ok for your use case I guess.

If none pcie's work in x9 then so should this one:)
 

whitey

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Jun 30, 2014
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So would that AOC-SLG3-24ET be considered a NVMe HBA, I see it listed as pure HBA so when we talk abt 'future-proof' would this per say hook to a NVMe backplane that I hope to procure for my SM SC216 chassis and connect via oculink to oculink or oculink to U.2 depending on what backplane has for connections or is this truly a two NVMe device option only?
 

Rand__

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Mar 6, 2014
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I don't know how it might work with a larger backplane, sorry.
From a bandwidth point of view this card cannot support more than two drives in the first place due to it's x8 interface.
If you want more, get the bigger brother 4E4T (iirc) that comes with a x16 connector and 4 drive support.
 

K D

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Dec 24, 2016
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So would that AOC-SLG3-24ET be considered a NVMe HBA, I see it listed as pure HBA so when we talk abt 'future-proof' would this per say hook to a NVMe backplane that I hope to procure for my SM SC216 chassis and connect via oculink to oculink or oculink to U.2 depending on what backplane has for connections or is this truly a two NVMe device option only?
Which NVME Backplane are you planning to get. I am refitting a 216 with BPN-SAS3-216A-N4 to be used with this AOC and a X11DPi board. The backplane has U.2 connectors.

I have the board, hba, backplane and cables sitting still in the shipping boxes for the past 5 weeks :(.Unable to get time with all the work travel lately.

But I know the 2 port version of this AOC works with this backplane as well as BPN-SAS3-826A-N4.
 
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T_Minus

Build. Break. Fix. Repeat
Feb 15, 2015
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Which NVME Backplane are you planning to get. I am refitting a 216 with BPN-SAS3-216A-N4 to be used with this AOC and a X11DPi board. The backplane has U.2 connectors.

I have the board, hba, backplane and cables sitting still in the shipping boxes for the past 5 weeks :(.Unable to get time with all the work travel lately.

But I know the 2 port version of this AOC works with this backplane as well as BPN-SAS3-826A-N4.
Where were you able to acquire that backplane?
Retailers I've reached out to say they won't sell it 'alone'... :)
 

K D

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Dec 24, 2016
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That's the seller I ordered from. I didn't go via eBay but did a separate PayPal transaction. I purchased one initially and once I figured everything was good, ordered 3 more.
 

Rand__

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Mar 6, 2014
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Thats 4 ports though, right? And that works with the 2T? With all at x4? Or down to x2?
 

K D

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Dec 24, 2016
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It's a 1 to 1 mapping. 4 ports on the HBA connected to ports 21-24 on the Backplane using oculink to U.2 cables.
 

Rand__

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Mar 6, 2014
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Ok, so it actually needs the AOC-SLG3-4E4T for full drive support - that's what I thought ;)
The AOC-SLG3-2E4T only has 2 ports and as such only supports two drives (at x4)