MAXSUN Arc B580 Graphics Card with Two M.2 Slots Pictured in the Flesh

[btarunr]

Intel Arc board partner MAXSUN earlier this month announced that it is working on an Arc B580 custom-design graphics card with two M.2 Gen 4 NVMe slots on the card, so you can utilize the unused 8 lanes from the x16 PEG slot to connect a pair of SSDs, since the B580 makes do with a PCIe Gen 4 x8 host interface. In the previous report, we were shown renders of what the card could look like—with two M.2 slots sticking out from the tail of the PCB, with an aluminium heatsink that cools the SSDs under airflow from the second- and third fans. We now have the first picture of this PCB in the flesh.

A Tom's Hardware report reveals the first picture of this contraption, thanks to a leak on Chinese social media. The picture reveals what looks like an 18 cm-long PCB, with two M.2 Gen 4 slots at the tail end. One can make out PCIe interface traces making their way from the x16 PEG interface to the M.2 slots. You can make out the key components of the card, including the "BMG-G21" ASIC, wired to six GDDR6 memory chips, and a 6-phase VRM. The card draws power from two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The second 8-pin connector might prove useful in managing the card's power budget, given that the B580 comes with a power limit of 190 W, and the M.2 Gen 4 SSDs each have a peak power draw of around 10 W. This wouldn't be the first time someone decided to put M.2 slots on graphics cards; the ASUS DUAL GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD OC introduced this concept, but with just one M.2 slot.



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[freeagent]

That looks super janky.

 

[eidairaman1]

That looks super janky.

Didn't asus do something like this already?

 

[freeagent]

Didn't asus do something like this already?

Probably

 

[Timbaloo]

Now if it was for Gen 5 SSDs, this would make more sense since you could give them the cooling they seem to like

 

[Zareek]

Didn't asus do something like this already?

Lol, the post literally says it did with a 4060Ti. The only difference is ASUS added one M.2 slot rather than the two this one has.

I like the effort, I'd really like to see more of the heat sink and mounting they intend to use for it.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

Amazing floating SSD's

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

Amazing floating SSD's

Look at the previous report, it has an aluminium shell that attached to the backplate


This could be an amazing way for itx builds to gain more M2 slots while having decent performance!!!

 

[_roman_]

I think the ASUS graphic card had only one extra m2 slot on the graphic card.

People should be aware of that graphic card needs special software to work. Or call it requirements, firmware, uefi settings, .....

I would question the choice of components when you need to buy that particular card. I doubt those two m2 slots on the graphic card will come without a higher price.
A decent mainboard can move those "unused" electrical lanes to another pcie slot or use it for other mainboard peripherals.

 

[zo0lykas]

its only win, and win again, sure they build the case to support this M.2
but look, you have GPU + M2 + old good power connectors + good price, what you can ask more?

this what we need for years...

 

[Knight47]

its only win, and win again, sure they build the case to support this M.2
but look, you have GPU + M2 + old good power connectors + good price, what you can ask more?

this what we need for years...

Better performance, it's a bit weak for 1440p. I would really like those two m.2 slots and around 4070 Super performance.

 

[zo0lykas]

Better performance, it's a bit weak for 1440p. I would really like those two m.2 slots and around 4070 Super performance.

price tag?

you asking £200 = 1440p ? + 2x M2 slots?

b580 its a low range gpu, you can play some games at 1440 but doesn't mean this GPU for 1440..,.,

you should ask Nvidia to drop the price tag.. and get back to the gamers market.. instead of milking it...

 

[trsttte]

It's cool to make use of those 8x pcie lane that the gpu is not using, should only get more common once they start making pcie gen5 gpu's.

A bit of topic but why not use the space for a CXL memory slot to expand the gpu memory? Since nvidia - according to current rumors - will keep vram as low as possible for next generation, it would be a good way to expand. It's not the same a vram but it would be better than using system memory, gpus are already introducing larger caches so a CXL memory tier could fit very well.

 

[Chaitanya]

Only gripe with this is those M.2 slot should have been vertical instead of current layout as it would make card smaller for better compatibility with SFF cases.

Didn't asus do something like this already?

Yes they did but it was just single M.2 slot leaving other x4 lanes unused. This one is using both available x4 lanes for 2x M.2 slot.

 

[Hyderz]

If you squint hard enough at the picture, it’s a funny looking puppy

 

[AusWolf]

Look at the previous report, it has an aluminium shell that attached to the backplate

That's still janky. The fixture should be on the PCB.

This could be an amazing way for itx builds to gain more M2 slots while having decent performance!!!

Not necessarily. Look at the extra length with the SSDs installed.

 

[wickerman]

That's still janky. The fixture should be on the PCB.


