[SOLVED] Can a PCIe3.0x4 M.2 NVME adapter card fit in a PCIe2.0x16 slot directly under GPU?

Dec 5, 2021
11
1
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Hi, I'm kind of a PC noob so the questions might be weird or confusing so sorry for that :)

Recently I bought a Samsung 980 1tb m.2 NVME SSD (Black friday deal was epic), and completely forgot about my mobo only having 1 free m.2 slot left, which is SATA3/SATA-only. I need the extra storage and can't spend money on a new mobo atm soo

I want to put an m.2 NVME PCIe3.0 expansion card in my pc. Problem is that there's only 3 PCIe expansion slots:
1- PCIe2.0x1 2- PCIe3.0x16 (now used by GPU: RTX2060) 3- PCIe2.0x16

The PCIe2x1 wouldn't be fast enough for my SSDs (1800MBps and 3000MBps), BUT I think the PCIe2x16 could be fast enough for my other SSD, which is a transcend 512GB 110S M.2 (+-1700MBps). Problem is that the PCIE2x16 slot is directly under my GPU and it's fans, so I'm not sure if it's okay to put the adapter there (overheating and stuff idk).

So, my 2 questions are:
1- Is it safe to put the adapter under the GPU, and place the transcend SSD (with my windows 10 and stuff) in there?

2- If not (or if this might be a better option), could I switch the RTX2060 to the PCIe2x16 slot, and place the adapter card in the PCIe3x16 slot (so now in this setting above the gpu), without a noticeable fps / quality drop?

Hope someone knows the answers :)
And thank you so much in advance!

Best regards,

Kilo702

PS, my motherboard is an Asrock b450m pro4-f https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/B450M Pro4-F/
 
Last edited:
Solution
You would notice zero performance change from using an RTX2060 in a PCIe 2.0 x 16 slot vs. using it in a PCIe 3.0 x 16 slot.
Except performance drop would definitely be noticeable.
PCIE 2.0 x16 slot on this board operates in x4 mode.
That is 8 times less bandwidth than PCIE 3.0 x16.

Depending on game and resolution used, performance loss could be up to 30%.

Problem is that the PCIE2x16 slot is directly under my GPU and it's fans, so I'm not sure if it's okay to put the adapter there (overheating and stuff idk).
What model motherboard?

If graphics card is obstructing access to the slot, you could use PCIE x4 riser cable.

51pOZ0rMmtL._AC_SY450_.jpg
 

kanewolf

Titan
Moderator
Hi, I'm kind of a PC noob so the questions might be weird or confusing so sorry for that :)

Recently I bought a Samsung 980 1tb m.2 NVME SSD (Black friday deal was epic), and completely forgot about my mobo only having 1 free m.2 slot left, which is SATA3/SATA-only. I need the extra storage and can't spend money on a new mobo atm soo

I want to put an m.2 NVME PCIe3.0 expansion card in my pc. Problem is that there's only 3 PCIe expansion slots:
1- PCIe2.0x1 2- PCIe3.0x16 (now used by GPU: RTX2060) 3- PCIe2.0x16

The PCIe2x1 wouldn't be fast enough for my SSDs (1800MBps and 3000MBps), BUT I think the PCIe2x16 could be fast enough for my other SSD, which is a transcend 512GB 110S M.2 (+-1700MBps). Problem is that the PCIE2x16 slot is directly under my GPU and it's fans, so I'm not sure if it's okay to put the adapter there (overheating and stuff idk).

So, my 2 questions are:
1- Is it safe to put the adapter under the GPU, and place the transcend SSD (with my windows 10 and stuff) in there?

2- If not (or if this might be a better option), could I switch the RTX2060 to the PCIe2x16 slot, and place the adapter card in the PCIe3x16 slot (so now in this setting above the gpu), without a noticeable fps / quality drop?

Hope someone knows the answers :)
And thank you so much in advance!

Best regards,

Kilo702

PS, my motherboard is an Asrock b450m pro4-f https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/B450M Pro4-F/
Do you already have a M.2 drive in the slot in the motherboard ?
 
Dec 5, 2021
11
1
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It should be fine. Your GPU temp will increase a little.
Thanks, but could it also be possible to put the RTX2060 in the PCIe2.0x16 slot without losing a noticeable amount of fps in games like microsoft flight simulator 2020 (this would make the whole fan/temp problem disappear, but if I'd lose 10-20% of my fps it wouldn't be worth it)
 

TommyTwoTone66

Prominent
BANNED
Apr 24, 2021
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Yes, that would also work. You would notice zero performance change from using an RTX2060 in a PCIe 2.0 x 16 slot vs. using it in a PCIe 3.0 x 16 slot.

Don't take my word for it, try the card in both slots and see what FPS you get in each one. It should be identical.
 
You would notice zero performance change from using an RTX2060 in a PCIe 2.0 x 16 slot vs. using it in a PCIe 3.0 x 16 slot.
Except performance drop would definitely be noticeable.
PCIE 2.0 x16 slot on this board operates in x4 mode.
That is 8 times less bandwidth than PCIE 3.0 x16.

Depending on game and resolution used, performance loss could be up to 30%.

 
Solution
Dec 5, 2021
11
1
15
Except performance drop would definitely be noticeable.
...
Depending on game and resolution used, performance loss could be up to 30%.
Hmm, not sure if I get why, but that's a little too much performance loss for me, thanks for the information.
Using a 1080p 144hz monitor, playing quite some games but microsoft flight sim2020 is the heaviest for my hardware.
I think I'll just place an adapter under the GPU fans and if I notice my GPU dying of heat I'll try a riser cable.