ASRock Gives SATA-Express Purpose With USB 3.1 And Type-C, Also Reveals U.2 Adapter

[jos]

The front USB 3.1 panel is a 5.25" device that has a PCB inside, which ends in two USB connections -- a USB 3.1 Type-A port, and a USB 3.1 Type-C port. To power the device you need a SATA power connector, a USB 2.0 header (which is only for power), and you need a SATA-Express port for data.

 

It uses SATA-Express because it is wired straight to PCI-Express lanes, which connect to an ASMedia ASM1142 controller. Of course, the 10 Gb/s of bandwidth provided by the two PCI-Express 2.0 lanes is split over the two USB ports, so if you're using both at the same time, they'll be fighting for bandwidth (assuming you can get that much data throughout from your client devices). If you're using one device, you'll be free to use the full 10 Gb/s spec on that port.

 

 

The U.2 kit is a simple bracket that converts an M.2 connector to a U.2 connector, which supports the NVMe PCI-Express SSDs that run over four PCI-Express 3.0 lanes, such as the new Intel 750 series SSDs.

 

 

 

Now I can use my existing device for USB 3.1

 

Source: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/asrock-usb-3.1-type-c,29605.html

 

[Aytex]

yay a non scary post

[Glenwing]

That "U.2" connector looks vaguely familiar *cough* SFF-8643 *cough*

But they just can't use it without giving it a fancy marketing name, can they...

[Comrade_Dave]

I want to use both of these in a asrock mini-ITX x99 build.

 

Asus also has their own m.2 to SFF-8643 called a hyper kit. 

[SurvivorNVL]

That "U.2" connector looks vaguely familiar *cough* SFF-8643 *cough*

But they just can't use it without giving it a fancy marketing name, can they...

Apparently it was last month that they officially christened it.  http://www.tomshardware.com/news/sff-8639-u.2-pcie-ssd-nvme,29321.html    Personally I liked the official sounding, "SFF-8639" more than I do U.2, but I guess U.2 will catch on better.

[wpirobotbuilder]

I want to use both of these in a asrock mini-ITX x99 build.

 

Asus also has their own m.2 to SFF-8643 called a hyper kit. 

Wouldn't it take away some lanes from the 16x PCIe slot? Not that it matters, performance wise.

 

Cool stuff from ASRock. I want there to be an add-in PCIe card that breaks out multiple compatible ports, though.

 

EDIT: I just found out that VMWare supports these SSDs, if you install the Intel NVMe driver for it (here)

[WelshDdraig]

Wouldn't it take away some lanes from the 16x PCIe slot? Not that it matters, performance wise.

 

Cool stuff from ASRock. I want there to be an add-in PCIe card that breaks out multiple compatible ports, though.

 

EDIT: I just found out that VMWare supports these SSDs, if you install the Intel NVMe driver for it (here)

i wouldn't think it would take lanes away. Just because there is only 1 x16 slot, doesn't mean there's 16 lanes. The lowest end x99 processor (i7 5820k) still has 28 lanes. So there is still 12 lanes not being used if you use the mitx ASRock board.

[Yog]

Some say the U.2 adapter is even better than the real thing.

 

 

...Sorry, had to.

[qwertywarrior]

for a second there i thought they were using actual U.2 ports

that would have been a big mistake this early in the game

[Norman_the_Owl]

That "U.2" connector looks vaguely familiar *cough* SFF-8643 *cough*

But they just can't use it without giving it a fancy marketing name, can they...

U.2 is SSF 8639 connected via PCIE.

 

Mini-SAS is SSF 8639 connected via SATA (i think)

 

Reusing connectors isn't that novel of an idea