GIGABYTE Unveils AORUS Gen5 AIC Adaptor with 4 Built-in NVMe M.2 Slots

[btarunr]

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions announced the AORUS Gen5 AIC Adaptor with PCIe 5.0 support. It is a single-slot Add In Card, featuring four NVMe M.2 slots, supporting a maximum of four PCIe 5.0 SSDs with 16 TB storage. By configuring a RAID array, the bandwidth can boost up to 60 GB/s to allow massive data files to transfer in a snap. The eight integrated temperature sensors and active temperature-controlled double ball bearing fan should satisfy users with large-capacity, ultra-fast and ultra-cool data access.

"With the coming PCIe 5.0 platform, high-speed storage can reach access speed of more than 10 GB/s. For users who chase higher performance, GIGABYTE AORUS Gen5 AIC leads the way to extreme performance by building a disk array." said Jackson Hsu, Director of the GIGABYTE Channel Solutions Product Development Division. "Integrating four PCIe 5.0 slots, users can choose different NVMe M.2 SSDs with customized capacity and performance for the greatest flexibility. Meanwhile, the advanced thermal design prevents thermal throttling under high-speed operation which makes GIGABYTE AORUS Gen5 AIC the best choice when upgrading storage performance."



AORUS Gen5 AIC Adaptor features brushed aluminium armor and baseplate for advanced heat dissipation with stylish design. The sleek single-slot design greatly improves the convenience of expansion without the worries of interference with other PCIe devices. On top of external design, the unique internal thermal design of AORUS Gen5 AIC Adaptor consists of a optimized large heatsink and a double-sided high conductivity thermal pad. This design can effectively dissipate the heat generated from high-speed operation of the SSDs due to the large air volume displaced by the 5 cm double ball bearing fan. Furthermore, the AORUS Gen5 AIC Adaptor integrates eight thermal sensors, providing users with real-time control of the operating temperatures when utilizing GIGABYTE exclusive AORUS Storage Manager and SSD Tool Box applications. Moreover, built-in intelligent dynamic fan speed control can adjust fan speed to deliver a quiet and cool operation.

The design of independent PCIe 5.0 controller paired with an exclusive signal-stabilized controller ensures that each SSD operates with actual PCIe 5.0 bandwidth to provide stable and high-speed performance. AORUS Gen5 AIC Adaptor supports PCIe 5.0 interface and is backward compatible with PCIe 4.0/3.0, unleashing the optimal performance of the platform regardless of its generation. Users can also increase system performance to the maximum 60 GB/s bandwidth by configuring RAID with additional NVMe M.2 SSD. GIGABYTE's new generation of Intel and AMD motherboards, Z690 or above, feature PCIe 5.0 support, low impedance, and server-grade PCB design, boost PCIe storage performance by leveling up bandwidth while unleashing hidden performance from peripherals. Get ready to break the limit with AORUS Gen5 AIC Adaptor and enjoy the ride of PCIe 5.0.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[TranceHead]

I've got the gen4 came preloaded with 4 × 2TB drives, great card. Bit of playing around needed to boot a Raid array though

 

[bonehead123]

Wow, a FREE gen 5 device (apparently, since no price is listed).... I'll take 82.37 please, like, yesterday, hehehehe

Since the gen 4 card lists for ~$130, which has been out for a good while now, I'm guessing these will add the obligatory "latest & greatest" tax and sell for around $200 ?

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Would like to see a review on this.

 

[Minus Infinity]

Would rather they offered a cheaper, smaller 2 slot version.

 

[kapone32]

How will this work in full with only 8 lanes for the mainstream boards available with a GPU installed? Only HEDT have this being able to run at full bandwidth.

 

[InVasMani]

I think you might be able to do Gen 5 x8/x8 with Gen 3 x8 for the newer RL chipset and possibly Zen 4. I haven't really looked into the details of that, but for AL you can do Gen 5 x8/x8 and Gen 3 with a x16 slot that's x4 wired. Gen 3 x8 wired is pretty sufficient and Gen 4 x8 wired would be just fine. I think direct storage could also alleviate a bit of PCIE lane width/bandwidth scenario concerns and it should really fly on a gen 5 x16 raid setup.

 

[ypsylon]

I think you might be able to do Gen 5 x8/x8 with Gen 3 x8 for the newer RL chipset and possibly Zen 4. I haven't really looked into the details of that, but for AL you can do Gen 5 x8/x8 and Gen 3 with a x16 slot that's x4 wired. Gen 3 x8 wired is pretty sufficient and Gen 4 x8 wired would be just fine. I think direct storage could also alleviate a bit of PCIE lane width/bandwidth scenario concerns and it should really fly on a gen 5 x16 raid setup.

You can't move around lanes. This card (like Gen 4 version) has no PLX lane switcher (AsMedia or Phison) and that's why it's "relatively" cheap. Any SSD connected to a given port will work only on that port and require lane bifurcation from UEFI to see all NVMe devices.

Cards with lane switchers, x8 PCIe and 4xM.2 or x16 and 8xM.2 are somewhat (Gen 3) to very expensive (Gen 4) and not very common on the market. PLX lane switchers/controllers are expensive piece of silicone. No way around it. Especially now with global world-wide inflation rate at realistic - 15+%.

 

[kapone32]

You can't move around lanes. This card (like Gen 4 version) has no PLX lane switcher (AsMedia or Phison) and that's why it's "relatively" cheap. Any SSD connected to a given port will work only on that port and require lane bifurcation from UEFI to see all NVMe devices.

Cards with lane switchers, x8 PCIe and 4xM.2 or x16 and 8xM.2 are somewhat (Gen 3) to very expensive (Gen 4) and not very common on the market. PLX lane switchers/controllers are expensive piece of silicone. No way around it. Especially now with global world-wide inflation rate at realistic - 15+%.

The cheapest adapter card with a Controller is the WD AN 1500 and it is only 3.0/x8 but still $350 for 1 TB. It comes with a Marvell controller.

 

[InVasMani]

You can't move around lanes. This card (like Gen 4 version) has no PLX lane switcher (AsMedia or Phison) and that's why it's "relatively" cheap. Any SSD connected to a given port will work only on that port and require lane bifurcation from UEFI to see all NVMe devices.

Cards with lane switchers, x8 PCIe and 4xM.2 or x16 and 8xM.2 are somewhat (Gen 3) to very expensive (Gen 4) and not very common on the market. PLX lane switchers/controllers are expensive piece of silicone. No way around it. Especially now with global world-wide inflation rate at realistic - 15+%.

I think was thinking a bit too much about the lane links for GPU card slots and lost sight of this adapter card really be centered on the x16 link speed. It wouldn't make any sense even if you could use it at x8 speed they'd be better off just making x8 link adapter at that point. I mean if it can with a pair of Gen 5 M.2 and the adapter isn't too expensive perhaps that's a option, but otherwise. You could do x16 and use the last remaining x8 lanes that's either Gen 4 or Gen3 I don't remember which with a GPU. I think Alderlake is Gen 3, but Raptor Lake chipset is going to be Gen 4 and not sure how AM5 will be setup, but same scenario.

To be fair Gen 3 and Gen 4 at x8 speed is still pretty reasonable especially in the case of Gen 4, but even Gen 3 in general is not bad there are plenty of good GPU's that will get nice performance on that PCIE bus link and Gen 3 revision. It'll be a great adapter though for those that just want to use integrated graphics and use that other adapter slot for like a network adapter you could make a hell of a good NAS system around it.

 

[W1zzard]

paired with an exclusive signal-stabilized controller

Doesn't that suggest they have some PCIe bridge on the card?