where to put M.2 on maximus X hero

[kaspersen15]

Hello
i have just purchased a M.2. it is going to be my primary drive.
Now i'm wondering where i should install it.
on the top there's the slot with a heat sink, but it is covered bu my CPU cooler a noctua NH-D15, dont know if this could affect performance
the bottom slot isn't covered by anything but doesn't have heat sink either, i could buy a 40 MM fan for it to cool it a bit better.
what are you guys recommendations and experiences?

 

[Tanyac]

There are several different heat sinks you can buy for M.2 SSDs - That's the least of the issues.

You don't say whether the SSD is an NVMe PCIe x4 SSD or a SATA SSD. The real issue is how many SATA HDDS/SSDs you have connected to SATA ports and which ports they are connected to because the M.2 SSD will block out certain ports.

If your SSD is SATA and you put it on M2_1 you will lose SATA 1
M2_2 will only support NVMe SSDs, so if your M.2 drive is SATA you have to use M2_1. Using M2_2 will also disable SATA ports 5 and 6.

This is explained on page X of your manual (https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1151/ROG_MAXIMUS_X_HERO/E13645_ROG_MAXIMUS_X_HERO_UM_V2_WEB.pdf)

This might also interest you re the M.2 heat sinks... https://www.tweaktown.com/articles/8599/investigation-heatsinks-worth/index.html

I purchased a few of the EKWB heatsinks... They are now sitting in my spare parts box.. Not a lot of value. My motherboard is an MSI X299 XPower Gaming AC, which has 3 M.2 slots all with heat sinks. They make 1-2c difference in temps under load.

 

[kaspersen15]

There are several different heat sinks you can buy for M.2 SSDs - That's the least of the issues.

You don't say whether the SSD is an NVMe PCIe x4 SSD or a SATA SSD. The real issue is how many SATA HDDS/SSDs you have connected to SATA ports and which ports they are connected to because the M.2 SSD will block out certain ports.

If your SSD is SATA and you put it on M2_1 you will lose SATA 1
M2_2 will only support NVMe SSDs, so if your M.2 drive is SATA you have to use M2_1. Using M2_2 will also disable SATA ports 5 and 6.

This is explained on page X of your manual (https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1151/ROG_MAXIMUS_X_HERO/E13645_ROG_MAXIMUS_X_HERO_UM_V2_WEB.pdf)

This might also interest you re the M.2 heat sinks... https://www.tweaktown.com/articles/8599/investigation-heatsinks-worth/index.html

I purchased a few of the EKWB heatsinks... They are now sitting in my spare parts box.. Not a lot of value. My motherboard is an MSI X299 XPower Gaming AC, which has 3 M.2 slots all with heat sinks. They make 1-2c difference in temps under load.

ah sorry it is an NVMe. its the samsung 970 pro to be exact.
i have 1 HDD and 2 SSD connected at the moment, all SATA, didn't plan to remove any of them.
so if i understand correct i will have to use the bottom port? to make us of the NVMe