[SOLVED] SATA & M.2 Lane sharing

[ravin_29]

Hi all,
B550M Pro4 asrock board manual has following statement.

M2_2 and SATA3_5_6 share lanes. If either one of them is in
use, the other one will be disabled.

In principle I understand what it means. However what is not clear is if this rule is also applicable for PCIe NVMe SSD because as per manual M2_2 supports either SATA or PCIe

M2_2), supports M Key type 2280 M.2
SATA3 6.0 Gb/s module and M.2 PCI Express module up to
Gen3 x2 (16 Gb/s)

If I install NVMe SSD in M2_2 slot will it still disable SATA 3 5 6 lanes?
Thanks.

 

[Math Geek]

should not matter which you use. it will still disable the sata ports. if it does not, then it normally says so and goes into the various cases one by one.

 

[RoadBlaster]

Your motherboard shuts down port because you have limitations with the B550 chipset your motherboard manual has shown you which ports are available if you fill all the M.2 slots.

I have an X570 mobo were there are no limitations on any port so I can fill the motherboard on all the slots because of my chipset.

I also have a B450 motherboard which also will shut down 4 sata ports of 6 if I have 2 X M.2 fitted but who needs sata when using M.2 speed ?

 

[USAFRet]

If I install NVMe SSD in M2_2 slot will it still disable SATA 3 5 6 lanes?

Yes.
Either an M.2 drive (of any type) OR SATA 5 & 6.

 

[getochkn]

I have a B550 Steel Series. Not only does it disable the 3 SATA ports, but the 2nd M2 slot will be Gen 2 speeds, or half. I have a 500GB WD Black in the 2nd port. I get 1600mb/1450mb read/write speeds on it still. My 1TB Sabrent Rocket in the first M2 slot gets 3000mb/2700mb read/write speeds. The 3 SATA ports are filled with a 1TB SSD, a 2TB WD Green (ick) and 1TB Seagate Baracuda that all get their respective speeds. I am maxxed now at 5 drives unless I want to loose the second M2, but meh, I have a 40TB UNRAID tower on my network for any big long term storage.

 

[ravin_29]

Oh! so does it mean that the 3 after SATA is the naming convention of SATA3?
Like SATA1, SATA2 & SATA3?
I thought all SATA 3 5 & 6 ports (3 ports in all) gets disabled. But looks like only 5 & 6 get disabled!
That's bit better. Do confirm. Thanks a lot!

 

[Math Geek]

no you read it right, 3 ports get disabled. #3, 5 and 6

 

[RoadBlaster]

Oh! so does it mean that the 3 after SATA is the naming convention of SATA3?
Like SATA1, SATA2 & SATA3?
I thought all SATA 3 5 & 6 ports (3 ports in all) gets disabled. But looks like only 5 & 6 get disabled!
That's bit better. Do confirm. Thanks a lot!

I you have a M.2_2 in use SATA PORTS (3_5) & (3_6) ports will be disabled but you will still have 4 ports available.

So you can use M2_1 & M2_3 without interference to the Sata Ports because it looks like M2_2 goes through the B550 Chipset & M2_1 / M.2_3 go straight to the CPU

The manual does make the numbers seem confusing see below:

These six SATA3
connectors support SATA
data cables for internal
storage devices with up to
6.0 Gb/s data transfer rate.
* M2_2 and SATA3_5_6
share lanes. If either one
of them is in use, the other
one will be disabled.

 

[USAFRet]

no you read it right, 3 ports get disabled. #3, 5 and 6

No, 2 ports.

#5 & 6, both SATA 3 protocol.
Confusing labeling.

Should have said - "SATA III, ports 5 & 6".

 

[Math Geek]

wow, so i misread the manual as well. looking again i can see that now.

it is usually confusing but this one is particularly not written well. thanks for correcting me

 

[ravin_29]

Yes manual is confusing but now if I look at the left side section (see the photo) then the ports are named as SATA3_1, SATA3_2 and in that order upto SATA3_6.
So when they say SATA3_5_6 it must be 5 & 6 only.
Why manuals are not easy to understand?

 

[getochkn]

Thanks, I read it wrong too. I have space for one more drive now. lol.