PCIe Splitting Model - Asus B550-F
PCIe Splitting Model - Asus B550-F
Hey everyone, I'm seeking some guidance on this. I'm planning to add extra storage using a PCIE M.2 card, and I have an Asus B550-F motherboard with a 5900x. Right now, my slots are set up like this: GPU in X16_1, M.2 in upper slot (M2_1), Wi-Fi card in X1 slot (X1_2). I'm curious if the board can accommodate two SSDs in the lower X16 slot (X16_2) instead. The Amazon ads mention PCIe branching, and Asus support docs say the upper X16 can hold three SSDs while the lower only one. If I move my GPU to the second slot, will it really hurt performance? Or is there a workaround for fitting the card in the lower slot? Thanks!
per the motherboard manual, the lower X16 (physical) port is only a 4-pin electrical connection, meaning your bifurcation card will only receive lanes in the first slot. similarly, placing your GPU in the lower slot restricts it to 4 lanes, assuming you have a 5900 and your motherboard requires an update. why can’t you utilize the second M.2 slot?
It mainly relies on the particular GPU model, but generally yes for most GPUs. It’s best to place the GPU in the highest slot available. If you have a top-tier expansion card, it might work, but bandwidth would be split among multiple devices. In practice, a single M.2 drive fits best, and even then, connecting it to the x1 slot reduces its performance by half. For optimal results, add an extra SSD in the lower M.2 slot and ensure it matches your current needs rather than relying on an expansion card. This setup isn’t built for easy upgrades.
Bio seems outdated, but it's a solid 6900 model. I was planning to use M.2's in RAID, but the second slot wouldn't fit. Thanks for the details—I'll need to rethink my approach. Still, it's good to have this info!
I'm trying to understand what I need to accomplish with my Asus B550-F Gaming. It has an NVME drive in slot M.2 (1) and two SATA drives, plus a video card, Wi-Fi card, USB3 ports, and a Blu-ray drive. I'm unsure why someone would need extra cards for more SATA drives if the board supports it, and I'm also puzzled about the drive connections.
They aim to include additional M.2 drives instead of SATA ones.