fit-PC2 2GB/2GHz Diskless: SSD drive for PCI express slot

[serge230]

Hi!
Just have ordered p/n: fit-PC2-D2G-C2000-W, and till awaiting for delivery, therefore have some questions, to be better prepared to use.
Having through looked up all related posts and answers, before, still need to know for sure (from manufacturer), current information on the following:
1). Since ordered p/n is Diskless, may I use PCI express slot for PCIE SSD drive (not an adapter) installation, trying to ensure higher I/O throughput rates (like tested and reported on some posts), than figures on which I can count using PATA/SATA at 800 Mbps? If yes, which drives/models (perhaps), was tested and/or can be recommended?
2). On which max throughput can I count to have, with PCI-express released in the specified p\n, (complies, if I'm not mistaken, to PCI-E 1.0 specification)?
3). I've read in posts, that BIOS installed by manufacturer don't support boot from PCI-E attached drives (dated at 2010), is it still so, or situation has changed since (current revision, changes, or...)?
4). Have read, that, seems, mentioned above installation (into PCI-E slot), would be treated as violation of manufacturer's warranty conditions... Is it true, and if it is, whether it can be allowed somehow, say, through additional payment for extended warranty, or ....?
All the useful tips will be gratefully appreciated

[mbirger]

Please see my replies to your questions:
1. mini PCIe slot on fit-PC2 doesn't feature PCIe, but USB2 interface only.
For Bluetooth modules for example.
You cannot use PCIe SSD with fit-PC2, but SATA storage devices only.
2. fit-PC2 max. throughput is 800 Mbps..
fit-PC2 support PCIe1.0, but it is used for onboard peripherals only, not as users IO.
3. fit-PC2 doesn't support PCIe drives.


For your reference, fit-PC2 operation verified with the following storage devices:

Hard Disk, SATA, 320GB, 5400 RPM, 2.5"
Hitachi HTS545032A7E380
Hitachi HTS545032B9A300
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD032
Western Digital WD3200BPVT
Western Digital WD3200LPVX

Hard Disk, SATA, 250GB, 5400RPM, 2.5''
Hitachi HTS545025B9A300
Samsung HM251HI
Western Digital WD2500BPVT

[serge230]

Please see my replies to your questions:
1. mini PCIe slot on fit-PC2 doesn't feature PCIe, but USB2 interface only.
For Bluetooth modules for example.
You cannot use PCIe SSD with fit-PC2, but SATA storage devices only.
2. fit-PC2 max. throughput is 800 Mbps..
fit-PC2 support PCIe1.0, but it is used for onboard peripherals only, not as users IO.
3. fit-PC2 doesn't support PCIe drives.


For your reference, fit-PC2 operation verified with the following storage devices:

Hard Disk, SATA, 320GB, 5400 RPM, 2.5"
Hitachi HTS545032A7E380
Hitachi HTS545032B9A300
TOSHIBA MQ01ABD032
Western Digital WD3200BPVT
Western Digital WD3200LPVX

Hard Disk, SATA, 250GB, 5400RPM, 2.5''
Hitachi HTS545025B9A300
Samsung HM251HI
Western Digital WD2500BPVT

Thank you so much for your answers to my stupid Q, but some of them still remains... just because:

(1).

http://www.fit-pc.com/forum/posting.php ... =11&p=3264

Can the FIT PC2 be booted from mini PCI-E with a ssd drive in the slot ??
1. Does the bios support booting from mini PCI-E ??
2. If yes, is the PCI-E port bootable with WES ??

...
at Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:42 am (!)

Many of the mini-PCIe storage cards in fact use USB interface. This will work.
True PCIe interface was not tested on fit-PC2.

(2).

http://www.fit-pc.com/wiki/index.php?ti ... ange_log_2
22-Apr-2010 (!)
Change log
Added SD boot
Added SDHC support
Added PCIe boot support (1)

(3).

http://www.fit-pc.com/forum/posting.php ... =27&p=5769

I took the time to test a few of my disks with CrystalDiskMark, and the results are quite interesting:

CompuLab stock 2.5" 160GB SATA HDD (Hitachi, manufactured July 2009)
The results are exactly the same for internal Fit-PC2 connection and connection via mini PCIe card - both sequential read and write speeds are 60 MB/sec.

