Do you need a m2 to make your computer run?

[XXJarJarXX]

I'm working on buying parts for a good computer

Motherboard;

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-PRO/overview/

Two things I'm hoping to get answered. One is do I need a m2 to have my computer work? And two will a GTX 980 Ti work with this motherboard with a 850w psu

 

[joex444]

You do not need M.2, you can certainly use SATA only. A 980Ti uses 250W peak and suggests a 600W+ PSU. At 250W peak, you would probably also be using the CPU at peak -- if it's overclocked, let's estimate 100W instead of the rated TDP. This means 350W, plus some for your motherboard and drives, call it 375W. Ideally you would be running your PSU at about 60% load, so this means a PSU rated for 625W -- from this you should see why nVidia makes such a high PSU recommendation. Also clear is that if you added another 980Ti it would bump the 375W up to 625W which means that your ideal PSU would be around 1000W, maybe 900W for 70% PSU load. This also means your 850W could technically handle dual 980Tis with an overclocked Skylake, though it's not exactly ideal.

 

[XXJarJarXX]

I don't plan on using two, one GTX 980 Ti will do just fine.