Hey folks,

so I have just recently modded my bios for my old X79 Motherboard (ga-x79s-up5) to have updated intel rom, latest cpu microcode and nvme. i was readind further on these forums about something called bifurcation. can someone explain what it is, and if i need it to have nvme drives running, even after inserting nvme into my bios? Thanks.

[Guide] - How to Bifurcate a PCI-E slot

[GUIDE] Adding Bifurcation Support to ASUS X79 UEFI BIOS

thanks meatwar, so if i'm understanding this correctly, bifurcation allows you to divide a pcie slot's lanes (eg, turn an x8 into x4x4 by plugging an adapter into the pcie slot), which will then allow you to maximize your pcie slots if wanting to use more than one nvme.

speaking of, on x79, does using one or more nvme drives disable some of the sata ports, as i've seen on later, more modern motherboards? and does bifurcation prevent it from running as a regular pcie slot with all its lanes? thanks again

Sry dont have time to explain all... basically it divides the pcie slot bandwidth, other details is related with the bios/mainboard design and connected devices.
Get some readings and dont forget that its all mods on old hardware, never expect wot u desire, still a lot we have achieved with these mods on 6/7/8 Series motherboards.

By the way, the goal here is to have the NVMe PCIe adaptor connected in max. performance, PCIe 3.0 x4 8Gbts, most users on other motherboards will have PCIe 2.0 x4 5Gbts, of course always trying to maintain the GPU @ 3.0 x16.
Whoever use the iGPU always achieve this in the 1rst 3.0 x16 Slot. The x4 is always the max. link, wot impacts is the PCIe 3.0/2.0.
Some more expensive adaptors dual/quad M.2 slots already have a bifurcation controller on it for his own bandwidth division, but for simple adaptors its the mainboard that needs it.