KingSpec Motive G1 2.5" 128GB SATA MLC SSD (manufactured March 2010, based on JMF612 SSD controller)
When connected internally:
Sequential read speed: 90 MB/sec
Sequential write speed: 75 MB/sec
When connected through MPX-3132 mini PCIe card:
Sequential read speed: 115 MB/sec
Sequential write speed: 106 MB/sec

This gives us a few conclusions:
1) For CompuLab stock "platter" disk, the transfer speed is exactly the same for internal connection and for mini PCIe connection via MPX-3132 bridge, and both times it's lower than SSD speed limit. This hints on hard disk max. throughput limit of about 60 MB/sec (which is below internal PATA->SATA bridge limit and below MPX-3132 bridge limit). So if you plan to use regular 2.5" disks, any bus that will provide you >60 MB/sec is enough, and in particular mini PCIe card provides better result than USB 2.0 or LAN connection.
2) For faster SSD disks, it looks like the PATA->SATA bridge throughput limit is around 90 MB/sec for reading and 75 MB/sec for writing (the SSD disk itself is capable of higher speeds). So if you plan to speed-up the internal disk in Fit-PC2, installing any disk with throughput >90 MB/sec will be good enough as it's impossible to reach more. On the other hand, PCIe bridge allows faster speeds of 115 MB/sec read and 106 MB/sec write, respectively. Here it looks like 115 MB/sec is the limit of the disk, and if higher throughput disks become available, the PCIe bridge will support them.
...

Sorry for my ingenuous Qs

[mbirger]

I will check the second point, with the BIOS reference. I think it is a typo or something very old. fit-PC2 HW revisions progressed since 2010.
My other answers remains.

[serge230]

I will check the second point, with the BIOS reference. I think it is a typo or something very old. fit-PC2 HW revisions progressed since 2010.
My other answers remains.

Don't think so, (typo), cause:

(1).

http://compulab.co.il/products/computer ... iam/#specs

CM-iAM Computer-On-Module

Feature Specifications Option

PCI Express PCI Express Base Specification, Revision 1.0a. One or two lanes.
Note: second lane is shared with optional second ethernet controller
+ ("+" means that the feature is always available)

(2). at Fri Jul 09, 2010
http://www.fit-pc.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... face#p6374

.....

- PCIe is not available on fit-PC2i becuase the two available PCIe lanes are used for dual Ethernet.
- The BIOS shares code with fit-PC2 and CM-iAM where PCIe boot is relevant.
- Other than wake-on-LAN, fit-PC2 rev 1.4 seems to meet your requirements.

(3).

http://compulab.co.il/wp-content/upload ... -Guide.pdf

from page 17 of

SBC-FITPC2
Single-board PC
Reference Guide

"4.8. mini PCI-express Interface (P27)
The SBC-FitPC2 provides one mini PCI-express expansion slot. PCI-express port. Mechanical support is provided only for full-length(50.95mm) mini PCI-express card."
support.
...
It all looks very coordinated and properly...

[mbirger]

As I've said it is an old copy/paste mistake -
fit-PC2i doesn't incorporate PCIe for external use, unlike a CoM that does have it. But these are different products.

mini PCIe slot is also mechanical form factor. It may have USB only, as in fit-PC2i case.

[serge230]

As I've said it is an old copy/paste mistake -
fit-PC2i doesn't incorporate PCIe for external use, unlike a CoM that does have it. But these are different products.

mini PCIe slot is also mechanical form factor. It may have USB only, as in fit-PC2i case.

Sorry, but my Q isn't about fit-PC2i, but about fit-PC2 (p/n: fit-PC2-D2G-C2000-W, I've ordered), which (according to (1)) has featured PCI Express: PCI Express Base Specification, Revision 1.0a.
I agree, that (2) could be "an old copy/paste mistake", from the Forum posts, but anyway, (1) and (3) referred to official technical docs from COMPULAB's CORPORATE site.... and ... I believe that these documents are current and not written by me or other inappropriate person

[mbirger]

I will repeat myself again - fit-PC2i doesn't incorporate PCIe for external use, unlike CoM that does have it.

[serge230]

I will repeat myself again - fit-PC2i doesn't incorporate PCIe for external use, unlike CoM that does have it.

Thank you so much for your time, but, I'm VERY SORRY, I've purchased NOT fit-PC2i, BUT fit-PC2, and, from the very beginning, my Q was about fit-PC2!
Thank you in advance.

[mbirger]

OK, sorry for the confusion.
Anyway, fit-PC2 in contrary to fit-PC2i indeed supports PCIe 1.0 single lane to mini PCIe slot.

Two important notes:
1. In your configuration this slot populated with WiFi module.
2. If you want to remove it, you will lose warranty as this slot located on the bottom (CPU side). So its removal removes the thermal coupling as well.