TheClassicalCat

Yeah, it's been awhile since I worked on the x4 project, been busy since moving homes. But, here's a teaser of the near final layout before routing: And I don't fully remember where I was at with the schematic but here it is (closely followed from other schematics): As soon as I get more time I will continue this project but I would love for the E-module port to be figured out by the time I get this thing made. I have a few other projects to get done this summer with another mechanical engineering buddy so this may be a weekend only project. I already bought the connectors, no way am I giving up now

Wow, nice work! I actually have a bigger plan with this cable setup, but that will be for another day or diymodder. Think x16... This is very useful, thanks! I'm intently watching this. Now if an Intel guy could chime in here... So mini SAS will have its own custom mPCI-E board, luckily I found right angle connectors so to keep it slim. The fun part is some of the connectors (like the vertical mini SAS) don't have completed dimensions so I have to find my calipers or just use the ones from work. That's pretty much what I figured. Well, good thing I also ordered a SATA power connector so I should have 3.3V, 5V, and 12V without having to convert, simple enough. I know there are daughter board kits to convert DC jacks if someone wants to go that route.

It's good to see this thread is live and well tackling that Emodule slot... so onward with my E6430 x4 project: So I finally settled on my connectors: Recognize that funny looking connector next to the three SATA ports? It's a mini-SAS port that conveniently has enough pins for port 1 and utilizes differential pairs. I decided to do a mock up of the setup to see if there's any location issues; sure enough because of the cabling it requires more space for the powerful dual slot cards that would complement the 3720QM. And locking the GPU down with a latch seems unnecessary as it fits extremely snug. I also decided I may add a SATA power connector in case I wanted to try out non-powered cards. I currently have half the connectors designed in Eagle. Two SATA ports will connect to those mSATA adapters with the tx/rx corrected. As for the EC slot, I found the edge connector to build an EC to SATA adapter card. And for the first port, it will utilize the mSATA card adapted with the mini-SAS connector. All in the name of signal integrity :-) So far parts were pretty cheap, the tough part was finding who was selling less than a roll of 7000 connectors. I ended up on Newark's site which luckily gives me blueprints and footprints that I can copy over into Eagle (which I'm also learning how to use, sheesh). Cables are also affordable for this build unlike those proprietary BPlus cables. My 36 pin mini-SAS cable was $10 USD. Once the schematic is done I will run it by you guys before I send off the gerbers to a PCB company. Still lots to do.

Another quick update on the E6430 x4 project: I got a price quoted from Bplus for custom cables and they seem a little steep ($35 ea, especially if I can't trust them to do GEN 2 yet)....and I also did some research on alternative cabling options. Why didn't Bplus go with the PCIe cables with SFP+ or iPass connectors (compliant, industry standard, readily abundant)? Even though HDMI is considered low mismatch impedance here, perhaps the lack of true EMI shielding at the connection is what's causing them to fail GEN 2 speeds. timohour, did you use any shielding for your x2 2.0 custom wire setup? After reading splitframe's PCI-EMM060B mod, it made me start to wonder about a few more things that had to do with the way the wires are connected. I noticed that there's a large difference between the SFP and HDMI card edge connection pitch,.... SFP, iPass and SCSI is 0.8mm, HDMI is 0.4mm. I would imagine the mini HDMI is the same. I think we could truly have a mobile setup with the right connectors, which is why I'm now looking to (hopefully) solder a high speed I/O connector and see if using that on the PE4H will make a difference, but first maybe wrap that sucker in EMI shielding. The external SFP connectors have large metal cages that supposedly help lock EMI shielding throughout the connection. Prices aren't unreasonable for an 8Gbps cable on ebay, either. I'll provide a few links below of some of my findings. Enjoy. PCIe Cables ipass internal on google iPass Product Training Module provided by Digi-Key and Molex High-Speed Pluggable I/O Solutions - Molex Other notes of interest: Solid core wires have less signal degradation compared to non-solid core. PCIe compliant cables (sfp+, iPass, perhaps also SCSI, SAS) have existed as a viable connection for x1-x16 connections So far we know that soldered cables work better, but we haven't fully tested this to my liking. Bplus options are expensive for x4 cabling. I like the idea of the PE4H, just not the connectors. Oh, so I checked the schematics for the ODD/jsata2 port and it turns out that it uses a slimline SATA connector, so I don't think I have much of an option other than to make a custom connector here (maybe desolder the jsata2? I will have to look), just taping off the pins from a PM3N won't work on the 7+6 pin slimline SATA.

Yup, what I'm looking to do is two things: I know that signal degradation is affected most greatly by PCB trace size, cable length, and discontinuities between impedance (e.g. at each HDMI connection). Therefore: 1. A soldered connection hence proved by Tech Inferno Fan should help attain GEN 2 spec. Perhaps a well soldered connection will allow for NVIDIA cards that have stricter fault control. 2. A shorter cable will have less signal degradation. But I don't know if the shortest cables will reach, hence getting both 30 and 60 cm cables. This will be more of an experiment than just a one and done project I hope everyone will benefit from. I'm curious to see what kind of difference trying out connections will do.

Just a quick update on my progress for the E6430 x4 project: The E6430 arrived in good working shape, ready to be torn apart (evidently it's still under warranty)... I contacted Bplus about getting shorter soldered cables with the PE4H and hope to get a reply soon. I realized that signal degradation could be a huge factor here so I looked into sourcing some PM030 and PM060 cables to test, along with an EC060. Once I learned the nomenclature I could actually communicate what I am looking for. I will keep you posted once I get a reply. I contacted the Chinese support office, not sure if the Taiwanese office would have been better. Thanks for your help Tech Inferno Fan and timohour this is going to be a lot of fun!

Hello everyone, I have an e6430 on the way and can't wait to try out x2 2.0. Any news on x4 2.0 for this? I'm willing to solder another mPCIe adapter if you could code ports 3 and 4 for x4 (I'm still new and learning). So far I have left to do: Receive e6430 Receive PE4C-PM100C V2.1 Install DIY eGPU Setup 1.30 Set TOLUD to 2GB Unlock the flash descriptor Flash MEFW to x2 2.0 Hook up HD 7950 Benchmark like crazy Sounds like a pieceacake. :-) Am I missing anything?

Hello everyone, I have an e6430 on its way here and can't wait to try out x2 2.0. Any news on a possible x4 2.0? I'm willing to solder together an mPCIe adapter if you can get ports 3 and 4 strapped (I'm still new and learning here). So far I have left to do: Receive e6430 Receive PE4C-PM100C V2.1 Install DIY eGPU Setup 1.30 Set TOLUD to 2GB Unlock the Flash Descriptor Flash the ME to get x2 2.0 Hook up my HD 7950 Bench test like crazy Should be a pieceacake. :-) Look good so far?