Ballistix Elite 3600 MHz 16GB Dual Channel DDR4 review
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC2900 Gaming Router review
Asustor Nimbustor 4 (AS5304T) NAS Review
Promo: VIP-SCDKey Games and Windows 10 / Office
be quiet! Dark Rock SLIM review
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Gaming OC review
Edifier G4 Pro Headset review
Microsoft Office 2016 Pro and Windows 10 Pro for just $34
Cooler Master SK621 Compact keyboard review
AMD Athlon 220GE and 240GE review
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.
Alphacool Releases Alphacool NexXxos GPX and Eiswolf 120 GPX Pro ATI RX Vega Coolers - 08/16/2017 07:02 PM
Alphacool outs their Eiswolf GPX-Pro ATI RX Vega and the NexXxoS GPX - ATI RX Vega cooler (no clue as to why they still call them ATI). The NexXxoS GPX Vega Version now offers an improved backplate ...
Alphacool launches Eisbaer AIO Cooler solution - 08/15/2017 04:05 PM
The Alphacool Eisbaer is an expandable, refillable CPU all-in-one watercooler with a pure copper radiator. The Eisbaer can be expanded with additional Eisbaer Ready products such as the Eiswolf GPX-Pr...
Alphacool Offers Eisblock HDX 2 and HDX 3 M.2 SSD Coolers - 07/19/2017 04:23 PM
Alphacool is now expanding its product range with the Eisblock HDX-2 and HDX-3 coolers. Both coolers come with a 4x PCIe card, on which the cooler and SSD are mounted. ...
Alphacool XPX Eisblock clear and satin versions - 05/20/2017 09:46 AM
Alphacool proudly presents the XPX Eisblock clear and satin versions. This innovation significantly improves the cooling performance, which has already been shown in tests with the normal Eisblock XP...
Alphacool Launches Eiswand 360 Liquid Cooling - 02/16/2017 02:26 PM
German based Alphacool just announced their Eiswand 360 liquid cooling solution. As the name implies it is based upon a 360mm radiator (Xt45) with embedded into is two DC-LT pumps and no less then s...
Stairmand
Senior Member
Posts: 114
Joined: 2007-07-25
Senior Member
Posts: 114
Joined: 2007-07-25
#5464350 Posted on: 08/18/2017 03:09 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: 1255
Joined: 2007-11-09
Senior Member
Posts: 1255
Joined: 2007-11-09
#5464403 Posted on: 08/18/2017 05:31 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: 126
Joined: 2010-01-26
Senior Member
Posts: 126
Joined: 2010-01-26
#5464459 Posted on: 08/18/2017 07:58 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 02:16 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: 126
Joined: 2010-01-26
Senior Member
Posts: 126
Joined: 2010-01-26
#5464550 Posted on: 08/19/2017 02:30 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 04:39 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.
Click here to post a comment for this news story on the message forum.
Senior Member
Posts: 472
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.