No, the speed depends on the specific components and configuration, not just the type of slot.
No, the speed depends on the specific components and configuration, not just the type of slot.
Your motherboard features two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots and two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, each operating independently. Placing the drives in the chipset slots could work if you later upgrade to PCIe 5.0 drives, but it might affect performance. Installing them in the CPU slots won’t necessarily slow them down, though speed depends on the specific hardware. Regarding the thermal sticker, remove it before adding a heatsink shroud to ensure proper airflow.
Using a Gen4 SSD in a Gen4 slot keeps performance stable. Connecting through the chipset adds slight delay because of the extra path, but it’s usually minor and won’t affect everyday use. Keep the thermal labels intact unless you’re certain you’ll replace the drive soon. Then it’s your decision.
The manual suggests using rubber spacer stickers on the top of the standoffs for single-sided M.2 drives. However, you noticed a noticeable gap remains after adding the sticker. You’re wondering if you should still remove the plastic cover from the thermal pad when installing a single-sided drive, or if leaving it on could be beneficial for future double-sided drives. Also, you want to know whether the plastic film might degrade over time due to heat from the drive and VRMs.