Question Advice on expanding my storage ?

[Phosphonothioic]

Both of my SSDs are nearing capacity. I'm looking to expand and, with my setup below, am wondering whether I should just get a 4+GB to replace one of the existing, or is there a way for me to add a third with the board I have? Obviously, I don't have a 3rd slot, but I'm unsure if the board can support another drive through an add-on card or something without jeopardizing its speed. Thanks!

MB: MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK
CPU: R7 5800X3D
RAM: 32GB (16x2) G.Skill DDR4-3200
GPU: RTX 3080 10GB
SSD1: 2GB Intel 660p
SSD2: 2GB WD SN850X
OS: Win11

 

[Aeacus]

but I'm unsure if the board can support another drive through an add-on card or something without jeopardizing its speed.

Well, your MoBo can support PCI-E to M.2 add-on card, but it won't be pretty.

• 1x PCIe 4.0/ 3.0 x16 slot (PCI_E1) [1]
• 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (PCI_E3), supports x4 speed [2]
• 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots

1. The supported specification depends on installed processor.
2. When installing devices in M.2_2, PCI_E2 & PCI_E3 slots at the same time, PCI_E3 slot will be unavailable, and M2_2 slot only supports PCIe x2.

Source: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B550-TOMAHAWK/Specification

So, you have 2 choices if you want to add 3rd M.2 drive;
1. PCI-E 3.0 x1 to M.2 add-on card into PCI_E4 slot (lowest slot on your MoBo) - essentially useless since M.2 drive would only have single PCI-E lane to use, whereby drive would only have quarter of it's total bandwidth.
2. PCI-E 3.0 x1 to M.2 add-on card into PCI_E2 slot (just under your GPU) and 2nd PCI-E 3.0 x1 to M.2 add-on card into PCI_E4 slot - worthless option, since it will put M2_2 slot into x2 mode, cutting the bandwidth in half, while only providing single PCI-E lane to the additional two drives.

But your MoBo has plenty of SATA ports, 6x in total, that you can use for 3.5" HDDs or 2.5" SSDs. This would be viable option.
Either that, or replace one of your M.2 drives with bigger capacity ones. E.g M.2 drives are up to 8TB in size (but cost a pretty penny). If you want cheaper, then 2.5" SATA SSD. If even cheaper, then 3.5" HDD.

But if you're all about capacity, then;
M.2 drive - up to 8 TB
2.5" SATA SSD - up to 16 TB
3.5" SATA HDD - up to 24 TB
per one drive.

 

[Phosphonothioic]

Well, your MoBo can support PCI-E to M.2 add-on card, but it won't be pretty.

Source: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B550-TOMAHAWK/Specification

So, you have 2 choices if you want to add 3rd M.2 drive;
1. PCI-E 3.0 x1 to M.2 add-on card into PCI_E4 slot (lowest slot on your MoBo) - essentially useless since M.2 drive would only have single PCI-E lane to use, whereby drive would only have quarter of it's total bandwidth.
2. PCI-E 3.0 x1 to M.2 add-on card into PCI_E2 slot (just under your GPU) and 2nd PCI-E 3.0 x1 to M.2 add-on card into PCI_E4 slot - worthless option, since it will put M2_2 slot into x2 mode, cutting the bandwidth in half, while only providing single PCI-E lane to the additional two drives.

But your MoBo has plenty of SATA ports, 6x in total, that you can use for 3.5" HDDs or 2.5" SSDs. This would be viable option.
Either that, or replace one of your M.2 drives with bigger capacity ones. E.g M.2 drives are up to 8TB in size (but cost a pretty penny). If you want cheaper, then 2.5" SATA SSD. If even cheaper, then 3.5" HDD.

But if you're all about capacity, then;
M.2 drive - up to 8 TB
2.5" SATA SSD - up to 16 TB
3.5" SATA HDD - up to 24 TB
per one drive.

Heh, literally forgot about 2.5" SSDs. I think that makes the most sense with the sheer amount of SATA ports available and built-in holders for 2.5" already hidden around the case. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.