HBA (LSI / Broadcom 9400-16i) Questions

[Freestyle7]

I've been reading up on HBAs and I'm considering the 9400-16i for an upcoming workstation build.

1st question: Since the 9400-16i is an x8 card, assume I install it in an x8 slot and assume I connect 4x PCIe NVMe x4 drives: Would that use 8 or 16 PCIe lanes from the CPU? I know these are typically used in server environments with a backplane, but I won't have that luxury.

2nd question: What would be the maximum number of PCIe NVMe x4 drives I could install on one 9400-16i (I know it only has 4 ports)? I found an SFF-8643 to dual SFF-8643 cable, but I don't know if that would cut the drives' performance in half (which I wouldn't want to happen). How would I connect more than 4 drives to the 9400-16i (per Broadcom) without a backplane?

Additional info 1: M.2 Housing: My case has 10x 5.25 empty bays & I like the IcyDock MB720M2K-B (holds 4x M.2s). The MB720M2K-B has 4x SFF-8643 connectors.

Additional info 2: MB & CPU: The Asus Pro WS X299 Sage II (brand new MB) and the i9-10900X.

Additional info 3: I currently have a 1500w PSU & will add another as needed (case can hold 2).

Summary (goal):

1. 1x 9400-16i @ x8
2. 1x Asus Pro WS X299 Sage II (7x PCIe slots; 4x @ x16)
3. 1x i9-10900X
4. 4x MB720M2K-B
5. 2x 1500w PSU
6. 8x 2TB M.2 PCIe
7. 8x 4TB M.2 PCIe

 

[aigomorla]

1. 16x as each nvme is 4x, and a 16x PCIE bifurication port replicator, can do 4x4x4x4 and support 4 x NVMe's on most boards.
2. 4 there is no ands but fors or nors... these are 4x devices and each will take 4x. You can't connect more then 4, that's not how these NVMe card work.

16+8 = 24x4 = 96 PCI-e lanes required....
Your not going to get this job done without a dedicated server board with PLX chips as even ThreadRipper would leave you out in the rain.

Why are you using that icydock...
You should use a Bifurication Card like this instead and skip the HBA card you linked entirely that way you dont need to mess with u.2 cables unless you intend to go u.2 ssd route.

Amazon.com: ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 3.0 X4 Expansion Card V2 Supports 4 NVMe M.2 (2242/2260/2280/22110) Upto 128 Gbps for Intel VROC and AMD Ryzen Threadripper NVMe Raid: Computers & Accessories

Buy ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 3.0 X4 Expansion Card V2 Supports 4 NVMe M.2 (2242/2260/2280/22110) Upto 128 Gbps for Intel VROC and AMD Ryzen Threadripper NVMe Raid: USB Port Cards - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Once again i dont think you understand what a HBA is or a U.2 NVme is as well on that matter....

In short your not going to get it what you want.
You have the wrong EQ.
The ASUS Board you listed has PHYSICAL 4x16 slots, but lacks a PLX chip to make them run all at 16x

Your cpu has a maximum of 48 PCI-E slots and you just overshot that number by double.
You see what i am saying i think you lack knowledge in HBA's and U.2 NVme's.
They are not like typical SAS/SATA cards which do not require PCI-E lanes but a dedicated Controller.

 

[Freestyle7]

aigomorla, I suspected that might happen, but wasn't sure. I came across that Asus Hyper card but figured if I ended up using the HBA, I wouldn't need it. I've always liked IcyDock products & figured that would fit the bill if the project went in that direction.

The bright side here is if I do end up going the rack server route, there will be plenty of room for up to 24 drives (I like the Gigabyte R272-Z32) & the Seagate Nytro 5000 drives don't seem half bad either.

R272-Z32
Seagate Nytro 5000

Thanks for the thorough explanations.

 

[aigomorla]

you also will have 96 lanes you require because you have 2 processors on a real server.

This is how servers cheat this.
They have 2 heads and not 1.


OH wait your going EYPC... i missed that giggy link.

I do not trust Seagate...
I would look at Intel P4500 + Samsung P983 + Micron.

They have been in the game WAY longer then seagate when it comes to SSD.

 

[Freestyle7]

I edited my OP for clarity. The idea behind the OP was to see if I could work with 16x M.2s with the hardware I had in mind. Obviously that isn't going to work. I was checking to see if I could somehow work with 64 total lanes (with the HBA & PCH lanes --- I wasn't clear on this) not 96. That doesn't change the fact that you were right in saying it wouldn't work. I just wanted to add clarity.