Not necessarily. Look at the extra length with the SSDs installed.

if they could fit a sufficient cooler that would still fit in SFF cases you could probably get away with using 2230 m.2s. Sure they top out these days with modest performance at best but I suppose you could still use various nvme adapters or extension cables too? Plug a small PCB into the m.2 slot on the board and locate the actual ssd off that on a ribbon cable.

I do like the idea in general of having some use for the unoccupied pcie lanes if I’m using an x8 card in an x16 slot. If bifurcation all works right you could do more than just dual m.2. Could be a means of adding in a 10gig nic, high speed usbc controller, etc. some great potential if your sff build has room for a 3d printed bracket and some ribbon cables somewhere. I can live with some jank if I get some benefits.

 

[ymdhis]

This needs to become a standard. Not with that form factor, just with GPUs doubling as bifurcation cards. They don't need the full x16 bandwidth, and this way we could attach a lot more NVMEs without needing to go full Threadripper.

The only other way to do this is using a PCIE riser and a x8x4x4 bifucration card stuck between the riser and the slot; unfortunately that only works with vertical GPUs (or low profile GPUs, of which there are... two? with more power than an iGPU, anyway).

 

[cerulliber]

Can someone explain in plain english why (we, average users) would need to buy gpus with m.2 slots and what are benefits?

 

[nageme]

@cerulliber
The graphics card slot is 16 lanes, but the 3D chip only uses 8.
So make the extra 8 useful for something, especially considering PCIe lanes are a scarce resource.

As the article states:

so you can utilize the unused 8 lanes from the x16 PEG slot to connect a pair of SSDs, since the B580 makes do with a PCIe Gen 4 x8 host interface.

 

[TechLurker]

its only win, and win again, sure they build the case to support this M.2
but look, you have GPU + M2 + old good power connectors + good price, what you can ask more?

Built-in bifurcation so that the card handles the split into x8x4x4 internally instead of having to find a motherboard that does offer that particular bifurcation (it's mostly x16, x8x8, or x4x4x4x4).

 

[Calenhad]

Built-in bifurcation so that the card handles the split into x8x4x4 internally instead of having to find a motherboard that does offer that particular bifurcation (it's mostly x16, x8x8, or x4x4x4x4).

I would not bet money that this card is doing more than passively connecting the 16 lanes to the separate devices and leaving the actual bifurcation to the CPU (assuming it is connected to the first x16 slot). That would cost extra, and bifurcation is supported by the last few generations of CPUs anyway

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

Built-in bifurcation so that the card handles the split into x8x4x4 internally instead of having to find a motherboard that does offer that particular bifurcation (it's mostly x16, x8x8, or x4x4x4x4).

I would not bet money that this card is doing more than passively connecting the 16 lanes to the separate devices and leaving the actual bifurcation to the CPU (assuming it is connected to the first x16 slot). That would cost extra, and bifurcation is supported by the last few generations of CPUs anyway

Yup Board will need to be able to do Bifurication BUT for things like LAN builds with itx boards you now can do 4 M2 Slots easily.

I can see they with CURRENT Gen 5 drives its going to be a pain with the added heat now going into the back plate meaning things like VRMs and Memory modules get held at a slightly higher temp and/or higher fan speeds, but with Gen 4 drives it would be so negligable it would be easy. So now you can get a smaller Gen 5 boot drive with Gen 4 storage drives for games/media while being at LAN.

 

[_roman_]

bifurcation is supported by the last few generations of CPUs anyway

That is a mainboard topic. Not a cpu topic.
worst example to explain: Some supermarket computers will have a replaceable capeable cpu but a locked mainboard firmware.

Built-in bifurcation so that the card handles the split into x8x4x4 internally instead of having to find a motherboard that does offer that particular bifurcation (it's mostly x16, x8x8, or x4x4x4x4).

All those details are kinda time consuming. It will get complicated to explain someone what lane sharing is and that bifurcation. Those people who will return that graphic card or rma it because those m2 slot does not work. Personally I would RMA that card regardless. When you market it, it has to work on any mainboard, even with 1 electrical lane in a 16 mechanical pcie slot.

So make the extra 8 useful for something, especially considering PCIe lanes are a scarce resource.

When you made a bad choice on your components. It should not matter that you waste those 8 lanes on a proper plattform. Or the mainboard uefi firmware can use those 8 unused lanes for something else.


@cerulliber


mechanical 16 pcie lanes slot on the mainboard.

for the hardware only the electrical lanes count.

the first 8 electrical pcie lanes (1-8) are used for the graphic card. the second electrical 8 pcie lanes (9-16) when the mainboard is capable to, when the mainboard can not assign those for something else are unused.

That graphic card, assuming you have the proper software, firmware, requirements can assign the second 8 lanes to two m2 nvme slots.

Note: Note every mechanical 16 pcie lane slot on the mainbard is electrically 16 lanes wide. See the mainbaord manual and the uefi firmware menu of the mainboard