MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX and M.2 Xpander-Z PCIe 4.0 - 2 Drive Orientation

Keep it Simple and Make it Work! Today We're Answering a Subscriber Question from Jesse about the MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX. His Specific Question deals with the M.2 Xpander card. Now generically We've talked a lot about [M.2] Quad Adapters and Dual Adapters. And MSI as We go through this information cause He's also asked about a VR Headset [Oculus Quest 2 VR Headset which requires USB-C]. We're going to go through that! But as this relates to the Question He's asked, MSI has made 3 types of [M.2] cards. The first one was a [M.2] Quad Adapter, then they have 2 Dual Adapters. And the one We're looking at is the first Dual Adapter for PCIe 4.0. The newest one they've come out with for PCIe 5.0 is a Dual Adapter that will take 2 Drives for PCIe 4.0 or one Drive for PCIe 5.0. Question: Can the M.2 Xpander-Z PCIe 4.0 be placed in a different Slot than what MSI recommends. Going from CPU PCIe Lanes to Chipset PCIe Lanes on a Consumer Desktop Motherboard. Shared Resources vs Dedicated Resources.
Details:
Motherboard Manual PDF
1. Contents
2. Specifications
3. Rear I/O Panel
4. Overview of Components
5. PCI_E1~4: PCIe Expansion Slots
6. Onboard Wi-Fi Module Control
7. Bandwidth Table
8. Bandwidth Share Table
9. M2_1~4: M.2 Slots- Modules & Heatsinks
10. Installing M.2 Xpander-Z Gen4 S card
11. M.2 Xpander-Z 3 Cables
12. SATA1~8: SATA 6Gbps Connectors
13. Debug Code LED - Bios Codes
14. Bios Setup - Bios User Guide link (See Below)
Features:
20Gbps USB-C Rear (ASMedia 3241 Chipset)
ASMedia 3241 Chipset
www.asmedia.com.tw/product/39...
10Gbps USB-C Front (X570 Chipset)
No Thunderbolt!
Links Mentioned:
1. MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX - Mystic Light, Direct 16+2 Phase 90A SPS, DDR4 Boost, 4 xM.2 Gen4, Wi-Fi 6E
www.msi.com/Motherboard/MEG-X...
2. MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX Gaming Motherboard (ATX, AMD, Socket AM4. DDR4, PCIe 4, CFX, M.2 Slots, Wi-Fi 6E)
amzn.to/3Qt8hdU
3. MSI MEG Godlike X570 with 2 RTX 3090s and MSI M.2 Xpander-Aero - KZbin
• MSI MEG Godlike X570 w...
4. MSI MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX Data Sheet
storage-asset.msi.com/datashe...
MSI X570 Bios User Guide
download.msi.com/manual/mb/AMD...
5. MSI Compatible Devices - VR Data Sheet
storage-asset.msi.com/file/te...
6. AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Desktop Processor
www.amd.com/en/products/cpu/a...
7. AMD Ryzen 9 5950X CPU
amzn.to/3QLhoGv
8. Oculus Meta Quest 2 VR Headset 256 GB [requires USB-C]
amzn.to/3w9xbad
9. AMD X570 Motherboards
www.amd.com/en/chipsets/x570
10. X570 Drivers & Support
www.amd.com/en/support/chipse...
Happy to also Discuss Your Build Specs for Recommendations and Requirements! Please leave a Comment in the Video for Assistance!
Support BuildOrBuy... www.buymeacoffee.com/gillboyd
www.amazon.com/shop/buildorbuy
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Subscribe, Thumbs Up, Comment! Appreciate Your Support! Thank You for Watching!

[@tonydupinnyc6830]

I also have to thank you for making this video. I usually RTFM before I even receive a motherboard (and sometimes before I even decide which one to order) but I found the manual for this mobo confusing (and I've been building computers for about 30 years, non professionally). Your video really clarified the resource allocation which actually makes sense once you understand that dedicated resources would have driven the price of this product beyond the reach of many of us enthusiasts. Even so, I've had to watch your video several times. Having done so, I feel quite ready to build with this board having a much better understanding of the design choices that were made and -- importantly -- how to use them to my best advantage. Thanks again!

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Tony D up in NYC, Welcome! Excellent! A light bulb moment! You're right about the Price and Shared vs Dedicated PCIe Resources! Clarity! Appreciate Your Comments! Read That Fantastic Manual! Amen to that! Success on Your Build! Building now due to the allocation of those Resources is a big deal! Big difference from IRQs! Computers are changing again soon! About the time We get this figured out, We start all over again! Glad We could help!

[@hurlyzzz]

Thanks for the informative videos.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Hurly D'souza, Welcome! Appreciate Your Support! Fascinating use of Resources on this Motherboard! Thanks for Watching!

