Question Dell Precision T5810 Workstation - - - PCIe bifurcation ?

[Itsmegareth]

I have 1 NVMe SSD installed with the OS on it. I have a 2TB NVMe game drive in another system I want to install. I know the system supports 4x4x4x4 on the main PCI x16 slots. I can't find an answer anywhere regarding slot 1 which is PCIe 3.0 x16 running @ x8. Does anyone know if slot 1 will split to 4x4 for a dual NVMe card?

Dell Precision T5810
E5 2697 v3
Rtx 2080ti
32gb ddr4 eec ram 2133 (4x8gb sticks)
Dell 685w gold psu
2x1tb hdd
1x 256gb nvme installed via single slot pcie card
Windows 10 fully updated

I want to add a 2tb Samsung nvme SSD but I will need to buy a 2 slot nvme card, hence my question.

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Include PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

List of all connected peripherals.

= = = =

Go to the motherboard's manuafacturer's website and search for the applicable motherboard User Guide/Manual.

Do be careful about other "manual" websites. Especially if an older motherboard. Just because the manufacturer's name appears in the URL/path does not mean that the website is that of the true manufacturer.

 

[Aeacus]

Well, when you enable 4x4x4x4, then it puts all 4 x16 PCI-E slots your MoBo has, into x4 mode. Including the 1st x16 slot, which is configured to run x8 by default.

MoBo sockets:

Direct link if image doesn't load: https://prod-care-community-cdn.spr...0bd651f-4d1a-4bfa-82ba-b50940142c4c-843465895

 

[Itsmegareth]

Well, when you enable 4x4x4x4, then it puts all 4 x16 PCI-E slots your MoBo has, into x4 mode. Including the 1st x16 slot, which is configured to run x8 by default.

MoBo sockets:

Direct link if image doesn't load: https://prod-care-community-cdn.sprinklr.com/community/687062f5-603c-4f5f-ab9d-31aa7cacb376/communityasset-d0bd651f-4d1a-4bfa-82ba-b50940142c4c-8434658

So slot 1 splits into 4x4? or should i just use slot 3?
My concern with using slot 3 is temperature. im using a blower style gpu.

 

[Itsmegareth]

I think I found the answer, i will update if it works after i buy and try in my system.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avgsso9zN3A

 

[Aeacus]

think i found my answer

Well, the fellow in the vid doesn't state how many PCI-E lanes they are getting from running two M.2 drives in 1st PCI-E x16 slot (wired to run x8).

M.2 PCI-E usually needs x4 lanes of PCI-E, but does also work with x2 and x1.
So, when the fellow did enable 4x4x4x4, it means that either of their M.2 drives operates at x2 (2 lane mode) and GPU at x4. System still works and both drives are detected.

As of why he couldn't get two to work at lowest PCI-E slot, well, that slot is wired only for x4 (4 lanes) and all 4 lanes would be for one M.2 drive. Leaving 2nd M.2 drive without any, hence why two at the lowest PCI-E slot didn't work.

 

[Itsmegareth]

top slot is x8 so I assume it would split it 4x4 if it detected 2 nvme SSDs. There is no option in the bios to enable lane splitting, it does it automatically for the pcie slots that support it. im still yet to buy and try it.

 

[rgd1101]

what do you mean split?
how many pcie addon card are you getting?

 

[Itsmegareth]

what do you mean split?
how many pcie addon card are you getting?

Just 1 card with 2 nvme slots. Pcie lanes split into 4x4 for 8x or 4x4x4x4 for 16x slot. Pcie bifurcation

 

[rgd1101]

it doesn't have to split. it will use the full x8. computer are smart.

 

[cruisetung]

it doesn't have to split. it will use the full x8. computer are smart.

Fact is chipset, bios and motherboard need to support pcie bifurcation specifically to make it work. consumer grade motherboard/system do not support pcie lanes splitting at all.

 

[rgd1101]

this is my take. the Op only going to have 1 pcie card with 2 nvme. and he think the slot need to split for each nvme drive

 

[Itsmegareth]

this is my take. the Op only going to have 1 pcie card with 2 nvme. and he think the slot need to split for each nvme drive

It's a Dell Precision T5810 Workstation, I'm now confident that it will automatically split the top slot to 4x4. Its supports up to 4x nvme according to the tech specs, so it must split some lanes in at least 1 of the 3 main pcie slots.

 

[cruisetung]

See this

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/10awf8a/precision_tower_5810_with_ultraspeed_quad_adapter/

The safe way is make sure you can return the adapter if it doesn't work.

 

[Bob.B]

It's a Dell Precision T5810 Workstation, I'm now confident that it will automatically split the top slot to 4x4. Its supports up to 4x nvme according to the tech specs, so it must split some lanes in at least 1 of the 3 main pcie slots.

An option.
Clone the 256 nvme to a 2.5 ssd.
Remove the 256 and use the slot for the new nvme.

 

[popatim]

Fact is chipset, bios and motherboard need to support pcie bifurcation specifically to make it work. consumer grade motherboard/system do not support pcie lanes splitting at all.

Many actually do.

 

[popatim]

this is my take. the Op only going to have 1 pcie card with 2 nvme. and he think the slot need to split for each nvme drive

This is entirely dependent on the card he buys. The inexpensive ones require bifurcation so as not to have to install the pcie lane divider or raid hardware