Aurora 10, Slot 4 not recognizing SSD expansion card

SLOT 1 functions as x8 too.  Exact same speed as SLOT 4.  There is no x16 electrical in the Aurora. What do you think happens when you run SLI.   

You can't run a GPU from slot4 because that only functions as -x8.  Slot1 is the only place you can put the GPU.

If you read the user manual it says slots 1/4 are both x8 here on page 8 too: 

https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop_users-guide_en-us.pdf

The reason other people run the GPU on SLOT 1 is some motherboards have x16 on top, x8 on bottom. That is not the case for Aurora. They are x8 top and bottom.  Thermals would be better up top, but speedwise it's the same. 

As an aside, I am able to use the lower x8 with my PCIE NVME ssd.  

Another aside, SLOT 3 in the R7/8/9  runs at x4.  Interesting that it runs at x2 in the R10.  

Ah yes!  My apologies!

I'd still like to discover why slot4 isn't seeing my SSD.  If it isn't functioning correctly then moving the GPU there wouldn't be very productive.

Troubleshoot:

1.  If you plug the NVME to the top X8, with monitor to onboard graphics (GPU removed), and it works, that would tell you the pcie adapter card is OK, and you can rule out a problem with the card.  If the card does not work, then that would tend to indicate there is a problem with the pcie adapter card on x8 (since it works fine in the middle slot).  Then, go on to #2. 

2.  Next, if you connect the GPU to the lower X8, monitor to GPU, and it does work, that would tell you there is nothing wrong with the lower X8 slot (this further confirms that the problem is likely with the card).  If the GPU does not show up, then that would indicate something is wrong with your lower X8 slot as opposed to the card (slot not functioning or it has been disabled). 

@r72019 is correct:

PCI-Express X16 (graphics slot 1)

NOTE: The PCI-Express X16 slot works at X8 lanes only.

PCI-Express X4 slots (2)

NOTE: The PCI-Express X4 slot 3 works at X2 lanes only.  maybe that is why ssd is slower in this slot?

PCI-Express X16 (graphics slot 2)

NOTE: The PCI-Express X16 slot works at X8 lanes only.

p.8-9/17 https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop_users-guide_en-us.pdf

b550A chipset has only PCIe3.0 (Gen 3) slots.  there is no PCIe2.0 slot.

Well, I've learned a bit more about my system, which I'll explain below.  Plus, I need to vent.  My apologies.

To recap, I wanted to add another NVMe drive to my system.  It's not possible.

First, slot4 wouldn't recognize my original expansion card, nor would it recognize two additional cards I purchased to see if my original card is bad (it's not).  Either, Slot4 is defective, or the design prohibits recognizing another nvme drive card.

Second, I tried my drive card in slot3, but it won't work there because slot3 only enables 2 pcie lanes, not 4 as required by the drive card.  Slot3 sees the drive but it will only run at 1.5GB/s instead of the rated 3.0GB/s

Third, I purchased a pcie riser cable for slot2 because it's blocked by the gpu card.  Slot2 sees the drive but again it only runs at 1.5GB/s.  Why?  Apparently, slot2 is PCIe 2.0 not PCIE 3.0.  This is what CrystalDiskInfo tells me. What a letdown!

Another user recommended moving the gpu from slot1 to slot4 then seeing if the drive could be recognized in slot1.  That can't be done because the gpu would block the front audio connector and the SATA ports.

After 3 weeks of fiddling around with the system what I've learned in total would prevent me from recommending an Alienware desktop to anyone.  What I've discovered is a series of shortcuts, shoddy engineering, and poor quality control.  Here they are:

1. One of the reasons I selected an AMD 3000 system is because this particular processor supports PCIe 4.0.  But not this motherboard!  It's 3.0 and I can only assume that's for cost cutting reasons.

2.  The liquid cooling is totally inadequate.  It's a half-length radiator with just one fan.  There's no way to check fluid levels and it's not addressed in any of the documentation.

4. Slot4 can't recognize nvme drive cards.  At least mine won't.  Is this a quality control issue or an design/engineering shortcoming?

5.  Slot3 has only 2 lanes and that much is stated in the documentation.  WTH?  Why?

6.  Slot2 is only PCIe 2.0. Yes, NOT PCIe 3.0.  At least that's what mine runs at.  Is this a quality control issue or an design/engineering shortcoming?

7.  The memory would not run at full speed until I selected OC1 in the BIOS.  WTH?

8.  The Alienware Control Center software is buggy as hell, continually throwing errors in the event logs.

9.  I purchased the Premium Support but I can't get support via email, it's not an option.  I'm given online chat as an option but it's been unavailable several times during working hours (!).  Phone is the other option.  I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to that.

In short, it's not possible to add another NVMe drive that can run at full speed.  If I were to hang on to this system I would have to settle for a secondary NVMe that runs at half speed but hey, that's faster than the next available option (a SATA 3 drive).  But, I've been short-changed and I'm not getting my money's worth.

This isn't a system suitable for enthusiasts and it's not designed to support any kind of future expansion or growth.  I spent $2,500.  For this.

Well, Technical Support hasn't responded yet.

Has anyone else run into these issues?  Depending on the resolution of this issue I may want to return the machine for a full refund. To summarize:
1. The motherboard is not PCIe 4.0 compatible, as was advertised. This is a big deal and one of the key reasons I purchased a Ryzen addition. This link states that, "The Aurora Ryzen Edition is the first Alienware machine to feature PCI-Express 4.0 Technology,"

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-desktop-computers/new-alienware-aurora-ryzen-edition-gaming-desktop/spd/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop#carousel-example-with-caption.

If this is in fact not true for my machine I want to return for a full refund.
2. PCIe slot4 does not recognize my NVMe drive card.
3. PCIe slot3 functions as a x2 slot, not a x4 slot. I realize this is by design, but it limits my ability to configure my machine, given the reality of point #2, above.
4. PCIe slot2 runs only at PCIe 2.0, and thus my NVMe drive card runs at half speed. I can offer proof.

I have tried 3 different cards, with the same results.  I welcome the opportunity to be proved wrong. I would love the machine to run as advertised, but right now it isn't.

Thanks

Just following up....  I provided my service tag info on the 20th and the 24th, as requested each time.

I decided to throw in the towel and before I had my machine for 30 days I requested to return it for a full refund.  Why?

1.  The motherboard is advertised as PCIe Gen4, but the M.2 NVMe SSD is Gen3.  That's right, they cheaped out and didn't include a Gen4 drive.  So much for the advertised Gen4 speeds.

2.  Slot4 doesn't work.

3.  Slot3 looks like x4, but runs at x2.  To be honest, this is in the documentation.

4.  Slot2 is actually PCIe Gen2.  That's right, Gen2.0!  Confirmed by technical support and HWInfo64.

What other shortcuts and defects exist?  One wonders....  Overall, not a great experience, but it is a very costly one!  Oh, and Dell won't honor the return request.

Also note the return window is 30 days from the shipping date (the date printed on the packing slip or invoice). Not 30 days after you receive it.

Why won't dell accept a return?  You should focus on slot 4 being defective, don't mention any of the other complaints with the poor design when asking for a full refund.  Just explain that one of the pcie slots is broken.  

Have you tried connecting the gpu to it to prove its broken for dell and not an incompatibility with your add in card? That slot 4will accept any oem gpu.  It is designed and sold stock that way with the oem gpu in it with sli setups.  I myself have run a full length titan in it as well as two other full length gpus in slot 4. 

So what happened? Were you right about everything or was it defective?