[@mqcapps]

Bandwidth v burst mode makes a LOT of sense now. Seen this on USB sticks and thus some are better than others. This also impacts rescue USB sticks as I have more than one for the same purpose...as "the" one always needs it's own backup. Resource allocations...yep...just because the slot is there doesn't mean it will work in all instances...depends on the horses and the hay provided.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Mike Quinton, We should talk more about that in referencing Device Specs. Bandwidth of Burst mode vs Throughput. We use to keep track of a Chart for that from USB and everything else. Might be worth a Video! There are definite and sometimes significant differences. We're working on a 20Gbps USB-C Video to cover that from Chipset to Device! PCIe Resources are a definite problem on Consumer Desktop Motherboards. That goes unnoticed until a Viewer wants to Upgrade then the hidden becomes obvious! And once You know about that Resource scarcity, then You see it everywhere! Reminds me of hunting for IRQs! Appreciate Your Comments! Thanks for Watching!

[@9mmtylenol]

Loved the video, it explains so much about my setup! I'll be looking into the VR solution in the far future but I have a way better understanding of what I'm dealing with. Again, thanks for elaborating my board and constraints there in.

[@9mmtylenol]

Oh and I guess I'm getting a vive cosmos instead of a Quest 2. $200 more than I was imagining but saves me the trouble of bandwidth and compatibility. I didn't know there was even a compatibility chart for VR on my device. Good detective work!

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Jesse Watson, Outstanding! Glad We could help! Appreciate Your Patience! That was fascinating! You could see why this Response required a Video! Lots of options! MSI made Us dig for this information! Thanks for Asking! Success on Your Build!

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@9mmtylenol, Wow! Amazing! HTC Vive Cosmos Elite Virtual Reality System amzn.to/3zWFMya As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases! This one? Congrats! Yes, We had to dig. Decided since the Motherboard Bios Manual was somewhat hidden, We needed to check everything out! Lots of info to sort through! Enjoy!

[@9mmtylenol]

@@BuildOrBuy absolutely. I'll even benchmark compiling time performance for Linux. Also forgot to tell you I'm an arch Linux user when I'm not playing games and I'll be running VMs and ramdisk software. I hope this video helps other users interested in this board.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@9mmtylenol, If You get a chance, Test Your VR Headset on both USB-C Ports and Verify! And let Us know Your Results! Yes! Let's hope this Video may help others with those same Questions! Fascinating Motherboard!

[@JumboRelic]

video starts at 12:40

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hello Jumbo, Just now seeing Your comment through KZbin Studio. Thank you for watching.

[@Aspir55]

I use Google translate. Please excuse me if I make mistakes. As always very interesting. Thank you! Your channel explains a lot. In Russia, your channel is watched.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Сергей Хорецкий, Google Translate does a good job! Yes! PCIe Resource allocations are always fascinating! I'm honored! Appreciate Your Support! Thanks for Watching!

[@AHOY_MATEY]

Thankyou for making this. I've just gone through this mystery journey over the last few days. And I am quite unimpressed with MSI and their products atm. I had the prestige creation before I purchased the meg max. And that was faulty from the factory. Seems like most people who purchased it had the same issue. By the time I got it back, I had purchased the mag max. Which I have fought against until now. I have had to educate myself on things I have very little understanding about. But until I saw your video, I had not been able to comprehend how much of a mess this setup is. Thank you for taking the time to explain this.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Gilligoose, Welcome! A real hassle, right. An annoying engineering marvel! Consumer Desktop Motherboards are much more complicated to Configure than a HEDT or Workstation due to Shared PCIe Resources vs Dedicated PCIe Resources! Appreciate Your Comments! Thanks for Sharing! Glad We could shed light on the situation! These details matter!

[@AHOY_MATEY]

I just realised you responded. Revisting this video in late 2023. Still the best and most honest breakdown of this board ive seen. Love your work.

[@andrewmcfarland57]

Yep. Consumer boards are always a PCI-E tease; never enough lanes to run all the devices you can load into the physical slots. Of all the awesome things that WRX80 + Threadripper 50000 bring, it's the ~128~ pcie lanes i look forward to most. 😛

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Andrew McFarland, Welcome! Well stated! Tease is right! Yes, We're all salivating over those PCIe Lanes! That and 8 channel RAM as well! Appreciate Your Comments! Thanks for Watching! BTW: Which WRX80 Motherboard will You be using?

[@maxhughes5687]

PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW IT WORKS OUT FOR YOU.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@maxhughes5687, Absolutely Agree! We'd like to know which WRX80 Motherboard He chose!

[@Invaderzim2004]

Can't they load up two IOMMU in a processor and add more lanes?

