What steps should I follow to configure drives on the ASUS Z390-A Mobo?
What steps should I follow to configure drives on the ASUS Z390-A Mobo?
I’m trying to determine the optimal configuration for my ASUS Z390-A motherboard with various storage options. I plan to install the operating system on an NVMe drive and add extra SSD and HDD drives for additional storage. The board supports two NVMe slots, but I’m unsure whether to use both or just one. I’m considering placing a Samsung 1TB 970 Evo Plus in both slots and wondering which slot should hold the Windows OS. The top slot closest to the processor is faster, though this difference might be minor. Should I prioritize that position for performance? Also, regarding the manual, it mentions that when M.2_1 operates in SATA mode, port 2 (SATA6G_2) is disabled. If I connect my other drives to the remaining ports, should I avoid using the disabled one? The M.2_1 slot is nearest to the processor, while M.2_2 is behind the GPU with a heat sink cover. Should I opt for just one NVMe drive and use the slot behind the GPU instead? This is my first attempt at setting up an M.2 NVMe board, and I found the installation guides helpful. I’m also considering a Samsung 990 Pro, which is PCIe 4.0, but since it’s PCIe 3.0, I think either drive should work fine. Any guidance on choosing drives or arranging them would be very helpful. Thanks!
The information about SATA applies only when using a SATA SSD rather than NVMe. In this scenario, focus solely on NVMe options and ensure the drives you mention are indeed NVMe.
Recent advancements in PCIe 4.0 SSD controllers still offer benefits for PCIe 3.0 systems. Pricing remains the primary factor to consider unless you intend to upgrade your platform soon.
If you have a particular price range or capacity preference, it would assist in providing more tailored advice. My existing drives are from SK Hynix/Solidigm, but I’ve also had positive results with Samsung and WD. As long as you choose a high-quality model for the operating system drive, the OS shouldn’t be a major concern.
You’re asking about compatibility when using different storage types on this PC, specifically wanting to keep the OS on one NVMe drive while using M.2 slots for others. You’re considering combining SSDs and HDDs with SATA ports and planning to connect your existing drives first. You might need to reset the SSD after moving files since it was the original system drive. You’re also thinking about upgrading to an NVMe drive for a fresh setup with Windows 11.
No, I'm clarifying that since you intend to use NVMe, all your SATA ports should remain unaffected and you shouldn't worry about the warning. There are SATA SSDs with M.2 connectors, and your motherboard supports either SATA or NVMe. Using a SATA drive in that slot would disable your SATA ports, but since you're not planning to do so, it won't be an issue.
Thank you for the clarification. The manual notes were a bit unclear, so I made sure everything is compatible before proceeding with the setup. Appreciate your assistance!
I don’t see your reply in this discussion but found it in my email alert. You mentioned placing the storage drive in the lower M.2 slot. Should I put the operating system on the top M.2 drive close to the CPU if using two NVMe drives? One for the OS and another for extra storage? Would you consider a 500 GB or 1 TB drive for the OS and a 2 TB drive for the bottom slot? Sounds reasonable? Thanks!