Z370 TAICHI - M2 AND SATA - NEED HELP!

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   hi guys,
I am planning to install my build with the z370 taichi and 8700k-

I have a lot of questions regarding the M2 slots which shares lanes with SATA port.

I want to install:
1 NVME SSD on one of the M2 slots
1 SSD Sata port
3 HDD mechanical SATA on SATA ports

So according to the manual

"M2_1, SATA3_0 and SATA3_1 share lanes. If either one of them is in use, the others will be disabled."
This means: Using the M2_1 slot (whether SATA-based or PCIe-based M.2 SSDs) will disable 2x SATA ports (SATA3_0 and SATA3_1), using the SATA3_0 port will disable 1x M.2 slot (M2_1) and 1x SATA port (SATA3_1), and using the SATA3_1 port will disable 1x M.2 slot (M2_1) and 1x SATA port (SATA3_0). In short, among these three ports, you can only use one at a given time.

"M2_2, SATA3_4 and SATA3_5 share lanes. If either one of them is in use, the others will be disabled."
This means: Using the M2_2 slot (whether SATA-based or PCIe-based M.2 SSDs) will disable 2x SATA ports (SATA3_4 and SATA3_5), using the SATA3_4 port will disable 1x M.2 slot (M2_2) and 1x SATA port (SATA3_5), and using the SATA3_5 port will disable 1x M.2 slot (M2_2) and 1x SATA port (SATA3_4). In short, among these three ports, you can only use one at a given time.

"If M2_3 is occupied by a SATA-type M.2 device, SATA3_3 will be disabled."
This means: Using the M2_3 slot with a SATA-based M.2 SSD will disable 1x SATA port (SATA3_3). However, if you use the M2_3 slot with a PCIe-based M.2 SSD, the SATA3_3 can still be used simultaneously with it.

So, if you plug your three Samsung 960 EVO M.2 SSDs (all PCIe-based SSDs) on all of the M.2 slots of the Z370 Taichi, a grand total of 4x SATA ports will be disabled because of it and only the remaining 4x SATA ports (SATA3_2, SATA3_3, SATA3_A1, and SATA3_A2) are available for use.

For example if I did not use M.2_1, and only used SATA3_0, I could not use SATA3_1? What is the point of having two SATA ports if you can only use one at a time? I was under the assumption if I didn't use the M.2 slot, I could use both SATA3_0 and SATA3_1, but then using one of them would disable M.2_1. Otherwise it seems the extra SATA slots are essentially useless.

Are the above statements correct?

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Goa Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 12 Jul 2018 Status: Offline Points: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote Goa Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Z370 TAICHI - M2 AND SATA - NEED HELP! Posted: 12 Jul 2018 at 11:28pm
	hi guys, I am planning to install my build with the z370 taichi and 8700k- I have a lot of questions regarding the M2 slots which shares lanes with SATA port. I want to install: 1 NVME SSD on one of the M2 slots 1 SSD Sata port 3 HDD mechanical SATA on SATA ports So according to the manual "M2_1, SATA3_0 and SATA3_1 share lanes. If either one of them is in use, the others will be disabled." This means: Using the M2_1 slot (whether SATA-based or PCIe-based M.2 SSDs) will disable 2x SATA ports (SATA3_0 and SATA3_1), using the SATA3_0 port will disable 1x M.2 slot (M2_1) and 1x SATA port (SATA3_1), and using the SATA3_1 port will disable 1x M.2 slot (M2_1) and 1x SATA port (SATA3_0). In short, among these three ports, you can only use one at a given time. "M2_2, SATA3_4 and SATA3_5 share lanes. If either one of them is in use, the others will be disabled." This means: Using the M2_2 slot (whether SATA-based or PCIe-based M.2 SSDs) will disable 2x SATA ports (SATA3_4 and SATA3_5), using the SATA3_4 port will disable 1x M.2 slot (M2_2) and 1x SATA port (SATA3_5), and using the SATA3_5 port will disable 1x M.2 slot (M2_2) and 1x SATA port (SATA3_4). In short, among these three ports, you can only use one at a given time. "If M2_3 is occupied by a SATA-type M.2 device, SATA3_3 will be disabled." This means: Using the M2_3 slot with a SATA-based M.2 SSD will disable 1x SATA port (SATA3_3). However, if you use the M2_3 slot with a PCIe-based M.2 SSD, the SATA3_3 can still be used simultaneously with it. So, if you plug your three Samsung 960 EVO M.2 SSDs (all PCIe-based SSDs) on all of the M.2 slots of the Z370 Taichi, a grand total of 4x SATA ports will be disabled because of it and only the remaining 4x SATA ports (SATA3_2, SATA3_3, SATA3_A1, and SATA3_A2) are available for use. For example if I did not use M.2_1, and only used SATA3_0, I could not use SATA3_1? What is the point of having two SATA ports if you can only use one at a time? I was under the assumption if I didn't use the M.2 slot, I could use both SATA3_0 and SATA3_1, but then using one of them would disable M.2_1. Otherwise it seems the extra SATA slots are essentially useless. Are the above statements correct?

ASRock_TSD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List ASRock_Official Joined: 20 Mar 2015 Status: Offline Points: 8937	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASRock_TSD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 2018 at 9:58am
	Dear Goa, Thank you for contacting ASRock. Regarding your question, "M2_1, SATA3_0 and SATA3_1 share lanes. If either one of them is in use, the others will be disabled." This means when using M2_1 slot (whether SATA type or PCIe type M.2 SSD), two SATA ports (SATA3_0 and SATA3_1) will be disabled. When SATA3_0 or SATA3_1 is in used, M2_1 slot will be disabled. If you didn't use M2_1 slot, SATA3_0 and SATA3_1 can be used simultaneously. In your plan, we suggest connecting the NVME SSD at M2_3 slot, then all the SATA ports can be used. Thank you! Yours truly, ASRock TSD Edited by ASRock_TSD - 13 Jul 2018 at 9:58am

Goa Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 12 Jul 2018 Status: Offline Points: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote Goa Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jul 2018 at 5:58pm
	Thank you so much for your esponse, now all is perfectly clear to me and I dont have anymore doubts!! If may I suggest the manual/description of shared lanes between M2 and SATA should be more clear and should incude your explanation. One more question: which are the chipset sata control ports and which are the asmedia sata controlled? Thanks!!

ASRock_TSD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List ASRock_Official Joined: 20 Mar 2015 Status: Offline Points: 8937	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASRock_TSD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jul 2018 at 9:58am
	Dear Goa, Thank you for your reply. The SATA3_0 to SATA3_5 are connecting to the chipset and the SATA3_A1_A2 are connecting to the ASMedia chip. Thank you! Yours truly, ASRock TSD