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@Invaderzim2004, Welcome! Interesting idea! That's a Memory Management Component. Mapping Memory I/O vs adding PCIe Lanes to CPU and Chipset. The only way to add PCIe Lanes would be by using a PLX Chip such as ASUS did on their X299 Workstation Motherboards for more PCIe Slots. Which also Adds to the cost of a Motherboard. Now, PLX Chips are used to Add Self Bifurcated Add in Cards which are used for Adding M.2 NVMe Storage. And those cost as much as the Motherboard and or CPU since most AICs that do that are using a Broadcom PLX Chip. Chipsets Rule! Yes, We need more CPU PCIe Lanes! Appreciate Your Comments! Thanks for Watching! Consumer Desktop Motherboards are severely lacking in Resources!

[@JayzBeerz]

First as always. I need a good board for the 5950X.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi JayzBeerz, This is a good Motherboard if used as configured and as MSI recommends! We have a preference for ASUS or Gigabyte!

[@JayzBeerz]

@@BuildOrBuy I only buy Asus or MSI for high end and Asrock for low budget. I would never buy a Gigabyte board. Thanks for your input Gill.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@JayzBeerz, Got it! Thanks for Sharing! Interesting to note, ASRock started out making Motherboards for ASUS. Fascinating? You've had a bad experience with Gigabyte, We can understand that! We all tend to stick with what works for Us from experience. We've had both good and bad from all of them! But like You, We still have Our favorites! Appreciate Your Support! BTW: Based on what We're now seeing and learning, We'll want to look for a Motherboard going forward that Supports PCIe Tunneling over USB4. Which means We start with a Motherboard with Thunderbolt 4 Support! Convoluted! Such as it is with technology from Intel! Crazy, right! And this Motherboard did not have Thunderbolt 4 Support! Bummer!

[@GamerIsAwesome1]

Hi do you think you can help me I have this board but the audio drivers are all messed up normally from what I know (first time building my pc) you are supposed to have Realtek had audio management but I don’t have that in my control panel I re downloaded my audio drivers and everything yet nothing.. this stops my headset that has a built in mic to not be able to use the microphone any recommendations??

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi GamerIsAwesome1, Welcome! Let's see if We can help work You through this! Where did You download Your Drivers from? Only use Drivers from Motherboard Manufacturer site. Those are customized for Your specific Motherboard configuration. Also remember, Audio follows Video. Once correct Driver is installed, HDMI will probably direct everything. You'll have to change that Default behavior in Control Panel. Hope that helps! Keep Us Posted on Your Progress!

[@AdamEverythingRC]

Question ...for a Truenas server what would be better ASUS x58 sabretooth with Xeon x5690 24gb memory, or ASUS sabretooth 990FX R2.0 AMD 8350 16gb Memory. will be using a sas card non raid to the drives .I own both motherboards. just not sure what would be better. will also be using a 256gb m.2 drive on a pcie m.2 card as a log cache or would it be better used as just extra cache. and last i will be using 8, 2tb WD Red (CMR) Drives in ZFS 2 mode. (Because i have them) this will be a file server to hold all my photos (Photographer) and computer files. I also want to have anouther small pool (256 ssd) so i can run Team Speak 3 and not sure how to set that up? thanks for your time and thoughts on this Reply

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Fred Adam's, Welcome! Definitely Xeon x5690 due to ECC support based on Truenas documentation! Both are about 10 to 12 years old and would be fine in that role. Success on Your NAS Setup!

[@srenjensen1333]

First of all, great video. You really get into the finer details. I have Msi Meg X570S Ace Max, Ryzen 9 5950x, 2x16gb ram 3600mhz, asus gtx 1060 6gb ram (in the 16 lane), sata : BD drive, 1 SSD, 4 HDD. I´m thinking of getting an M.2 in slot 1. would that be possible without compromising anything and could i use all 8 sata lanes at the same time? from what i can tell i would reach the max of 24 lanes for the cpu if i understood what u said in this video (an m.2 takes 4 lanes, cpu 4, gpu 16?!.. )

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Søren Jensen, Welcome! Appreciate Your Comments! Keep CPU Lanes and Chipset Lanes separate. The CPU has 20 Usable CPU PCIe Lanes. 1 - X16 PCIe Slot and 1 M.2 NVMe Drive for 20 Useable CPU PCIe Lanes. You should be fine to install 1 M.2 NVMe PCIe Drive. According to the Motherboard PDF Manual on Page 21, PCI_E4, M2_3, M2_4 and SATA5~8 share the same bandwidth. If You want to utilize all of Your SATA Ports, follow that Guide. Hope that helps!

