I’m really confused about where to install M.2 on Strix Z790-E

[lerodemmy]

I’ve tried watching videos and doing research, but the information I’m finding is somewhat conflicting.  Like, in one video someone installs in M.2 slot 1, while someone else installs in slot 5 in another video.

 

I’ve read some posts and comments that suggest using slot 1 (the one closest to the CPU), but I’ve also seen that doing so would take my GPU down to x8???  I don’t know what that means, but it doesn’t sound like something I want.

 

I’d just like some guidance on where to put the M.2 - and the graphics card, for that matter - so that the performance of neither is adversely affected.

 

SSD is Samsung 980 Pro and GPU is 3090 FTW3.

[RONOTHAN##]

Just now, lerodemmy said:

I don’t know what that means, but it doesn’t sound like something I want.

It would mean your GPU has half the bandwidth available to it. It's not necessarily that bad, only like a 2-3% performance decrease, but it's still less performance than you realistically want to lose. 

 

Use slot 2, on that board that's the best option. 

[Jurrunio]

If you're not using a PCIe 5 SSD, just use M2_2

 

LGA 1700 CPUs support up to 16 lanes of PCIe 5 and 4 lanes of PCIe 4, usually the former for a PCIe x16 slot and the latter for an M.2 slot. Therefore to provide a PCIe 5 M.2 slot, it's necessary to split what the PCIe x16 slot gets. PCIe can only split in half, so it has to be x8 + x4 rather than x12 + x4

[lerodemmy]

15 minutes ago, RONOTHAN## said:

It would mean your GPU has half the bandwidth available to it. It's not necessarily that bad, only like a 2-3% performance decrease, but it's still less performance than you realistically want to lose. 

 

Use slot 2, on that board that's the best option. 

 

12 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

If you're not using a PCIe 5 SSD, just use M2_2

 

LGA 1700 CPUs support up to 16 lanes of PCIe 5 and 4 lanes of PCIe 4, usually the former for a PCIe x16 slot and the latter for an M.2 slot. Therefore to provide a PCIe 5 M.2 slot, it's necessary to split what the PCIe x16 slot gets. PCIe can only split in half, so it has to be x8 + x4 rather than x12 + x4

Thank you guys!

 

Should I put the graphics card in the top PCIe slot, or does it not matter?

[RONOTHAN##]

1 minute ago, lerodemmy said:

Should I put the graphics card in the top PCIe slot, or does it not matter?

Put it in the top slot, that one has the most PCIe lanes on that board.

[Jurrunio]

1 minute ago, lerodemmy said:

 

Thank you guys!

 

Should I put the graphics card in the top PCIe slot, or does it not matter?

Preferably the top. The other slots connect to the chipset which limits bandwidth and increases latency. 

[lerodemmy]

18 minutes ago, RONOTHAN## said:

It would mean your GPU has half the bandwidth available to it. It's not necessarily that bad, only like a 2-3% performance decrease, but it's still less performance than you realistically want to lose. 

 

Use slot 2, on that board that's the best option. 

 

15 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

If you're not using a PCIe 5 SSD, just use M2_2

 

LGA 1700 CPUs support up to 16 lanes of PCIe 5 and 4 lanes of PCIe 4, usually the former for a PCIe x16 slot and the latter for an M.2 slot. Therefore to provide a PCIe 5 M.2 slot, it's necessary to split what the PCIe x16 slot gets. PCIe can only split in half, so it has to be x8 + x4 rather than x12 + x4

Oh, another thing… I saw a video of someone using slot 2, and there was a comment that said they should remove the sticker from both thermal pads.  Is that correct?

[RONOTHAN##]

Just now, lerodemmy said:

Oh, another thing… I saw a video of someone using slot 2, and there was a comment that said they should remove the sticker from both thermal pads.  Is that correct?

 

You only need to remove the sticker on the slot for the drive you're using. It won't really hurt to remove both, but it won't help either and might be a little worse when you finally use the slot

[lerodemmy]

Just now, RONOTHAN## said:

You only need to remove the sticker on the slot for the drive you're using. It won't really hurt to remove both, but it won't help either and might be a little worse when you finally use the slot

Thanks!