[NUC13 ANH i7] Is the B-KEY SATA Interface OCULINK Capable? Seeking Advice

[Elon_Fan]

Hello everyone,

I am a user of the Intel NUC13 ANH i7 and have been exploring the capabilities of the various interfaces on my device. I've noticed there's a B-KEY SATA interface on my motherboard, and I'm quite interested in whether it might support OCULINK.

1. Device Information: My device is an Intel NUC13 ANH i7 running the Windows 11 operating system.

2. Motherboard Interface: The motherboard features a B-KEY SATA interface, and I've also noticed an M.2 slot that appears to be PCIe 4.0. I've installed a Western Digital SN850x 2T SSD in it, which is incredibly fast, and I don't want to waste its performance.

3. OCULINK Compatibility Inquiry: My main question is whether the B-KEY SATA interface could potentially support OCULINK. If it does, I'm hoping to leverage this interface to further enhance my device's capabilities.

4. Usage Scenario: I primarily use my NUC for everyday office tasks and some light video editing. I have high demands for storage speed and want to maximize the potential of my hardware.

5. Seeking Assistance: I'm reaching out to the community for help and hope that users with experience or experts can provide some advice or guidance. If the B-KEY SATA interface does indeed support OCULINK, how should I set it up or configure it?

6. Call for Shared Experiences: If any other users have similar setups or have any related experiences to share, I would love to see your comments and discussions in the replies.

Thank you all for your help and advice, and I look forward to engaging with you!

Elon_Fan

[n_scott_pearson]

All of the M.2-to-OCuLink adapters that I could find require installation into a M.2 Type M connector. You cannot use OCuLink from this M.2 Type B connector. Further, M.2 Type B connectors do not provide the four PCIe lanes that you require for OCuLink.

From the standpoint of the AN NUCs, they list support for:

• One M.2 PCIe Gen4 connector supporting M.2 22x80 (key type M) for NVMe only.
• One M.2 connector supporting M.2 22x42 (key type B) for SATA SSD, PCIe x1 or USB 3.2 expandability.

I would conclude from this (as well as from my experience with previous models) that support for OCuLink is not going to be in the picture.

Hope this helps,

...S

[Elon_Fan]

Dear n_scott_pearson,

Thank you very much for your detailed and insightful response. I have now come to understand that the B-KEY SATA interface on my NUC device does not support OCuLink technology and that a Type M M.2 connector with additional PCIe lanes is required for OCuLink.

Your clarification has been extremely helpful in confirming the capabilities and limitations of the interfaces supported by my device. Based on your information and my own research, it seems that OCuLink is indeed not an option for me to consider.

I appreciate the time and effort you've taken to assist me, and your response has greatly enhanced my understanding of this matter.

Warm regards,

Elon_Fan