Choose the appropriate M.2 slot based on your device's specifications and the form factor you need.
Choose the appropriate M.2 slot based on your device's specifications and the form factor you need.
Hello, I'm about to purchase a new M.2 SSD for my PC and intend to start Windows from it. I need advice on the best slot for optimal performance. Here are the links you shared:
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LGF54XR?tag...th=1&psc=1
- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HCPLQ2H?tag...th=1&psc=1
TL;DNR: likely what @zeusthemoose mentioned, at least most of the time. I’m not certain. z390 isn’t something I understand well, and the diagrams don’t explain everything clearly like AMD ones do. The detailed stuff: there seem to be two m.2 ports—one for m key and one for m&b key. It’s possible the m only port could be a bit quicker in certain cases, but it would halve the PCIe lanes for the graphics card (unless you have a very high-end one). That could mean it runs slower overall, even if it stays fast enough for basic tasks. If the m&b port goes through the chipset, it might still work but share those connections with other devices, possibly slowing things down a bit. It’s also possible it won’t cut the PCIe lanes in half, though I can’t be sure.
Data spots: Newegg is a good place for detailed motherboard info, even if I don’t buy there. Their descriptions often help. Check out their page for the Z390: https://www.newegg.com/asus-rog-strix-z3...6813119151.
For the Z390 block diagram, see this article: https://www.guru3d.com/news-story/intel-...osted.html
I intend to invest in a high-end graphics card eventually. It would be wise to keep as many lanes available for it. Please let me know if you can assist further.
The situation is unclear. Unlike the AMD diagrams, Intel doesn’t clearly explain NVMe setup. We know full performance is needed for the Sabinent rocket, which most M.2 drives don’t support. Typically, a full 4 PCIe lanes are required. On the chipset side, both AMD and Intel use just 4 PCIe lanes together. If NVMe connects to the Z390 chip, it will lose those 4 lanes minus other traffic. That leaves less than 4 lanes overall. Exact numbers are uncertain. On the CPU side, instead of linking directly to the chipset, NVMe can be connected straight to the processor. With the Z390, this covers the X16 PCIe3 slots, memory, and possibly other components. However, the chip only provides 16 lanes total for the X16 PCIe3 slots—meaning you’d get 16 lanes only if a single graphics card is connected. Any other device reduces it to combinations like 8+8 or 8+4+4. If NVMe connects directly to the chip, it gets full 4 lanes, but those might be needed by a GPU. If it connects via the chipset, performance drops and could limit GPU speed. The main issue is understanding the exact connection method. There seems to be a hint that the M key might only link NVMe to the CPU, while the M key connects to the chipset. This is unclear. I suspect that on the Z390, supporting both high-speed NVMe and a fast GPU might not be feasible. It appears possible on some AMD models (like B550) and occasionally on others (B450, X470), but not consistently. One possibility is that Intel boards could have a dedicated section for Optane, which behaves differently from regular NVMe. I’m not sure about the distinction, but it might help to use an Optane drive instead of a standard NVMe if you can.
Sure, I'll try the M key only once and observe the outcome. Feel free to change it if it feels too slow.