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Alphacool Offers HDX5 Cooled M.2 RAID Add-on Card
Alphacool releases its HDX-5, a combination of a RAID controller card for M2 units and a massive cooler. The unit has two slots for M.2 SATA SSDs and two additional SATA slots, allowing you to set up the card in either RAID 0 or 1 group (mirror/stripe).
The PCI-Express 3.0 x4 card also provides a bandwidth of up to 3900 MB/s and is based on a Marvel RAID controller. The new generation of HDX coolers from Alphacool is getting another addition. The HDX-5 is not just a cooler, but also lets you run a RAID 0 or 1 group. It boasts two M.2 SATA SSD slots and two classic SATA slots. The combination possibilities are considerable, since you can set up a RAID group over one M.2 SATA SSD and one normal SATA drive, or connect just the M.2 slots to form a RAID group. That leaves the classic SATA slots free to be used for normal connections.
Highlights
- No more throttling of the SSD due to overheating
- RAID 0 or 1 possible
- 4x PCIe card with a bandwidth of around 3900 MB/s
- Cooler optimally protects your SSD
The 4x PCIe plug-in card provides your SSDs with a bandwidth of around 3900 MB/s. This eliminates the usual system bottleneck - the connection between the SSD and the system - entirely. Normal SATA slots on a motherboard provide a maximum data transfer rate of around 640 MB/s, and even most M.2 connections on a motherboard often only provide around 1900 MB/s. One problem with direct connection to the motherboard is cooling. At high or continuous rates of data transfer, M.2 SATA SSDs often overheat and drop their speed. This can lower performance down to 10% of actual capacity. On motherboards, the M.2 slots are often located directly underneath or beside the graphics card, which serves to heat them further. Cooling this area is often only possible to a limited extent due to the lack of space. If you're looking to take advantage of your M.2 SATA SSD's maximum performance, a good cooling solution is a must.
The massive, expansive HDX-5 heatsink completely covers the SSDs in both M.2 slots. This means optimal heat transfer from your SSD as it is cooled. The possibility of the SSD slowing down and the accompanying loss of performance are virtually eliminated.
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Stairmand
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Posts: 104
Joined: 2007-07-25
Senior Member
Posts: 104
Joined: 2007-07-25
#5464350 Posted on: 08/18/2017 02:09 PM
If this only supports S-ATA based M.2 cards then I fail to see the point.
If this only supports S-ATA based M.2 cards then I fail to see the point.
Athlonite
Senior Member
Posts: 1250
Joined: 2007-11-09
Senior Member
Posts: 1250
Joined: 2007-11-09
#5464403 Posted on: 08/18/2017 04:31 PM
It supports 2 x M.2 SATA SSD's and 2 x 2.5" SATA SSD's for a total of four SSD's but yes no NVMe
If this only supports S-ATA based M.2 cards then I fail to see the point.
It supports 2 x M.2 SATA SSD's and 2 x 2.5" SATA SSD's for a total of four SSD's but yes no NVMe
varkkon
Senior Member
Posts: 121
Joined: 2010-01-26
Senior Member
Posts: 121
Joined: 2010-01-26
#5464459 Posted on: 08/18/2017 06:58 PM
I think it's fine it says: M.2 2280 SATA SSDs * does this not mean NVMe? *
Scroll down: https://www.alphacool.com/Link%20zur%20Landingpage:%20shopware.php?sViewport=campaign&emotionId=2844
So unless I am reading that wrong you can add two SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 500GB NVMe and put them in RAID1 which no mobo allows right now that I know of. I don't think there is any mobo that lets you use any brand of M.2 2280s in RAID right now?
Sounds awesome for a workstation to have RAID1 for your work drive.
If this only supports S-ATA based M.2 cards then I fail to see the point.
I think it's fine it says: M.2 2280 SATA SSDs * does this not mean NVMe? *
Scroll down: https://www.alphacool.com/Link%20zur%20Landingpage:%20shopware.php?sViewport=campaign&emotionId=2844
So unless I am reading that wrong you can add two SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 500GB NVMe and put them in RAID1 which no mobo allows right now that I know of. I don't think there is any mobo that lets you use any brand of M.2 2280s in RAID right now?
Sounds awesome for a workstation to have RAID1 for your work drive.
nosirrah
Junior Member
Posts: 7
Joined: 2017-06-06
Junior Member
Posts: 7
Joined: 2017-06-06
#5464547 Posted on: 08/19/2017 01:16 AM
I think it's fine it says: M.2 2280 SATA SSDs * does this not mean NVMe? *
So unless I am reading that wrong you can add two SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 500GB NVMe and put them in RAID1 which no mobo allows right now that I know of. I don't think there is any mobo that lets you use any brand of M.2 2280s in RAID right now?
