Hello everyone! I'm setting up my very first compact home server/NAS/computer and I'm excited but also a bit stuck. I have two spare NVMe drives that I'd love to use, but unfortunately, my motherboard doesn't have enough M.2 ports. I'm interested in finding a single PCIe switch card that can accommodate both drives. However, I've noticed that many of the budget options require motherboard bifurcation, which I definitely don't have. The pricier options seem to avoid this issue, but they're quite expensive. Can anyone recommend a reliable active switch card that performs well and won't break the bank? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Honestly, I don’t think there are many good options for active cards that fit your criteria. Most of the cheaper cards do need motherboard bifurcation, which it sounds like you can't support.
The reason those active switch chips are pricey is due to their functionality. If you have the extra PCIe slots available, try using multiple slots instead. Even a single lane is generally faster than SATA, so there's that!
Yeah, I figured that would be the case. I’d prefer not to use all my slots since I also want to add a PCIe SATA splitter card and possibly a graphics card down the line. But thanks for the suggestion!
It might not be super fast, but do you have a USB 3.0 port? M.2 external docks can be a more affordable solution. Just keep in mind that if you're running your OS from one of those, you might not be able to use both at the same time effectively.
I was really hoping to go with a card. I was considering using them for backups or streaming shows, but you've given me another option to think about. Thanks!
Well shoot, thank you for clarifying! : )