Z170X Gamming 5 - Sata Expansion alternatives

[sebgallardo]

Hello:

I have the following hardware

- Z170X Gamming 5
- i6700k
- 32GB
- 2x Samsung 950 Pro M.2
- 5x HHD Sata
- Only One Graphics Card
- Sound blaster ZxR

However when connecting the disks m.2 in raid mode I will lose half of the sata ports and I am evaluating two alternatives:

1.- Buy a PCI-E card to increase SATA ports, however the cheaper cards don't have the same speed as the native Sata ports and also increase the boot time.

2.- Buy an adapter m.2 to PCI-E like this:
http://Https://www.amazon.com/Asus-Accessory-32Gbit-flexibility-Retail/dp/B017YUCAXS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485190212&sr=8-2&keywords=m.2+pcie+adapter


I don't know if I can do Raid without problems with the adapter M.2 and one of the ports of the board.
I also don't know if the PCI-E card will cause me to lose native SATA ports.

Would you help me make a choice?

Thanks!

[sebgallardo]

Ok, I already installed everything and when RAID 0 active for the M.2 (samsung 950PRO nvme) disks, I lost 4 of the 6 SATA ports !

I can see that the M2D port (near the processor) is the one that generates the problem. If I remove the M.2 disk, I can see the lost SATA disks again.
M2H port disables third PCI-E port

The first port is occupied with the graphics card.

What I would like to do is buy an adapter to m.2 like this

https://www.amazon.com/Asus-Accessory-32Gbit-flexibility-Retail/dp/B017YUCAXS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485190212&sr=8-2&keywords=m.2%20pcie%20adapter&tag=viglink20248-20

This card I want to install on the PCI Express 2 port (assuming PCI Express 1 port will only be 8X).

My question is if I can rest assured that I can make a raid 0 between a PCIE card and the M2H port.

Thanks!

[shadowsports]

Greetings,
You cannot create a RAID of any level across multiple interfaces, cards, etc.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, the MB's documentation clearly indicates that you lose the function of certain SATA ports when you populate one or both of the m.2 ports.  Check the user manual, this is explained as there are not an unlimited number of resources available. 

[shadowsports]

Please review page 18 of your user manual.