Regarding PCIe slots and my Intel 750 SSD

[Doomjoon]

So, here is my setup:

Case: Cooler Master Cosmos SE
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus VIII Hero
CPU: i7 6700k
GPU: 2x GTX 980 Ti Asus Strix 6GD5 OC SLI
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M
RAM: Kingston HyperX Predator (4x4)
SSD: Intel 750 series 400 GB (PCIe)
HDD: Western Digital 2TB
PSU: Corsair AX1200i

So, Intel 750 SSD says that it wants a 3.0 x4 slot. My motherboard has one x16/x8 slot, one x8 slot, one x4 (???) slot, and three x1 slots, two of which apparently share bandwidth with the x4. However, in one magazine, they installed the SSD (which has the same motherboard and processor as I do in the setup) in the x1_1 slot, the one that doesn't share bandwidth with the x4. Did they make a bad decision? Why install it in an x1 slot when SSD clearly states that it likes x4 slots?

 

[cin19]

All are about the 16 pcie lanes the i7 can support, and those sharing pcie slots. You had three pcie devices, 2 x 980ti + 1 x intel 750 SSD, then you have to use the combination of 8x/x4/x4 ( 2x 980ti in x8/x4, the sdd in x4). If you use 2x 980ti in either the pciex16/x8_1 (gray) + pciex8_2 (gray) or pciex16/x8_1(gray)+pciex4_3(black), you have to use the 1st pciex1_1, because it is only one can be used for the intel ssd, in other words it does not share other pice slot.

 

[William Henrickson]

The drive wants PCIE3 x4 for full speed, but can deal with PCIE3 x2 or PCIE2 x4 and only have a little capped off the top. The PCH x4 slot with no x1's active seems best, as you have SLI and require x8/x8 from the CPU.