Sounds awesome for a workstation to have RAID1 for your work drive.
M.2 and 2280 are just the form factor, usually NVMe but that is not always true, look @ this:
Lenovo M.2 2280 256GB SATA 4XB0K48499
The site pretty clearly says:
"M.2 2280 SATA SSDs"
which makes this:
"3900 MB/s"
unattainable BS.
This looks like nothing more than an expensive M.2 SATA SSD cooler.
I think it's fine it says: M.2 2280 SATA SSDs * does this not mean NVMe? *
So unless I am reading that wrong you can add two SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 500GB NVMe and put them in RAID1 which no mobo allows right now that I know of. I don't think there is any mobo that lets you use any brand of M.2 2280s in RAID right now?
Sounds awesome for a workstation to have RAID1 for your work drive.
M.2 and 2280 are just the form factor, usually NVMe but that is not always true, look @ this:
Lenovo M.2 2280 256GB SATA 4XB0K48499
The site pretty clearly says:
"M.2 2280 SATA SSDs"
which makes this:
"3900 MB/s"
unattainable BS.
This looks like nothing more than an expensive M.2 SATA SSD cooler.
varkkon
Senior Member
Posts: 121
Joined: 2010-01-26
Senior Member
Posts: 121
Joined: 2010-01-26
#5464550 Posted on: 08/19/2017 01:30 AM
M.2 and 2280 are just the form factor, usually NVMe but that is not always true, look @ this:
Lenovo M.2 2280 256GB SATA 4XB0K48499
The site pretty clearly says:
"M.2 2280 SATA SSDs"
which makes this:
"3900 MB/s"
unattainable BS.
This looks like nothing more than an expensive M.2 SATA SSD cooler.
I think your right, I took a better look at the picture in the link: https://www.alphacool.com/Link%20zur%20Landingpage:%20shopware.php?sViewport=campaign&emotionId=2844 the M.2 slots have the notch on the left which means its a regular M.2 max 550 MB/s if it was a NVMe slot the notch would be on the right.
Man
this sucks what a pointless card, it could of been epic, if it was NVMe I get it. Why on earth are they even advertising 3900 MB/s? Like you said that is unattainable BS for a regular M.2 SATA tech.
M.2 and 2280 are just the form factor, usually NVMe but that is not always true, look @ this:
Lenovo M.2 2280 256GB SATA 4XB0K48499
The site pretty clearly says:
"M.2 2280 SATA SSDs"
which makes this:
"3900 MB/s"
unattainable BS.
This looks like nothing more than an expensive M.2 SATA SSD cooler.
I think your right, I took a better look at the picture in the link: https://www.alphacool.com/Link%20zur%20Landingpage:%20shopware.php?sViewport=campaign&emotionId=2844 the M.2 slots have the notch on the left which means its a regular M.2 max 550 MB/s if it was a NVMe slot the notch would be on the right.
Man
this sucks what a pointless card, it could of been epic, if it was NVMe I get it. Why on earth are they even advertising 3900 MB/s? Like you said that is unattainable BS for a regular M.2 SATA tech.
nosirrah
Junior Member
Posts: 7
Joined: 2017-06-06
Junior Member
Posts: 7
Joined: 2017-06-06
#5464564 Posted on: 08/19/2017 03:39 AM
They are talking about the maximum speed the card can talk to PCIe, which they are technically telling the truth about.
The lie (by omission) is that SATA drives can saturate that link, which is of course impossible.
Reading the very specific way they are wording the specs also implies that 4 SATA drives (2 conventional and 2 M.2) cannot be used in a 4 drive array. They mention RAID 1 or 0 but not RAID 10 which should totally be possible with 4 SATA drives on one controller.
Useless indeed.
Why on earth are they even advertising 3900 MB/s? Like you said that is unattainable BS for a regular M.2 SATA tech.
They are talking about the maximum speed the card can talk to PCIe, which they are technically telling the truth about.
The lie (by omission) is that SATA drives can saturate that link, which is of course impossible.
Reading the very specific way they are wording the specs also implies that 4 SATA drives (2 conventional and 2 M.2) cannot be used in a 4 drive array. They mention RAID 1 or 0 but not RAID 10 which should totally be possible with 4 SATA drives on one controller.
Useless indeed.
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Senior Member
Posts: 437
Joined: 2017-02-14
I picked up the Alphacool hdx2 to cool my Samsung 960 pro. Took my temps down from constantly being in the 60-70c range to staying under 35c even under load. My m2 slot is under the graphics card and I was hanging right at throttle temps all the time so bit the bullet.
Anyhow just wanted to say I has happy with the quality of the product.