Alphacool Unveils the HDX-5 PCI-Express M.2 RAID Controller Card
The Alphacool HDX-5 is a combination of a RAID controller card and a massive cooler. It has two slots for M.2 SATA SSDs and two additional SATA slots, allowing you to set up a RAID 0 or 1 group. The PCI-Express 3.0 x4 card also provides a bandwidth of up to 3900 MB/s.
The new generation of HDX coolers from Alphacool is getting another addition. The HDX-5 is not just a cooler, but also lets you run a RAID 0 or 1 group. It boasts two M.2 SATA SSD slots and two classic SATA slots. The combination possibilities are considerable, since you can set up a RAID group over one M.2 SATA SSD and one normal SATA drive, or connect just the M.2 slots to form a RAID group. That leaves the classic SATA slots free to be used for normal connections.
Features:
- No more throttling of the SSD due to overheating
- RAID 0 or 1 possible
- 4x PCIe card with a bandwidth of around 3900 MB/s
- Cooler optimally protects your SSD
The 4x PCIe plug-in card provides your SSDs with a bandwidth of around 3900 MB/s. This eliminates the usual system bottleneck – the connection between the SSD and the system – entirely. Normal SATA slots on a motherboard provide a maximum data transfer rate of around 640 MB/s, and even most M.2 connections on a motherboard often only provide around 1900 MB/s.
One problem with direct connection to the motherboard is cooling. At high or continuous rates of data transfer, M.2 SATA SSDs often overheat and drop their speed. This can lower performance down to 10% of actual capacity. On motherboards, the M.2 slots are often located directly underneath or beside the graphics card, which serves to heat them further. Cooling this area is often only possible to a limited extent due to the lack of space. If you’re looking to take advantage of your M.2 SATA SSD’s maximum performance, a good cooling solution is a must.
The massive, expansive HDX-5 heatsink completely covers the SSDs in both M.2 slots. This means optimal heat transfer from your SSD as it is cooled. The possibility of the SSD slowing down and the accompanying loss of performance are virtually eliminated.
