Doubt about where to install my SSD M.2

[Rek123]

I've been thinking about changing the slot of my M.2 because it's currently under my GPU and it makes the temperatures higher than normal (50-58ºC Idle and 60-67ºC Working).

 

Specifications:

-CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K 3.7Ghz

-RAM: G.Skill Trident Z DDR4 3200 PC4-25600 16GB 2x8GB CL14

-Motherboard: Gigabyte Z370 AORUS GAMING 7-OP

-GPU: Gigabyte AORUS GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Xtreme Edition 11G

-SSD M.2: Samsung SSD 970 Pro NVMe PCI-E M.2 512 GB

 

The motherboard has installed an Intel Optane 32GB in the M2M_32G connector (the closest to the CPU) and I have installed the SSD M.2 in the M2A_32G (which is in the middle). My question is if I could install my M.2 SSD in the M2P_32G (the furthest) without losing much performance.

 

I've attached 3 screenshots about the specs in the manual.

 

In the last screenshot that talks about the connections in the M2P_32G (in which I want to install the SSD M.2) there is a note that says: The PCIEX4 slot shares bandwidth with the M2P_32G connector. The PCIEX4 slot operates at up to x2 mode when a PCIe SSD is installed in the M2P_32G connector. I don't know how this will affect the performance.

 

Here is the manual if someone wants to check it: Manual of the Motherboard (Pages 32-33)

 

[berberries]

as long as you have nothing installed the 4X slot there shouldn't be any issues

[SupaKomputa]

I think the one below the cpu is best, it will receive air circulating from the cpu fans.

[Aerpoweron]

i would go with the m2m one. you lose sata 4 and 5 but nothing else

[Rek123]

22 minutes ago, berwynhan said:

as long as you have nothing installed the 4X slot there shouldn't be any issues

13 minutes ago, Aerpoweron said:

i would go with the m2m one. you lose sata 4 and 5 but nothing else

The M2M is already in use, so my only option is to install it in the furthest one (M2P_32G) and I just wanted to know if I would lose performance. 

 

So, If I don't have anything installed in PCIEX4 I wouldn't have to lose performance, right?

 

 

[SenKa]

23 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

I think the one below the cpu is best, it will receive air circulating from the cpu fans.

This is bad wisdom, the air moving over it will be hot and likely overheat the controller and reduce performance, same with putting under open air GPU coolers.

[SenKa]

2 minutes ago, Rek123 said:

The M2M is already in use, so my only option is to install it in the furthest one (M2P_32G) and I just wanted to know if I would lose performance. 

 

So, If I don't have anything installed in PCIEX4 I wouldn't have to lose performance, right?

 

 

Correct.

[Aerpoweron]

You won't lose any performance as far as i have seen, when you use NVME SSDs. You will loose connectivity.
SATA SSDs might be another matter since not all M.2 slots might support SATA.

The question is, how are your PCI-E lanes wired?
You can route the lanes directly from the CPU. So 4 lanes get used for the SSD you get 8 PCI-E lanes for the GPU (i have a Board that does that)
There is also the possibility that all M.2 drives are connected to the Chipset. I have to check how much PCI-E lanes the chipset provides. But the Chipset is connected with 4 PCI-E lanes to the CPU. There might be some bottlenecking there whith NVME-Raid. But i have seen no tests on that so far.

I've read through the Specifications of your Mainboard. And as i understand it, all the M.2 Slots go through the chipset.

You could also add a PCI-E card which allows 2 M.2 slots. So you have 8 PCI-E lanes for the GPU and 8 for 2 M.2 drives directly connected to the CPU. The Nvme-SSDs might even be easier to cool since they would be mounted on a PCI-E card.

Ignore the last idea, i can't find any dual PCI-E M.2 cards. They all have one NVME and one Sata M.2 slot. But not 2 Nvme M.2 slots... These cards should have a PCI-E 8x connector.

Edited July 13, 2019 by Aerpoweron
Updated information

[Aerpoweron]

You find crazy stuff like that... 
https://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/Akasa-Dual-M-2-PCI-E-RGB-LED-Adapter-Karte_1299522.html