ssd + 2x HDDs

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
K

kasradarktroll

Prominent
May 20, 2018
8
0
510
hey there
i have a gigabyte z270x gaming k7 motherboard and i have 2 HDDs installed already and im planning to buy a m.2 ssd ...but i dont know which m.2 slot should i install it on... i have only 1 gpu installed and heard that if i install the ssd it will disable 2 sata3 ports...
 
Solution
R0GG
Motherboard upper M.2 Slot (labeled M2M) will make SATA3 and SATA4 ports of your motherboard unusable (even if the M.2 is working in a SATA mode)
On the other hand the lower M.2 Slot labeled M2P only when it's set to SATA mode would make SATA0 port of your motherboard not available

So basically lower M.2 slot is more forgiving, but at the same time , even when using Upper M.2 slot you'll still have 4 sata ports available
55k2Tm4.jpg

ZwsOICH.jpg

Sort by date Sort by votes
Ralston18

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
Oct 11, 2014
34,891
3,323
146,290
What brand(s) m.2 SSD are you considering?

Go to the applicable websites, find the desired SSD and its' User Guide/Manual and installation instructions.

Read the installation requirements. Then verify that your z270z meets those requirements.

Double check everything. Especially if you feel the installation instructions are unclear or vague about the necessary slots/ports.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

asoroka

Distinguished
Apr 19, 2009
1,200
1
19,660
HI,

First up you don't have many choices.

You have already identified your motherboard so you can go the the Gigabyte website to look up the manual (if you don't have it already).

There are 2 m.2 slots. For optimal performance get a SSD that supports PCIe (not sata).
The one closest to your CPU is labeled M2M and the one furthest away is M2P.

The Sata ports stacked on top of each other are 1, 0 (bottom) 5, 4 (top). The two on the left unstacked are 2 and 3.

if you use M2M slot then you lose SATA ports 4 and 5 (ones on the top row).

If you use the M2P slot, then it will depend on what type of m.2 card you use (PCIe or Sata).
If you have m2 SATA then you lose SATA port 0.
if you have M2 PCIe then you share with the bottom PCI slot (but don't lose SATA)

let me know if not clear


 
Upvote 1 Downvote
K

kasradarktroll

Prominent
May 20, 2018
8
0
510

http://www.xpg.com/en/specification/487
the 128 gb one
i think its pcie

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

asoroka

Distinguished
Apr 19, 2009
1,200
1
19,660
use the m2 slot closest to your CPU and don't use the SATA ports on the top row.

Or use the m2 slot furthest away from the CPU and don't use SATA 0 to be sure.

Personaly I would use the M2 closest to the CPU and not use teh top row SATA
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

kasradarktroll

Prominent
May 20, 2018
8
0
510


i only have 2 sata3 HDDs and thats all so i think it will be ok
btw do different slots mean different performance?
and will i be able to install and boot the windows on the ssd? thats the whole reason im buying it
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
R0GG

R0GG

Distinguished
Dec 27, 2012
1,232
3
19,965
Motherboard upper M.2 Slot (labeled M2M) will make SATA3 and SATA4 ports of your motherboard unusable (even if the M.2 is working in a SATA mode)
On the other hand the lower M.2 Slot labeled M2P only when it's set to SATA mode would make SATA0 port of your motherboard not available

So basically lower M.2 slot is more forgiving, but at the same time , even when using Upper M.2 slot you'll still have 4 sata ports available
55k2Tm4.jpg

ZwsOICH.jpg

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
K

kasradarktroll

Prominent
May 20, 2018
8
0
510


are they even compatible tho?
http://www.xpg.com/en/specification/487
and
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z270X-Gaming-K7-rev-10#sp
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

kasradarktroll

Prominent
May 20, 2018
8
0
510


it is PCIe Gen3x4
and thx
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom