alternative to QM2-2P410G2T so PCIe 4.0 x 8 card, with PCIe 4.0 switch, 2 x 10Gbps network + 2 x PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 NVME

[kokosnh]

Is there any alternative for QM2-2P410G2T, preferably with 2 x 10Gbp SFP+ ports, instead of 2 x RJ-45 10Gbps 

 

I'm now running Intel x520-DA2, and it's working, but it was a pain to get it to work on windows 11 (it's not supported, and installing drivers packet from intel for win 10 don't work).
Had to export drivers from windows 10 manually, and manually import them to win 11.

 

So looking for some newer supported alternatives, I found this QM2-2P410G2T. Are there similar, but cheaper products, out there? 

[Alex Atkin UK]

20 hours ago, kokosnh said:

Is there any alternative for QM2-2P410G2T, preferably with 2 x 10Gbp SFP+ ports, instead of 2 x RJ-45 10Gbps 

 

I'm now running Intel x520-DA2, and it's working, but it was a pain to get it to work on windows 11 (it's not supported, and installing drivers packet from intel for win 10 don't work).
Had to export drivers from windows 10 manually, and manually import them to win 11.

 

So looking for some newer supported alternatives, I found this QM2-2P410G2T. Are there similar, but cheaper products, out there? 

I doubt it, that's a very niche product built for a NAS where you'd likely be running Linux so no driver problems.

 

I'd love even a single SFP+ and single NVME full-length M.2 NVME adapter myself, even if it was x520.

[kokosnh]

9 hours ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

I'd love even a single SFP+ and single NVME full-length M.2 NVME adapter myself, even if it was x520.

You could actually build something like that rather cheap ( without expensive active PCIe switch like on that qnap ), but motherboard would need to support PCIe bifurcation. 
as all you need to do, is just slap M.2 slot, for 4 of the 8 PCIe lanes you usually have in x520. 
 

networks card don't really need that much bandwidth ( the 10Gbps ones ), just slap a PCIe to M.2 adapter on the same PCB, and you are done.

 

and to be honest, 8 x PCIe 3.0 PCIe switch, aren't that expensive anyway, that qnap is expensive, as it is 4.0 one.

[Alex Atkin UK]

4 hours ago, kokosnh said:

You could actually build something like that rather cheap ( without expensive active PCIe switch like on that qnap ), but motherboard would need to support PCIe bifurcation. 
as all you need to do, is just slap M.2 slot, for 4 of the 8 PCIe lanes you usually have in x520. 
 

networks card don't really need that much bandwidth ( the 10Gbps ones ), just slap a PCIe to M.2 adapter on the same PCB, and you are done.

 

and to be honest, 8 x PCIe 3.0 PCIe switch, aren't that expensive anyway, that qnap is expensive, as it is 4.0 one.

The problem I have is the x16 slot has a SAS controller in it, the chipset x4 slot has the NIC.  I have a spare x1 slot which frankly would be enough for the datacenter SSD given its the IOPS I want, not the speed, but its a closed ended slot so can't fit any of the PCIe to M.2 adapters.

All M.2 slots are full, though I would replace one with the datacenter card.  I could use an M.2 to M.2 riser but then need to figure out a way to mount it, can't take my NAS offline long enough to do that.  I had considered an M.2 to PCIe half-height then just duct tape under the slot, probably the most likely quick mod.

If I could find an M.2 riser that effectively just raised the M.2 slot above the PCIe x1 slot above it to fit longer M.2 cards then that might work, but not seen anything like that.

Can't bifurcate the x16 slot as same problem of not having anywhere to physically put the cards.

Electrically its all doable, but I don't want to jank the mounting of anything.

[kokosnh]

1 hour ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

but its a closed ended slot so can't fit any of the PCIe to M.2 adapters.

You do know there are PCIe x1 to M.2 adapter now, and cheap… 

 

Some time ago, I use ones on extensions ( as they were blocked by GPU ). 
 

I now have GPU ( x8 cpu slot )

NIC x520 (x8 cpu slot )

PCIe switch -> 4 x M.2 ( x4 chipset slot ) 

I have 8 x M.2 and one U.2 on M.2 to U.2 adapter 

and I would welcome 2 extra M.2 slots. 

 

[Alex Atkin UK]

2 minutes ago, kokosnh said:

You do know there are PCIe x1 to M.2 adapter now, and cheap… 

 

Some time ago, I use ones on extensions ( as they were blocked by GPU ). 
 

I now have GPU ( x8 cpu slot )

NIC x520 (x8 cpu slot )

PCIe switch -> 4 x M.2 ( x4 chipset slot ) 

I have 8 x M.2 and one U.2 on M.2 to U.2 adapter 

and I would welcome 2 extra slots. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

Electrically its all doable, but I don't want to jank the mounting of anything.