Check motherboard, GPU, and expansion card specifications for compatibility.
Check motherboard, GPU, and expansion card specifications for compatibility.
You're looking at a setup that requires careful planning. The board layout you mentioned—GIGABYTE Z790 Gaming X AX—appears to be the best fit for your components, especially since it has two bottom expansion slots suitable for modern GPUs. Check the available spacing between the GPU and the expansion ports to ensure compatibility. For the specific cards you're considering, confirm their dimensions with the manufacturer or retailer; the MSI GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER (62mm) should work best, while the others may need adjustments. No one else seems to use this exact configuration, so it’s a solid choice if you follow the recommended spacing.
You're considering the overall number of M.2 slots required. You can utilize all four M.2 ports simultaneously, though some SATA connections will no longer work. The lower PCI-E 4.0 and 3.0 connectors remain available. The upper PCI-E 5.0 X16 port and the second PCI-E 4.0 X4 port are spaced four slots apart. The Noctua Edition is roughly 4.25 or 4.5 slots thick, which might conflict with the PCI-E 4.0 X4 slot. However, the ASUS TUF (3.5 slots) and MSi Gaming X (3 slots) should be fine.
You're checking your measurements carefully. Your estimate seems correct—adding the slot size, spacing, and any extra space should total around 72mm. If it doesn't fit, the calculation might need slight adjustments. Double-check the exact dimensions of your drives and the card to ensure everything aligns properly.
Are you utilizing every available M.2 slot? Are you considering one M.2 per PCIe port? This board follows a typical ATX design, with the GPU in slot one and three open spaces for M.2 devices, meaning slots six and seven could fit. You should be able to install any GPU that fits in four or fewer slots. The M.2 adapters are slim and won’t significantly disrupt airflow.