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FM2A88X Pro3+ PCIe support for non-graphics cards

Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: AMD Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock AMD motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3331
Printed Date: 29 Mar 2024 at 6:41am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: FM2A88X Pro3+ PCIe support for non-graphics cards
Posted By: 2twisty
Subject: FM2A88X Pro3+ PCIe support for non-graphics cards
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2016 at 4:35am
I have an FM2A88X PRO3+.

It has 2 PCIe x16 slots.  I am trying to get an Intel Pro1000 PL Dual Port NIC (PCIe x4 interface) working as well as a 3Ware 9650SE RAID Adapter (PCIe x8 interface).

I get nothing from either card regardless of which slot I install them in.  From the manual, PCIe Slot 5 is limited to x4 when there is a card in PCIe Slot 4.   I put the RAID card in PCIe Slot 4 (since it's x8) and the NIC in PCIe Slot 5 (since it's x4).

I've tried them independently in both slots also.  I have found no configuration that allows these cards to function.

Are the PCIe x16 slots somehow limited to the use of graphics cards? If so, are there any FM2+ motherboards (ASRock or otherwise) that will support these cards?

Please advise.



Replies:
Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2016 at 5:00am
Are you using the iGPU or a discreet GPU?

Too, what processor are you using?



Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2016 at 8:38pm
Originally posted by 2twisty 2twisty wrote:

I have an FM2A88X PRO3+.

It has 2 PCIe x16 slots.  I am trying to get an Intel Pro1000 PL Dual Port NIC (PCIe x4 interface) working as well as a 3Ware 9650SE RAID Adapter (PCIe x8 interface).

I get nothing from either card regardless of which slot I install them in.  From the manual, PCIe Slot 5 is limited to x4 when there is a card in PCIe Slot 4.   I put the RAID card in PCIe Slot 4 (since it's x8) and the NIC in PCIe Slot 5 (since it's x4).

I've tried them independently in both slots also.  I have found no configuration that allows these cards to function.

Are the PCIe x16 slots somehow limited to the use of graphics cards? If so, are there any FM2+ motherboards (ASRock or otherwise) that will support these cards?

Please advise.


You are using your cards in the correct slots. The PCIE4 slot is x16 electrically, and uses the PCIe lanes from the CPU. If you use an FM2+ CPU, that slot will be PCIe 3.0, otherwise it is PCIe 2.0.

The PCIE5 slot is x4 electrically, and uses lanes from the A88X chipset, which are PCIe 2.0.

Otherwise, these two slots are independent of each other regarding PCIe lanes.

Did you clear the UEFI/BIOS after installing these cards? That is the best practice when changing of adding hardware. In the UEFI, Tools screen, if you use the System Browser tool, are the cards recognized in the PCIe slots?

When I searched on the model number of the RAID card you provided, it found two PCIe x4 cards, the 3ware 9650SE-8LPML, and the 3ware 9650SE-4LPML. Is your card one of these, or another model?

Searching on the network card, it finds an IntelĀ® PRO/1000 PL Dual Port Server Adapter card. It seems to be an older model that Intel does not include among their networking products.

Do you have the AddOn ROM Display option set to enabled in the UEFI? If so, when you start the PC you should see at least the RAID card's Option ROM displayed when the PC starts.

Have you installed the drivers for these cards? What OS are you using?


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Posted By: 2twisty
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2016 at 1:43am
This is the card I'm trying to use in PCIe4:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/162171266454?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

And it's an x8 card when you jump to 12 ports.  The NIC is a x4.

I do have the option ROM display turned on.  I did not reset the UEFI and I didn't see the card IDd in the BIOS, but I wasn't looking for it.

I'll reinstall the card and try again. 

I am trying to run ESXi on this machine, and I know it has builtin drivers for both the NIC and the 9650se (which is why I chose those devices.)

Processor is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113371

8GB Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231654

I'll try the BIOS stuff you suggested and reply again with the results.


Posted By: 2twisty
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2016 at 1:52am
I reset the UEFI and when I load the system browser, I see only an image of the motherboard with no cards installed.

I also just checked to see if there was a firmware update, and I'm on the latest version already.

Also, I'm using the onboard video.


Posted By: 2twisty
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2016 at 2:09am
OK.  System Browser does show the NIC when I install it in PCIe5.  So it's possible that ESXi isn't loading the drivers for it.

I cant get it to see the RAID card at all.  I'll contact the vendor.

I'll keep trying to get the NIC going, since at least the MB can see it.


Posted By: 2twisty
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2016 at 2:44am
UPDATE: NIC is fine and working properly.  It was a driver issue, strangely.  I'll contact the vendor of the RAID card for additional support.  Once I have it working, I will update this thread for completeness.

Thanks!


Posted By: 2twisty
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2016 at 3:21am
UPDATE: I received another card from the seller and I'm getting the same result.  The System browser did not see the card at all.  On one of the myriad  boot attempts I made, it tried to init the card, but then said that it could not communicate with the BIOS.

I am starting to think that there is some incompatibility between the UEFI bios on this motherboard and the 9650se.  My google searches revealed that the 9650se doesn't allways re-init on soft boot on a UEFI machine.

Are any of you aware of an inexpensive SAS / Hardware raid card that is KNOWN to work with this motherboard?

I really don't need the hardware RAID for my application, but hardware RAID cards by the big makers are usually good cards and have battery backed caches for better performance and fault tolerance.

I can buy system-pull used boards on eBay for less than I can buy a simple 4-port SATA PCIe x1 card.  So I figure why not get the better device ---- but I struck out on a compatibility issue with the 9650se.

:(





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