Add 4 NVMe SSDs Without Bifurcation — Lekuo PX24M41 Review
The storage bottleneck problem that has plagued PC builders for years finally has a clean solution.
The Lekuo PX24M41 is a PCIe 4.0 expansion card that lets you install four M.2 NVMe SSDs simultaneously — without needing your motherboard to support PCIe bifurcation. Here's everything you need to know.
What Is the Lekuo PX24M41?
The PX24M41 is a full-height PCIe expansion card from Lekuo designed for users who need to add multiple high-speed NVMe SSDs to a single PCIe slot. It fits into any standard PCIe x16 slot and uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 electrical connection, delivering up to 128 Gbps (≤15.7 GB/s) of bidirectional theoretical bandwidth.
The card supports four M.2 NVMe SSDs (Key M interface) in 2230, 2242, 2260, or 2280 form factors, and works plug-and-play on Windows, Linux, and macOS — no drivers required.
The Key Innovation: IX8024 PCIe Switch Chip
Most PCIe-to-M.2 adapters require the motherboard to support bifurcation — the ability to split a single PCIe x16 slot into multiple x4 lanes. This feature is often absent on consumer-grade motherboards, making those adapters useless for a large portion of users.
The PX24M41 solves this with the onboard IX8024 PCIe 4.0 switch chip, which independently handles lane allocation. It dynamically distributes 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes across 4 downstream x4 ports — no BIOS setting, no bifurcation menu, no compatibility research needed. You install it and it works.
Bottom line: If you're looking for a PCIe M.2 adapter that works without bifurcation, the Lekuo PX24M41 is a direct answer.
Performance: Real-World Numbers
- Single drive: Sequential reads up to 7,000 MB/s+ (SSD-dependent)
- 4-drive concurrent: Aggregate bandwidth stabilizes at 12–13 GB/s, approaching the PCIe 4.0 x8 theoretical ceiling
- Latency jitter under multi-drive contention: <5%, outperforming software RAID and HBA solutions
- PCIe 3.0 backward compatibility: Speeds auto-negotiate to PCIe 3.0 x4 (≈3.9 GB/s per drive)
Thermal Design: Built for Sustained Workloads
The PX24M41 includes a CNC-machined solid aluminium heatsink covering both the IX8024 chip and all four SSD slots. High-conductivity thermal pads transfer heat efficiently, keeping SSD temperatures below the critical 70°C threshold — the point at which NAND flash begins to age faster and controllers start throttling.
This matters for longevity: sustained temperatures above 70°C accelerate NAND wear and increase the risk of solder joint fatigue from thermal cycling. The PX24M41's passive cooling design addresses this directly.
Compatibility at a Glance
| Scenario | Compatible? |
|---|---|
| PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (electrical x8) | ✅ Full speed |
| PCIe 3.0 x8/x16 slot | ✅ Half bandwidth (64 Gbps) |
| Motherboard without bifurcation | ✅ No issue |
| 4U full-height chassis | ✅ |
| 2U rackmount server | ❌ Heatsink too tall |
| SATA M.2 SSDs | ❌ NVMe only |
| VMware ESXi 7.0+ / Proxmox VE | ✅ Full passthrough support |
| Windows Storage Spaces / ZFS / mdadm | ✅ Software RAID ready |
Who Should Buy the PX24M41?
- Motherboards without bifurcation support — Many consumer and workstation motherboards do not expose bifurcation settings in the BIOS. The PX24M41's built-in switch chip bypasses this limitation entirely, letting you run 4x NVMe SSDs on any PCIe x16 slot without any BIOS configuration.
- Video editors and content creators — 4-drive concurrent throughput of 13 GB/s enables stutter-free 8K RAW playback and fast render cache.
- NAS and storage server builders — Build a dense NVMe cache pool in a 4U chassis with passive cooling and quiet operation.
- AI / deep learning workstations — PCIe 4.0 x8 bandwidth supports parallel model loading to keep GPUs fed with data.
- IT labs and test environments — Bifurcation-free design means the card works across a wide range of motherboards without compatibility research.
Specifications Summary
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | PX24M41 |
| Host Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (electrical x8) |
| Device Interface | 4× M.2 M-Key (NVMe PCIe only) |
| Supported M.2 Sizes | 2230 / 2242 / 2260 / 2280 |
| Protocol | NVMe 1.3 / 1.4 |
| Total Bandwidth | ~16 GB/s (PCIe 4.0 x8) |
| Transfer Rate | 128 GT/s |
| OS Support | Windows / Linux / macOS |
| Dimensions | 202 × 95 mm |
| Weight | 360 g (net) |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
Package Contents
- 1× PX24M41 PCIe 4.0 to 4x M.2 NVMe Adapter
- 4× Copper mounting standoffs
- 4× Thermal pads
- 10× Mounting screws
- 1× Screwdriver
- 1× User manual
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the PX24M41 work without bifurcation?
Yes. The IX8024 switch chip handles all lane splitting internally. No BIOS configuration is needed.
Can I use PCIe 3.0 SSDs?
Yes, with automatic speed negotiation to PCIe 3.0 x4 (≈3.9 GB/s per drive).
Does it need external power?
No. The PCIe x16 slot provides up to 75W, which exceeds the card's power requirements. A ≥550W PSU is recommended when used alongside high-end GPUs.
Is it compatible with ESXi or Proxmox?
Yes. VMware ESXi 7.0+ and Proxmox VE both support direct NVMe passthrough with excellent IOMMU compatibility.
Does it support hardware RAID?
No hardware RAID. It is fully compatible with software RAID: Windows Storage Spaces, Linux ZFS/mdadm, and macOS Disk Utility.
Lekuo PX24M41 — PCIe 4.0 x16 to 4x M.2 NVMe Adapter | No Bifurcation Required | $199 | 1-Year Warranty