F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Your middle M.2 is missing a shield because it hasn't been properly installed or connected.

Your middle M.2 is missing a shield because it hasn't been properly installed or connected.

Your middle M.2 is missing a shield because it hasn't been properly installed or connected.

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EchoKitsune
Junior Member
48
12-14-2016, 12:14 AM
#1
I purchased this motherboard because of its price-to-feature ratio and I’m happy with that. The only downside is my middle M.2 slot isn’t shielded, unlike the others. The top slot will fit my 1TB boot drive, but my 2TB drive won’t fit there since it lacks a heat sink. Why is the middle slot exposed? Is it due to lower speed or reduced performance compared to the bottom one?
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EchoKitsune
12-14-2016, 12:14 AM #1

I purchased this motherboard because of its price-to-feature ratio and I’m happy with that. The only downside is my middle M.2 slot isn’t shielded, unlike the others. The top slot will fit my 1TB boot drive, but my 2TB drive won’t fit there since it lacks a heat sink. Why is the middle slot exposed? Is it due to lower speed or reduced performance compared to the bottom one?

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Sr_BanneD
Member
115
12-17-2016, 03:09 AM
#2
Typically SSDs don’t require much of that, which means you can skip the $2 aluminum cost for that component.
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Sr_BanneD
12-17-2016, 03:09 AM #2

Typically SSDs don’t require much of that, which means you can skip the $2 aluminum cost for that component.

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macitom
Member
170
12-18-2016, 10:46 AM
#3
Like he said, it's actually fairly common. Realistically it shouldn't be a problem since there's a lot of m.2 drives that come with heat spreaders attached. Aside from that you can just buy third party ones online.
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macitom
12-18-2016, 10:46 AM #3

Like he said, it's actually fairly common. Realistically it shouldn't be a problem since there's a lot of m.2 drives that come with heat spreaders attached. Aside from that you can just buy third party ones online.

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titan0078
Junior Member
12
12-19-2016, 01:47 PM
#4
It might also serve as a way to free up space for high-end GPUs in the top position.
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titan0078
12-19-2016, 01:47 PM #4

It might also serve as a way to free up space for high-end GPUs in the top position.

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Luxyonity
Member
157
12-19-2016, 03:37 PM
#5
Unlikely, many boards include M.2 heatsinks without any compatibility problems. Given that this model is a budget option (though still reasonably priced), the decision likely hinges on trying to reduce costs by using cheaper materials.
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Luxyonity
12-19-2016, 03:37 PM #5

Unlikely, many boards include M.2 heatsinks without any compatibility problems. Given that this model is a budget option (though still reasonably priced), the decision likely hinges on trying to reduce costs by using cheaper materials.

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martixcunha04
Member
51
12-19-2016, 08:14 PM
#6
There are potential drawbacks to using the bottom slots. You might experience slower speeds or fewer PCIe lanes. Even a slight reduction in performance is worth considering, especially with affordable solutions like heat spreaders that cost around $10. It’s a trade-off you should weigh before deciding.
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martixcunha04
12-19-2016, 08:14 PM #6

There are potential drawbacks to using the bottom slots. You might experience slower speeds or fewer PCIe lanes. Even a slight reduction in performance is worth considering, especially with affordable solutions like heat spreaders that cost around $10. It’s a trade-off you should weigh before deciding.

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FanEnsemble
Member
237
12-19-2016, 08:57 PM
#7
These lower ports function perfectly, each supports PCIe Gen 4x4
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FanEnsemble
12-19-2016, 08:57 PM #7

These lower ports function perfectly, each supports PCIe Gen 4x4

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kitkat7650
Member
211
12-19-2016, 10:51 PM
#8
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kitkat7650
12-19-2016, 10:51 PM #8

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Meteor__YT
Member
81
12-20-2016, 02:31 AM
#9
It mainly depends on the particular board design. Many models place the middle slot in a more advantageous position compared to the bottom, but others reverse this trend. This board doesn’t favor any specific slot arrangement and treats all positions equally.
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Meteor__YT
12-20-2016, 02:31 AM #9

It mainly depends on the particular board design. Many models place the middle slot in a more advantageous position compared to the bottom, but others reverse this trend. This board doesn’t favor any specific slot arrangement and treats all positions equally.

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moonhoax
Member
148
12-26-2016, 11:04 AM
#10
The GPU operating at high speed doesn’t guarantee its cooling system stays close to that temperature. You might notice it stays cooler compared to others in many situations. Around 3 PM in the video, they cover these details.
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moonhoax
12-26-2016, 11:04 AM #10

The GPU operating at high speed doesn’t guarantee its cooling system stays close to that temperature. You might notice it stays cooler compared to others in many situations. Around 3 PM in the video, they cover these details.