So, I'm a video editor and I want to upgrade my PC. I'm looking at the 7950x3d and a Gigabyte X670 GAMING X AX V2 with 64GBs of ram. I already have a Samsung 990 Pro in my current PC, which is 2TBs and want add another one in the new PC. I also have a 3070ti that I'm actually going to keep cause I got it last year and I think it's good enough for now. I'm not sure if that affects the performance of the drives. I've got a 650watt PSU that I'm keeping aswell, cause from what I calculated for the wattage it should be enough for my new PC. So my main question is, will having 2 x M.2s affect the performance of them and if they're good, then in which slots should I put them in?
Question Can I get 2 M.2 SSDs in my PC and if yes will it affect the system's performance?
- Thread starter SneakyGuy
- Start date
I want to put a second one in so what slot should the second one go in and will it affect performance?
SkyNetRising
Titan
- Jan 4, 2016
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Motherboard has 4 M.2 slots. So you can have up to 4 M.2 drives.
With additional PCIE M.2 adapter you could install even more M.2 drives (max 2 more).
Having more M.2 drives doesn't impact system performance.
- Oct 31, 2024
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To understand this better, you need to look at the architecture of the CPU, and the chipset you are using, particularly for the PCIe5.0 and PCIe4.0 lanes used.
M.2 storage, takes 4 lanes.
The main conflict that can be found, potentially, is when M.2 usage takes lanes from the GPU.
If you can mount 2 x M.2 slots WITHOUT taking anything from what the GPU uses - the no, you won't affect performance of the system.
M.2 storage, takes 4 lanes.
The main conflict that can be found, potentially, is when M.2 usage takes lanes from the GPU.
If you can mount 2 x M.2 slots WITHOUT taking anything from what the GPU uses - the no, you won't affect performance of the system.
Same here, except I'm using a 7950X (non 3D). If you're not into gaming, the 7950X will be a bit faster.
Check to see if your video software benefits from the on-chip 3D cache. It's also worth reading this article at Puget Systems on the differences between 7950X and 7950X3D.
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/amd-ryzen-9-7900x3d-and-7950x3d-content-creation-review/
I built my system in Dec. 2022 but I'd probably fit a slightly faster 9950X now. I don't run PBO or any other overclocking on the 7950X. RAM is 2 x 32GB running at stock 4800MT/s.
The 7950X has a maximum temperature of 95°C, but I think the 7950X3D tops out at 90°C and doesn't boost as well.
You might be running a bit close unless you've got a decent 650W unit, especially if you switch to a 7950X. HWInfo shows my 7950X peaked at 177W today and my RTX 3060 peaked at 155W during the current video transcode.
Handbrake pushes things harder and I've seen 190W on the CPU and 170W on the GPU. I also have three M.2 drives and five hard disks for storage, so that's another 70W(ish) of power used, plus mobo power. You need a bit of headroom for GPU current spikes.
I opted for an 850W Corsair because it has plenty of SATA power leads for my hard disks.
I use three 1TB M.2 drives. First with Windows + software. Second for Adobe scratch files. Third for "video work in progress". The hard drives provide bulk (archive storage). You've only got four SATA ports.
By the looks of it, you cannot use the first M.2 socket on the Gigabyte mobo (M2A_CPU) if you fit a GPU in the first PCIe x 16 slot. I've marked the section in bold type face. In other words, don't fit an M2 drive in the socket closest to the CPU. It won't work in with your RTX 3070 plugged in, due to lane sharing restrictions.
Expansion Slots
1 x PCI Express x16 slot (PCIEX16), integrated in the CPU:
AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Processors support PCIe 4.0 x16 mode
AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series-Phoenix 1 Processors support PCIe 4.0 x8 mode
AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series-Phoenix 2 Processors support PCIe 4.0 x4 mode
* The PCIEX16 slot can only support a graphics card or an NVMe SSD. If only one
graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot
The other three M2. sockets, M2B_CPU, M2C_SB and M2D_SB should be free.
Storage Interface
1 x M.2 connector (M2A_CPU), integrated in the CPU, supporting Socket 3,
M key, type 25110/22110/2580/2280 SSDs:
AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Processors support PCIe 5.0 x4/x2 SSDs
AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series-Phoenix 1/Phoenix 2 Processors support PCIe
4.0 x4/x2 SSDs
1 x M.2 connector (M2B_CPU), integrated in the CPU, supporting Socket 3,
M key, type 22110/2280 SSDs:
AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Processors support PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSDs
AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series-Phoenix 1 Processors support PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSDs
AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series-Phoenix 2 Processors support PCIe 4.0 x2 SSDs
Chipset:
- 2 x M.2 connectors (Socket 3, M key, type 22110/2280 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD
support) (M2C_SB, M2D_SB)
- 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 support for NVMe SSD storage devices
RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 support for SATA storage devices
Ryzens can be fussy about RAM. Other people will warn you off Corsair Vengeance. I've got four sticks DDR4 Corsair RAM (4 x 16GB) working fine in a 3800X. On my 7950X, I'm running two sticks of DDR5 Kingston Fury KF548C38-32 (2 x 32GB) but it's only rated at 4800MT/s (best price for 64GB in 2022).
Check the Gigabyte QVL before buying DDR5 RAM and (possibly) avoid Corsair? Probably no point in buying super fast DDR5 for a Ryzen.
If you think you might need more than 64GB, be careful. Adding more (unmatched) RAM can result in system instability, lower XMP settings, or a complete failure to boot. Even a matched set of four 32GB DIMMs purchased as a kit of four, might be unstable.
Pretty good info brother!
I'm getting the 3d version of the cpu cause I game a lot aswell and the games I play benefit a lot from it and unfortunately there's no 9950x3d yet.
As for the Psu I'm not sure what to do to be honest. I might another just to be safe I think.
So, I should avoid completely the first M.2 slot then! Do the SB slots have the same performance? I'm confused why they're called chipset slots if they have the same performance output as the other 2 slots.
I'm gonna get a G.Skill model and I actually double checked the QVL on both the Mobo's and Ram's sites to be sure it works. Hopefully no hicups, cause 5 years ago I had an issue cause I had bought a set of sticks that were made for Intel Cpus, so I'm kinda experienced in that part lmao
- Oct 31, 2024
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The user manual should explain what slots to use to avoid the possibility of lane sharing.
https://www.manua.ls/gigabyte/x670-gaming-x-ax-v2/manual
https://www.manua.ls/gigabyte/x670-gaming-x-ax-v2/manual
I'll be really honest. I went through the manual like 50 times and couldn't figure it out, that's why I came here.
- Oct 31, 2024
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Yeah, I get that. I'm speccing up a new build, and for a while the lane sharing issue foxed me for a while, until I understood the architecture and was able to decipher what lane sharing was.
Learn the chipset architecture for how many PCIe5.0 lanes, assume x16 of them for GPU, any extra can be used for a Gen5 M.2 SSD.
And then how many PCIe4.0 lanes there are; each M.2 SSD will use 4 of them.
Then you can check the board diagram and table allocating which slots allow what.
Once the chipset architecture 'clicks' in your mind, the configuration will be understood.
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