StarTech.com Quad M.2 PCIe Adapter Card: 4x NVMe/AHCI M.2 SSDs on PCIe 4.0

Take your storage to the next level with StarTech.com's Quad M.2 PCIe Adapter Card. This high-performance expansion card enables your system to host up to four NVMe or AHCI M.2 solid-state drives, turning a single PCIe 4.0 slot into a formidable storage array. Whether you're building a content-creation workstation, running virtualization, or seeking lightning-fast data access for large datasets, this adapter delivers the throughput and scalability you need. The card supports a full range of M.2 sizes (2242, 2260, 2280, and the longer 22110) with M-key sockets, ensuring broad compatibility with modern and legacy NVMe/AHCI drives. Note that bifurcation is required on the host motherboard to split the PCIe lanes into four independent x4 channels, enabling the four M.2 slots to operate at peak performance. PC and Linux operating systems are supported, providing a flexible solution for mixed environments.

• Quad M.2 drive support: Connect up to four NVMe or AHCI M.2 SSDs to a single PCIe 4.0 x16 host interface, enabling vast storage pools and parallel I/O.
• High-speed performance: Each drive can achieve up to 7.8 GB/s read or write throughput, delivering extremely fast data transfers, quick boot times, and faster project renders.
• Wide drive compatibility: Supports M-key M.2 SSDs in 2242/2260/2280/22110 form factors, offering broad flexibility for capacity, speed, and endurance.
• PC and Linux compatibility: Designed for cross-platform performance, with support for major Linux distributions and Windows-based systems in typical deployments.
• Important bifurcation requirement: A motherboard or firmware setting must enable PCIe bifurcation to expose four independent x4 lanes; without bifurcation, the card operates as a single x16 device and drives will run closer to single-drive performance.

Technical Details of StarTech.com Quad M.2 PCIe Adapter Card

• Model: StarTech Quad M.2 PCIe Adapter Card
• Interface: PCIe 4.0 x16 host connection with support for bifurcation to four x4 M.2 lanes
• Slots: 4 x M.2 PCIe M-key sockets for NVMe or AHCI SSDs (2242/2260/2280/22110 sizes)
• Drive compatibility: NVMe and AHCI M.2 SSDs, up to 7.8 GB/s per drive (dependent on drive and system)
• Form factor: PCIe add-in card designed for desktop/workstation motherboards
• Operating system support: PC-compatible and Linux-compatible operating systems (drivers not typically required for common NVMe/AHCI configurations)
• Power and cooling: Powered via PCIe bus; ensure adequate airflow and consider aftermarket M.2 heatsinks if sustained workloads
• Form factor constraints: Compatible with 2242/2260/2280/22110mm M.2 drives; M-key required

How to install StarTech Quad M.2 PCIe Adapter Card

Installing this quad M.2 PCIe adapter is straightforward when you follow a few best practices. Begin by preparing a motherboard that supports PCIe bifurcation. Check the motherboard manual or BIOS/UEFI settings for an option labeled PCIe bifurcation or PCIe lane splitting and enable it to expose four separate x4 lanes for the four M.2 slots. If your motherboard lacks bifurcation support, this adapter cannot reach four independent x4 lanes and will operate as a single x16 device, significantly reducing potential performance. Next, power down the system, unplug from power, and remove the case panel to access the PCIe slots.

Install the adapter into a free PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. Secure the card with a screw on the case bracket if required by your chassis. Insert each M.2 SSD into the available slots, aligning the M-key notch and sliding gently until fully seated. Use the appropriate retaining screws to fasten each M.2 drive to the adapter or motherboard standoffs as required by your build. Ensure there is adequate clearance for cooling; if you install dense drives or plan heavy workloads, consider adding an M.2 heatsink or thermal solution to keep temperatures in range.

Once the drives are installed and secured, reinstall the system cover and power on. In most modern Windows and Linux systems, the four NVMe or AHCI SSDs will be detected automatically by the operating system; you may need to initialize, partition, and format the drives using your preferred disk management tool. In Linux, you can use tools like gdisk or parted; in Windows, disk management or DiskPart will handle initialization. With the drives configured, you can create storage pools or RAID configurations at the OS or hardware level, depending on your needs and motherboard capabilities. When planning data storage workflows, consider how you want to allocate capacity across the four drives—for example, a 4-drive striped array for maximum performance, a mirrored configuration for redundancy, or independent volumes for organized data management.

Note: Ensure your system BIOS is updated to the latest version to avoid compatibility issues and to support advanced NVMe features. Always follow the drive manufacturer’s guidelines for handling M.2 SSDs, including anti-static precautions and proper torque on screws. With bifurcation enabled properly, you’ll unleash the full potential of four NVMe or AHCI M.2 drives in one compact PCIe card.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: How many M.2 drives can I install with this adapter? A: Up to four NVMe or AHCI M.2 SSDs can be connected to a single PCIe 4.0 x16 host, provided your motherboard supports PCIe bifurcation.
• Q: Do I need bifurcation to use all four slots? A: Yes. Bifurcation must be enabled in the motherboard BIOS/UEFI to expose four independent x4 lanes for the M.2 slots.
• Q: What M.2 sizes does this card support? A: It supports 2242, 2260, 2280, and 22110mm M.2 drives with an M-key interface.
• Q: Is this compatible with Linux? A: Yes. The quad M.2 PCIe adapter is designed to be PC- and Linux-compatible; Linux users often benefit from standard NVMe/AHCI drivers.
• Q: What performance can I expect? A: Per-drive performance can reach up to 7.8 GB/s, depending on drive model and system, with total performance limited by the host’s PCIe lanes and motherboard support.
• Q: Is there any required driver installation? A: In most cases, modern Windows and Linux kernels include NVMe/AHCI drivers; no extra drivers are required for standard NVMe/AHCI operation.
• Q: Does the card require a dedicated power connector? A: No separate power connector is required; PCIe slot power is typically sufficient for M.2 drives, but high-power drives and dense configurations may benefit from good airflow and occasional heatsink use.