X99 OC Fomula & 3.1 OC Formula
Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: Intel Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock Intel Motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5988
Printed Date: 29 Jul 2025 at 12:43pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: X99 OC Fomula & 3.1 OC Formula
Posted By: fraz
Subject: X99 OC Fomula & 3.1 OC Formula
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2017 at 2:01pm
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Hi, X99 OC Formula 3.1 and X99 OC Formula 1 x M.2_SSD (NGFF) Socket 3 (M2_1), supports M Key M.2 SATA3 6.0 Gb/s module and M.2 PCI Express module up to Gen2 x2 (10 Gb/s) X99 OC Formula 1 x M.2_SSD (NGFF) Socket 3 (M2_1), supports M Key M.2 SATA3 6.0 Gb/s module and M.2 PCI Express module up to Gen2 x4 (20 Gb/s) The slower of the M.2 slots that use the PCI-e GEN 2 lanes. The OC Formula seems to have the edge here over the 3.1. Is it possible to allocate 2 more PCI-e lanes from the chipset to make it 20 Gb/s? There is no mention on the website but with so much information and discrepancy to deal with it is easy to omit something I assume the USB-C port of OC F 3,1 uses PCI-e lanes from the chipset for it's 10 Gb/s bandwidth The PCI-e card for the 3.1 with 2 x USB 3,1 GEN 2 ports @ 10 Gb/s, is this 10 Gb/s per port so it equals 20 Gb/s? Reason I ask is it used x 4 lanes through PCI-e GEN 3 slot to the CPU so should be 20 Gb/s as per thunderbolt 2 @ x 4 lanes @ upto 20 Gb/s , this is correct isn't it? Any useful info please, thanks  |
Replies:
Posted By: fraz
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2017 at 12:02pm
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OK no answers so I'll ask one question at a time - - Please answer On ASRock X99 OC Formula 3.1 there is a PCI-e GEN 2 M.2 @ 10 Gb/s over x2 PCI-e chipset lanes. Is it possible to allocate this M.2 with x4 PCI-e lanes so it will perform @ 20 Gb/s? On the X99 OC Formula [non 3.1] the same M.2 is @ x4 straight out of the box. Please not I am not referring to the M.2 PCI-e GEN 3
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Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2017 at 8:59pm
No it is NOT possible. The M2_1 slot, like all M.2 slots, is hardwired to its interface. So this M.2 slot will always be PCIe 2.0 x2. Guess what the other two PCIe 2.0 lanes in the X99 OC Formula/3.1 are used for? Yes, allocated for use by the USB 3.1 card, or other device in the PCIe 2.0 slot. Only a limited amount of resources available, even on X99. If you want to use an M.2 SSD with a better interface, use an M.2 to PCIe slot adapter card in one of the PCIe 3.0 slots. The CPU you use may limit this, if it only has 28 PCIe 3.0 lanes. Regarding the USB 3.1 card used with the X99 OC Formula/3.1, it was designed at the time that USB 3.1 meant 10Gb/s. Yes, the USB organization has changed what USB 3.1 means since then, but that does NOT mean the USB 3.1 card supplied with this board has changed too. If one of the "USB 3.1" ports could operate at 20Gb/s, then the specs would say so. Marketing would never miss a chance to highlight such a feature if it existed. ------------- http://valid.x86.fr/48rujh" rel="nofollow"> 
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fraz wrote:Posted By: fraz
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2017 at 6:23pm
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" rel="nofollow - Hi, Yes that is the one M.2_1 - This means the OC Formula has the edge over the 3.1 in this particular respect if it is hard wired. I'm not complaining just getting to the bottom of things. In this slot 10 Gb/s is OK and also 10 Gb/s for the USB-C on the back panel. Regarding the 3.1 card which is 2 x USB 3.1 - This would connect into a PCI-e GEN 3 slot, would this be OK in any of the PCI-e slots? - GEN 3 slots go through the CPU PCI-e lanes don't they? The OC Formula / 3.1 also has 32 Gb/s M.2 so there is plenty of tech to use, enough for me anyway, I just ask all these questions to further the understanding. M.2_1 does use / disable 2 x SATA 3 ports. It's great having these boards even though they are a little older now. As long as there is enough tech to get a job done and use the computer then it will work really well, whether now or in years to come. Does 3.1 card go through CPU PCI-e lanes? - I thought it may due to it being GEN 3
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Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2017 at 9:56pm
On the X99 platform, the PCIe lanes provided by the CPU are PCIe 3.0/Gen3. The USB 3.1 card may be connected to any PCIe slot connected to the CPU, or the single PCIe slot connected to the chipset. The USB 3.1 card instructions recommend using a PCIe slot connected to the CPU's PCIe 3.0 lanes, specifically the PCIE3 slot, since it is an x4 slot electrically. But here is where the USB 3.1 card's specs matter. While the card uses an x4 physical interface, the electrical connection to the slot is x2. So it is only capable of connecting to two PCIe lanes, of any generation. That is a limitation of the ASMedia ASM1142 chip used on this USB 3.1 card. So connecting the card to a PCIe 3.0 slot, with two lanes being used, at 8Gb/s per lane, is 16Gb/s theoretical maximum data throughput. The card is rated for data rates up to 10Gb/s, due to the early version of the ASMedia USB chip used in this card, and the USB 3.1 spec at the time this card was designed. I'm not sure what you mean by the USB 3.1 card being Gen3, but if you mean something like the latest USB 3.1 Gen3 spec, this card does not match the latest USB 3.1 spec. I believe you were thinking if the card used the PCIe 3.0 lanes from the CPU, that it would be capable of 20Gb/s. But for the reasons I described above, it isn't, sorry to say. ------------- http://valid.x86.fr/48rujh" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: fraz
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2017 at 10:47pm
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" rel="nofollow - Hi, Yes I did think that the the USB 3.1 card is 10 Gb/s x 2 = 20 Gb/s over x4 lanes with 10 Gb/s per USB port on the card. I meant to say USB 3.1 A GEN 2 referring to the blue port. You've explained the limitation in AsMedia controller but may be quicker now due to an update. Regarding an earlier post and the M.2_1 @ 10 Gb/s @ x 2 speed + 10 Gb/s USB-c back panel on X99 OC Formula 3.1 = 20 Gb/s bandwidth in relation to X99 OC Formula [non 3.1] M.2_1 @ 20 Gb/s but there is no USB-C on the back panel here but M.2 keeps its 20 Gb/s GEN 2 PCI-e lanes To be honest M.2_1 @ 10 Gb/s is enough Regarding this M.2_1 It will be possible won't it to install OS on Nvme drive [I think so just checking] Regarding asking about thunderbolt card in a PCI-e slot of my choice = M.2 @ x4 GEN 3 PCI-e = PCI-e GEN 3_3 slot is disabled when M.2 Ultra port is used = this is why I asked. All in all it seems I'll be able to use these boards very well but it takes a lot of head bending to work out what will and what won't work Have you used these motherboards? for long?
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Posted By: fraz
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2017 at 10:58pm
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On the topic of nVME I've heard of Samsung 850 / 950 or similar nvme drives but they seem to be PCI-e GEN 3 @ X4 but in the case of the M.2_1 @ x 2 GEN 2 PCI-e What is the best option to go for here? - Some nvme may work @ 6 gb/s others may work at 10 gb/s or even 32 gb/s but there is no point in buying a PCI-e GEN 3 x4 nvme which costs a lot if the speed can't be used. Is there an nvme that is cheaper but uses the max @ 10 gb/s for that M.2_1 slot Obviously the M.2 Ultra PCI-e GEN 3 @ X4 is a different matter -
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