[@srenjensen1333]

@@BuildOrBuy Gonna order 1 M.2 NVMe today. 512gb on the ssd is not enough. So im looking forward to this upgrade. 2tb and lot higher speeds should make it fun ;) Thanks again, really apreciate you taking your time to help. Gonna post update when it arrives and i get it installed. And yes i want to utilize all Sata ports. It´s part of why i choose this mobo.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@srenjensen1333, Having lots of SATA Ports use to be a priority. Since M.2 NVMe, that has changed. Yes, You did need a Larger Boot Drive! Looking forward to Your Updates! Glad We could help!

[@srenjensen1333]

@@BuildOrBuy I got a KC3000 , 2tb and i´m surpriced by the result. I made a partition for windows , 100gb and the rest for programs and games. Most installed software is defragmentet (without me doing anything). On a regular hard drive that would not had been the case, even windows is only 10% fragmentet. Although i know defragmentation is not needed for ssd´s i was curious to see how files were handled physically. Read and write speed is amazing. More than 7000mb/sec. For System / programs / games it is really fast. So thanks again.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@srenjensen1333, Just remember, We do NOT defragment SSDs nor NVMe media. That would shorten the life of the Storage Media! Glad You're pleased with those Results! Once You experience an M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD Drive, no going back to anything slower. Only forward and faster! You are the first I can think of lately who Partioned an M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD Drive. Interesting. Thanks for Sharing! Enjoy!

[@ajingolk7716]

If it support gen 4.0 it will support gen 5.0 since they can operate with the same impedance.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hello Aji, Greetings! That would depend upon the PCIe Redrivers. We have seen specifically in PCIe 3.0 M.2 NVMe PCIe Quad and Dual Adapters will support PCIe 4.0. However to reiterate We do not expect the same for PCIe 5.0 due to the redrivers required for signal integrity. This too requires Testing and Verification. Results will determine that outcome to be true of false. Appreciate Your Comments!

[@ajingolk7716]

@@BuildOrBuy 4.0 and 5.0 operate at 85 ohm so there is a big chance 😉

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hello@@ajingolk7716, To reiterate, until Tested, up for Conjecture. Once You have Tested and Verifed, We welcome Your findings.

[@GroundGame.]

Hey BB, I have accidentally bent my JFP1, pins in the lower most right hand corner when my AIO bracket slipped when installing. Is this a KIA'ed board? (First time builder)

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi GroundGame, Welcome! Interesting Situation. Ouch! All of them or only Pin 9? Do You have any bent needle nose pliers to straiten them with? You need those for Power, HDD LED, Reset and Power LED, in that Order.

[@GroundGame.]

@@BuildOrBuy so visualize it like this two of the lower left hand pins, second row down, the two going from right to left [JFP1] Section. oooo xxoo o- good condition x - bent PS. if we could trade discords or something for better communication it would help.

[@GroundGame.]

@@BuildOrBuy so the two pins are HDD status pins should be ok. PC posts should be ok. I think.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@GroundGame., That could be a problem. To reiterate, Bent Needle Nose Pliers.

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@GroundGame., So You were able to straighten those Pins? Good.

[@YouTubeGlobalAdminstrator]

MHHHM ESSSS AAAAAAI

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi ya boi thicc pepe, Welcome! Thanks! I think!

[@videoman1852]

Do you how to enable PCEi tunneling on a Asus thunderbolt header board?

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi Video Man, Welcome! That should be a Setting in Your Motherboard Bios under Thunderbolt 4 for USB4. What Motherboard are You using?

[@videoman1852]

@@BuildOrBuy tks 4 quick reply an ASUS ROG STRIx z590 gaming wifi also update the BIOS

[@BuildOrBuy]

Hi@@videoman1852, Looking and Comparing, it should be under... Advanced/Thunderbolt Configuration PCIe Tunneling over USB4 Discrete Thunderbolt Support We don't see that setting on the ASUS Z590. We DO on the ASUS Z690. This is most curious. Suggest contacting ASUS Tech Support and asking why or when this feature will be enabled through a Bios Update if possible. If it's there, You would see that Setting in Your Bios under Thunderbolt Configuration listed first. To reiterate, if it's there, We don't see that Setting. BTW: You Do have the ASUS Thunderbolt 4 card installed? Details matter! Sorry We could not be of more help! Glad You've brought this to Our Attention! This is going to become much more important moving forward! Another Thunderbolt hassle!

[@videoman1852]

@@BuildOrBuy the card is installed and all asus drivers installed. Tested with a thunderbolt device that works on my 2nd pc , a maximus hero. I'm at Asus teck support 1st level waiting for level 2 to contact me. Ur right the USB tunneling option is missing . Even on BIOS latest BIOS which I did last night.

[@videoman1852]

Thank you again . Great informative videos U produce.