Rocket 1580 - Regulator Highpoint - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	PCIe 4.0 x16 NVMe Controller Card
Model	Rocket 1580 (R1580)
Brand	HighPoint Technologies
Host Interface	PCIe 4.0 x16 (compatible with PCIe 3.0 slots)
Device Ports	4 x SFF-8654 connectors
Supported SSDs	U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs (via SFF-8639 cable), also supports x8 x4 NVMe SSDs via optional cables (SFF-8643, SFF-8611)
Maximum SSDs per Port	Depends on cable: up to 2 NVMe SSDs per cable (for x8 bifurcation)
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0
Form Factor	Low-profile (typical PCIe card)
Dimensions (approx.)	167 mm x 111 mm (standard PCIe card)
Weight (approx.)	50 g
Power Consumption	Powered via PCIe slot (75W max, actual depends on SSDs)
Operating Systems	Windows 11/10, Windows Server 2022/2019/2016, Microsoft Hyper-V, RHEL/Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora/Proxmox/Xenserver (Linux kernel 3.10+), FreeBSD 12.1+
Included Accessories	Quick Installation Guide
Optional Cables	8654-8643-210 (SFF-8654 to SFF-8643, 1m), 8654-8611-205 (SFF-8654 to SFF-8611, 0.5m), TS8i-8639-060 (SFF-8654 to SFF-8639 with 15-pin SATA power, 0.6m)
Installation	Plug card into PCIe slot, connect NVMe SSDs via compatible cables, secure connections
Maintenance	Keep card and connectors free of dust; ensure proper airflow
Safety	Follow standard ESD precautions; ensure system is powered off before installation
Spare Parts / Repairability	Only optional cables available; controller card is not user-serviceable
Warranty	Check HighPoint website for details

Frequently Asked Questions - Rocket 1580 Highpoint

What is the Highpoint Rocket 1580?

The Highpoint Rocket 1580 is a PCIe 4.0 x16 NVMe controller card that allows you to connect up to four U.2/U.3 NVMe SSDs using SFF-8654 ports and compatible cables.

Which operating systems are supported?

Supported OS include Windows 11/10, Windows Server 2016/2019/2022, Hyper-V, many Linux distributions (kernel 3.10+), and FreeBSD 12.1+.

What cables do I need to connect NVMe SSDs?

Use the TS8i-8639-060 cable for direct U.2 SSDs (SFF-8654 to SFF-8639 with SATA power). Alternatively, use the 8654-8643-210 or 8654-8611-205 cables for other NVMe form factors.

How many SSDs can I connect?

The card has four SFF-8654 ports. Each port can support up to 2 NVMe SSDs using an x8 bifurcation cable, for a maximum of 8 SSDs.

Can I use PCIe 3.0 slots?

Yes, the Rocket 1580 is backward compatible with PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, but performance will be limited to PCIe 3.0 speeds.

Does the card require external power?

No, the card is powered entirely through the PCIe slot. However, some SSDs may require additional SATA power from the system power supply.

How do I install the card?

Insert the card into a free PCIe x16 slot, then connect NVMe SSDs using compatible cables. Ensure all connections are secure to avoid instability. Power on the system.

What should I do if the system doesn't detect the SSDs?

Check that the card is properly seated, cables are fully inserted, and the SSDs are powered (SATA power connected). Update to the latest drivers from the HighPoint website.

Is the card compatible with M.2 NVMe SSDs?

Not directly. You would need an adapter or cable that converts from U.2/U.3 to M.2. HighPoint offers optional cables like the 8654-8611-205 for Oculink-based M.2 adapters.

Where can I find drivers and support?

Visit the HighPoint support website at https://www.highpoint-tech.com/support-and-services for drivers, manuals, and technical support.

USER MANUAL Rocket 1580 Highpoint

Quick Installation Guide

V1.00

System Requirements

PC Requirements

• System with a free PCIe 4.0 (or 3.0) x16 slot
  • Windows 11, 10 / Server 2022, 2019, 2016, Microsoft Hyper-V
• RHEL/Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora/Proxmox/Xenserver (Linux kernel 3.10 and later)
  • FreeBSD 12.1 and later

R1580 Kit Content

• R1580 Controller Card
- Quick Installation Guide

R1580 Hardware

Front View

Hardware Installation

Step 1: The R1580 provides four device ports which utilize SFF-8654 connectors. These ports accept a variety of HighPoint Certified Cable Accessories (see the Accessories section towards the end of this guide for more information). The following procedure explains how to connect U.2 NVMe SSDs directly to the R1580 using HighPoint TS8i-8639-060 NVMe cables.

SFF-8654
TS8i-8639-060 NVMe cable

SFF-8639

Step 2: Connecting the SSDs using TS8i-8639-060 cables. The SFF-8639 port should be connected to the NVMe SSD's U.2 port. The 15 pin SATA power connector should be connected to the system's power supply.

Step 3: Insert the R1580 controller into one of the motherboard's open PCI-E 4.0 × 16 slots.

Step 4: As described in step 2, connect the SFF-8639 cable connectors to the U.2/U.3 SSDs. Next, connect the SFF-8654 cable connector to one of the R1580's four device ports (Ports 1 through 4)

Step 5: Connect the remaining NVMe SSDs to the R1580 as described above. Once complete, Power on the system.

Note: Please make sure the cables are securely connected to the R1580's device ports and the NVMe SSDs or backplane. Loose connections can lead to a variety of problems including instability, slower than expected performance and dropped disks.

Optional Certified Cable Accessories

8654-8643-210	SFF-8654 to SFF-8643 NVMe cable, 1meter lengthThe 8654-8643-210 is SFF-8654 (host) to SFF-8643 (device) PCIe 4.0 x8 NVMe cable, and each cable can host up to 2x NVMe SSDs.
8654-8611-205	SFF-8654 to SFF-8611 NVMe cable, 0.5 meter lengthThe 8654-8611-205 is SFF-8654 (host) to SFF-8611 (device) PCIe 4.0 x8 NVMe cable, and each cable can host up to 2x NVMe SSDs via an SFF-8611 Oculink connection.
TS8i-8639-060	SFF-8654 to SFF-8639 cable,0.6meter lengthThe SFF-8654 to U.2 SFF-8639 cable with a 15-pin SATA power connector.Each cable supports two U.2 NVMe SSDs.

Resources

We recommend visiting the Software Downloads webpage for the latest drivers, management interfaces, and installation guides.

Document Downloads:

https://www.highpoint-tech.com/hba-gen4-nvme-u2

Customer Support

If you encounter any problems while utilizing the R1580, or have any questions about this or any other HighPoint Technologies, Inc. product, feel free to contact our Customer Support Department.

Web Support:

https://www.highpoint-tech.com/support-and-services

HighPoint Technologies, Inc. websites:

https://www.highpoint-tech.com