Highpoint Rocket 1749E PCIe Gen4 x16 Add-in-Card with 8x E1.S NVMe Ports

Blast Off with the Rocket 1749E

The Rocket 1749E is a high-performance PCIe Gen4 x16 add-in card (AIC) designed to maximise storage speed and capacity in data centres, industrial computing, and high-end workstations. Unlike a standard storage expansion card that supports one or two SSDs, the Rocket 1749E can connect up to eight E1.S NVMe SSDs in a single PCIe slot (x4 bandwidth per port), providing up to 61.44TB of storage with extremely high throughput. It’s built for environments that demand ultra-fast data access, low latency, and efficiency, making it ideal for applications like cloud computing, AI workloads, large-scale data processing, and ultra-high-resolution media production.

Breathtaking Speeds

At its core, the Rocket 1749E uses a Broadcom PCIe switch (PEX88048) to efficiently manage 48 lanes of PCIe Gen4 bandwidth, ensuring that all connected SSDs can operate at full speed without bottlenecks. This design allows the card to deliver up to 28GB/s of sustained throughput and handle an impressive 6 million input/output operations per second (IOPS), making it a powerful solution for workloads that require rapid read/write speeds, such as machine learning model training, transactional databases, and virtualised storage environments.

Plug & Play - Extensive OS Compatibility

One of the biggest advantages of this card is its plug-and-play compatibility with operating systems like Windows, VMware, along with various Linux distros such as Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL/Fedora, along with Rocky and Arch Linux. Because it is designed for enterprise and industrial environments, it requires no additional drivers for setup, meaning it should just work. Additionally, the Rocket 1749E supports multi-card configurations, meaning multiple AICs can be installed in a single system to further expand storage and performance.

Dual Width Cooling System

Unlike conventional AICs, SSDs are mounted vertically to maximise contact with the cooling airflow ingested from the twin fans to promote longevity of the E1.S media and switch IC while actively combat the threat of thermal throttling to ensure maximum transfer performance and responsiveness. The system has proven to be highly effective in real-world environments, and is fully capable of 24/7 operation. The hardware itself is seated in a full-length anodised aluminium casing, integrated heat sinks and a pair of ultra-durable, low-decibel cooling fans.

Toolless SSD Loading System

The Rocket 1749E’s toolless SSD loading system was designed to simplify installation, upgrade and maintenance procedures. Technicians do not need to remove the PCIe device from the host system in order to access the storage media; the dual-fan cooling system features a unique latching mechanism that enables the module to swing up and away from the PCB to reveal the SSD slots. Each slot features a quick-release latch which enables administrators to quickly install or remove the SSDs without the need for hand tools or fasteners.

Applications & Use Cases

With multi-drive support, it provides flexible expansion, allowing for seamless upgrades and future-proofing in both enterprise data centers and industrial systems. Its ability to support multiple NVMe drives in a single PCIe Gen4 x16 slot gives it the versatility to adapt to a wide variety of storage requirements, from high-performance applications to mission-critical operations. This AIC is built to handle the most intensive tasks, while maintaining system reliability, minimal latency, and sustained throughput. As a result, it performs excellently in these applications:

High-Performance Databases

The Rocket 1749E’s ultra-low latency and 28GB/s throughput make it ideal for high-frequency database solutions, enabling fast data retrieval and minimal delays. Its high-endurance E1.S media ensures consistent performance during sustained write operations, critical for transactional and online database services.

Virtualisation & Cloud Services

With 6 million IOPS and compact dual-width PCIe Gen4 design, the Rocket 1749E excels in virtualization platforms and cloud infrastructures. It ensures high Quality of Service (QoS) for multi-tenant environments, supporting seamless scalability and sustained performance under heavy workloads.

Edge Computing & IoT

For industrial and edge computing servers, the Rocket 1749E provides a compact, high-capacity solution with up to 61.44TB of storage. Its advanced cooling system and Power Loss Protection (PLP) make it reliable in remote or harsh environments where downtime is not an option.

AI & Machine Learning

AI/ML applications require fast data pipelines with minimal latency to process massive datasets efficiently. The Rocket 1749E’s 48-lane PCIe Gen4 switching architecture ensures maximum bandwidth allocation for each E1.S SSD, enhancing real-time AI/ML processing and model training.

Media Content Creation & Streaming

The Rocket 1749E is perfect for media workflows like 4K/8K video editing. Its high bandwidth and efficient cooling ensure sustained transfer speeds and prevent performance throttling during intensive read/write tasks.

CDN Environments

The Rocket 1749E's proven PCIe Switching Architecture and Advanced Cooling system ensure ultra-low latency and consistently high sustained transfer speeds, ideal for CDN and streaming platforms

Excellent Security

The Rocket 1749E also brings enhanced data security features that are critical for protecting sensitive information. Many E1.S SSDs are equipped with Self-Encrypting Disk (SED) technology or FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) certification, ensuring that data is encrypted and inaccessible to unauthorized users. This level of security is particularly important in environments that handle confidential or regulated data, such as financial institutions or healthcare organizations. Additionally, the card supports NVMe-MI (NVMe Management Interface), which provides a comprehensive framework for monitoring the health and operational status of the connected storage.

NVMe-MI & PLP

In addition to its robust performance and scalability, the Rocket 1749E supports NVMe-MI (NVMe Management Interface), which adds a layer of operational efficiency for managing and monitoring storage health. NVMe-MI provides a standardized framework to track important metrics like endurance, temperature, power consumption, and overall health status of the SSDs. This is particularly useful for system administrators who need to ensure the reliability and longevity of high-performance storage in large-scale environments. Furthermore, the Rocket 1749E is equipped with Power Loss Protection (PLP), which safeguards data during unexpected power outages or system failures. This feature ensures that data in transit is preserved by transferring it from the cache-NAND to permanent flash memory, significantly reducing the risk of data loss.

• PCIe Gen4 x16 add-in card, 8x E1.S NVMe ports.
• 28GB/s throughput, 6 million IOPS.
• Can handle up tp to 61.44TB total drive capacity.
• 24/7 operation, high-performance, industrial-grade reliability.
• NVMe-MI support for monitoring and firmware updates.
• Power Loss Protection (PLP) for data integrity.
• Self-encrypting disk (SED), FIPS security options.
• Broad OS support: Windows, Windows Server, Azure, Hyper-V, Linux (RHEL, Debian, Ubuntu, Rocky).
• Scalable: Multiple AICs can coexist in a single system.