Question M.2 M vs E for GPU?

[MeeLee]

What slot can I convert to a PCIE 16x riser?
The 'M.2 M' or the 'M.2 E' slot?
Or can i run a GPU in both slots?

 

[USAFRet]

For an actual answer to your question, one would have to know more about your system.

Primarily, what motherboard is this?
(other question to follow)

 

[MeeLee]

LattePanda alpha

 

[USAFRet]

LattePanda alpha

This?

LattePanda – A Windows 10 Computer with integrated Arduino

www.lattepanda.com

For such a niche item, you'd probably find better answers at their forum:

Lattepanda Tech Support Forum

Tech support forum for DFRobot opensource hardware including Lattepanda.

www.lattepanda.com

 

[AllanGH]

Too bad they didn't go with a Ryzen in that footprint. I'd be interested in seeing something like that.....

 

[TJ Hooker]

M key seems to be the easiest to find an adapter for, something like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/M2-...b-3-0-Extender-Riser-SATA-to/32821306652.html
I've used something equivalent to this without issue.

The are also adapters for E key, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/NGFF-Express-Riser-Speed-Cable/dp/B07KSZ62B8
The riser is only x1, but it's open ended so you could still put a x16 card in there. I have no experience with these.

For either adapter you'd also need to buy a power supply to power the risers/cards. Keep in mind that using Molex connectors/adapters isn't always reliable, and I have seen stories about people melting adapters or even starting fires. The pins on the power header on the riser that comes with the E key adapter in particular don't look like they can carry a lot of current.

With either adapter, you're only going to have PCIe x1 bandwidth for the card though. What card(s) are you planning on using, and what do you intend to use them for?

 

[MeeLee]

Yeah, I've seen mPCIE M converters everywhere, but the E slots are different.
From their description:

1x M.2 M Key, PCIe 4x, Supports NVMe SSD and SATA SSD
1x M.2 E Key, PCIe 2x，Supports USB2.0, UART, PCM


The M slot has been tried, and works well with a 2080, and the E slot has not been tested, but it's speed should work well with a 2060, provided there exists an adaptor.
For folding, both slots would work well on 2x 2080 ti with only a 10% drop in performance (perhaps slightly more on the 2x slot).

Best picture I have from the mPCIE slots is this one (the M slot on the bottom (left), the E slot on the top):

Edit: Too bad the PCIE E slot (2x speed) only converts to PCIE 1x. This is unfortunate!
I was hoping to maximize the PCIe lanes.

 

[TJ Hooker]

FYI, mPCIe is a different form factor, distinct from M.2.

Yes, the 2nd M.2 slot is keyed different than the first one (E key vs M key). Which is why I linked a 2nd adapter, which is A + E keyed (should work with either A or E keyed ports).