ITX or mATX with multi M2 slots

[Christo]

I am looking at building a new UNRAID rig since my existing one is so noisy with x4 spinning HDDs so want to make an SSD/NVME alternative but having issues finding a future proof board. Does anyone know of an ITX or mATX mobo with x4 M2 slots? Ideally not expensive (ha).


Needs to cater for a graphics card for transcoding of course.

Thanks!

 

[Christo]

Sorry I realise this should be in the Motherboards section, its been a while!

 

[Slogan]

You'll struggle to find an ITX board with 4 M.2 slots. The most I've seen on ITX boards from the main manufacturers is 3 and that's at the higher end cost-wise, the MSI Z790i for example.

I did look into mATX boards for a build but they seemed to max out about 3. There's likely to be more choice with 4 given the larger board size but again, I would imagine they would be at the more premium end of the pricing scale.

But with mATX, you get the additional PCIe slot/s, so you could add a multi M.2 card to expand upon the ones that are baked onto the board already.

 

[Tetras]

The only way I can see 4x M.2 slots on ITX would be placing 2 the rear. MATX does just about have the room, but X670/X670E and Z790 MATX boards aren't very common and you really need the higher-end chipset to have enough lanes.

Z790M Aorus Elite has 3x M.2 and 6x SATA.

 

[momo56]

Could just go igpu and use the pcie slot for a 2-4 nvmes

 

[Quartz]

Does anyone know of an ITX or mATX mobo with x4 M2 slots?

You could put four drives in the PCIe x16 slot. I also saw recently either in an article or a YT video a motherboard that was an elongated ITX form factor - same width, different length - which gave it room for extra M.2 drives. Unfortunately Google is not being helpful.

 

[Christo]

All really good suggestions - thank you.

an iGPU and using the PCI-e for NVME's makes sense - in that case x2 slots is acceptable (x3 better of course!)

I am dreaming of my perfect UNRAID/Plex server here. x4 NVME's in a fanless case with x1 3.5" drive to chron job backup the NVME's.
My existing UNRAID setup is a racket (all those spinning drives).

Last chance is a massive SSD cache to have the drives spin down..

 

[Quartz]

Another idea is the Minisforum AR900i, which has 4 M.2 slots combined with an embedded CPU.

 

[Tetras]

an iGPU and using the PCI-e for NVME's makes sense - in that case x2 slots is acceptable (x3 better of course!)

FYI: You'd need to make sure the slot supports bifurcation.

 

[Christo]

Another idea is the Minisforum AR900i, which has 4 M.2 slots combined with an embedded CPU.

Funnily enough I watched that video today. It looks an absolute dream (just damn pricey). Thanks!

FYI: You'd need to make sure the slot supports bifurcation.

Thanks - thats a very good point.