Comparing Framework Desktop to other Strix Halo mini PCs couldn’t help but notice it offers a PCI port in addition to 2 SSD and 1 Wifi slots. Given that other systems (HP, and Chinese brands) do not offer an Oculink port, or offer Oculink, sacrificing one of SSDs, what’s the catch? Do other vendors simply ignore this low-hanging fruit?
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I’d imagine not only complexity of design, but also power draw. A PCIE slot is expected to deliver 75w of power, and to keep the SSD and PCIE slot would require not only a more complex design but also more powerful (and by extension, louder and larger) PSU. Additionally, many other SI’s like to use PCIE lanes to implement more IO controllers (think stuff like 10gbe lan) and IO controllers and other embedded devices. It probably isn’t low hanging fruit, but instead a technical trade-off that is probably worth it for most SI’s in terms of both development cost, standardization and support considering the oculink could literally be wired from an M.2->oculink adapter. Another answer to your question is that the oculink could be a pcie 8x link.
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