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Intel S2600JF server: Processor PCIe Link Speed menu in the BIOS is missing

it flag

i have a Intel 4 node server with S2600 JF motherboard per node (older, DDR3 RAM, E5-2600 v1 and v2). I want to insert a NVMe pcie card (with two drives) that requires bifurcation.

Based on the description of the motherboard, there is a menu item in the BIOS for this (Advanced - PCI Configuration - Processor PCIe Link Speed), but I did not find this. I updated the BIOS but still can't see, the menu item is missing.

BIOS pdf

See page 91 in pdf. Can the problem be solved? Maybe it depends on motherboard revision? Or maybe it depends on CPU version? (now E5-2620 v1 cpu included, 2 pcs)

Thank you in advance for your help, Laszlo

br flag
Bifurcation should work automatically.
Laszlo Malina avatar
it flag
Unfortunately, it does not work automatically. As I look at it, the capability itself is missing - while the motherboard description says otherwise.
br flag
Bifurcation is just between the CPU (and the intergrated PCIe root complex) and the card, with some support from the BIOS during device enumeration.
Laszlo Malina avatar
it flag
I plugged a Supermicro AOC-SLG3-2M2 nvme pcie card with two drives into the motherboard x16 connector (so I didn't plug it in a riser card). This cannot be separated by the server, e.g. 2 x8. Could it work automatically if there is a riser card in the motherboard pcie x16 that has two x16 connectors? Although I don't even know if there is such a riser card for a 1U high server. Unfortunately I don’t understand this topic yet, I just read superficially about it (and I use it on larger servers that have more x16 connectors).
br flag
It depends on what the CPU supports, mostly, configurations need to have been anticipated in silicon. The 2600 has three PCIe ports, (x8, x16, x16) plus one x4 port that is usually used for mainboard components. If I remember correctly, Intel CPUs usually support bifurcation on one x16 port, and a nontransparent bridge (NTB) on the other, but that may be model-dependent. The [datasheet](https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/612/xeon-e5-1600-2600-vol-1-datasheet-263646.pdf#page=144) suggests that the PCIe ports are organised in groups of four lanes, but it is not clear which can be merged.
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