M.2/PCIE/SATA confusion

[ItsARobbery]

I've been pouring over my motherboard manual, online forums, and YouTube to try and wrap my head around this. I'll start with my current hardware:

 

Mobo: ROG Maximus XIII Hero

CPU: 10900K

Current Memory: M.2_3 and M.2_4 are occupied Sata6G_3 and Sata6G_4 are occupied.

PCIE: PCIEX16_1 is occupied with 3090FE

 

I understand I cannot use M.2_1 because I do not have an 11 Series CPU. Also, I know SATAG_5/6 are disabled when m.2_4 is occupied. I would like to add a third m.2 if possible without affecting PCIEx16_1. Here are my questions in list form to make it easier to answer (Thank you in advance!!)

 

1. If I occupy M.2_2 will that change my PCIEX16_1 to x8? I would like to keep my PCIEX16_1 in x16 mode. I assume that matters to get all the performance out of it.

 

2. I have 2 unused M.2 sticks that I would like to integrate into my system. One is 1TB the other is 500GB. Enclosures seem crazy expensive. If I do end up using enclosures would it really matter between Thunderbolt and USB3.2? Is there a way I can utilize motherboard headers with an enclosure, I have seen one SATA enclosure.

 

I started this post on my PC and finished it on my phone. Sorry for the bizarre layout...

 

 

 

-IAR