Question Install M.2 SSD Under Graphics Card?

[Pete66]

I have a Gigabyte B760 DS3H AX mobo. It has 2 M.2 connectors for SSDs:

• 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 22110/2280 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD support) (M2A_CPU)
• 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD support) (M2P_SB)

I have a 1 GB SSD in the first connector (M2A_CPU). This is the system drive.

I'd like to add a second SSD, but there's a catch. The second connector is underneath an overhanging portion of the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER graphics card.

Will I run into overheating issues if I install an SSD in the second connector? This SSD will be used for data (not video editing or other high intensity uses). If I do put an SSD here, should I use a heat sink on it?

I think that there is sufficient space between the surface of the mobo and the bottom of the portion of the graphics card that overhangs this area to fit an M.2 SSD, although I'm pretty sure that I'll have to remove the graphics card in order to install one.

I do have the alternative of using a 2.5" SSD connected to the mobo via SATA if sticking an M.2 in a tight space is a bad idea.

Thoughts?

 

[USAFRet]

Will I run into overheating issues if I install an SSD in the second connector?

Almost certainly not.

If it would lead to heat issues, they would not have put it there.