Which ASUS X99 Motherboard will allow dual SLI AND M.2 usage?

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This might seem a silly question by some, but I'm trying to find a motherboard that will allow me to run two NVidia GTX 980s in SLI and still allow me to run my OS off an M.2 storage device.

It appears some will allow both at the same time while others offer only an "either/or" solution, that is a single GPU is fine with M.2 on all, but some cannot do dual SLI and still allow M.2.

I want a motherboard that will allow both. I've been considering the X99-A, Pro, Deluxe and Sabertooth. I'm open to considering other motherboard vendors, but ASUS is my preferred choice.
 
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Darkbreeze
Then you should be fine on any of the major X99 boards. With that hardware you'll pretty much be x16/x16 on any of them and have plenty of juice left for your M.2.
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All of them, so long as you use a 40 lane CPU and not a 28 lane CPU. Probably even then as most of them don't knock available lanes down unless a third GPU slot is used. For the 40 lane chips I don't think the penalty is incurred unless a fourth GPU slot is used. The 5820k is a 28 lane CPU while the 5930k and 5960x have 40 available PCI lanes. The X99 boards support both types but are limited by the type of CPU used. What is your CPU model of choice?
 
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We gotta stop meeting like this. People will talk. JK. What up bro?
 
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Hey mate, wise people think alike! Heh. The vacs have started and so has my work with the ever-evolving tier list. LGA 1155 is coming this month! Other than tom's and my dance practise life is pretty routine :)

How about you?
 
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Certainly it's a challenging task, but surely you're doing it well. Take your time with the manuals, no hurries. Cya around, buddy!
 
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If I'm not wrong, SLI requires a minimum of 8 lanes, so any mobo providing 16/8 or 8/8 for the gpu slots is SLI compatible. As for M.2, it would depend on the type of M.2 you intend to use. The speedy Samsung SM941 is Gen3 x4 and if that is your target, an alternative branded mobo for the 28-lane i7 5820K is the new ASRock X99 Extreme3, recently reviewed by Tom's here -
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/asrock-x99-extreme3-lga2011v3-atx-motherboard,4115.html

The ASUS boards you mentioned all support M.2 Gen3 x4, and SLI with space to spare, though in some cases, the third or fourth x16 PCIe 3.0 slot will be disabled when a M.2 is used. If your 980s are double slot gpus and won't ever occupy the 3rd x16 slot, then there is not much to worry about.

 
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Oh, I should have mentioned that. The 5930k with it's 40 lanes. I just want to make certain I can add an M.2 for the OS.
 
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Thanks darkbreeze! I also appreciate MeteorsRaining's comment, too. Thank you for taking the time to help me with this... :)

 
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I had the SAME question and would like to ask as something is slightly confusing.

On the x99 Sabertooth and the pro, the 4th PCIe x16 is disabled when M.2 socket is used. But does that mean I can still install the SSD PCIe in the 4th slot if I'm using the direct connection PCIe and not the M.2 socket? I'm assuming yes and that they mean either if it's in the socket or the attachment is utilizing, it disables the 4th.

It's the 3rd slot on the Sabertooth leaving it the last slot on both boards. Would be ideal to have my SLI setup in the first and 3rd slot on the pro and the SSD in the last.
 
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If the M.2 is not in use then the PCIe slot 4 should be available. In the future, although I realize your question was pretty well relevant to this thread, it would be better to start your own thread so as not to necro an older one. No worries though, your question was valid.
 
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Okay, sorry about that. Thought it might contribute to this one since I found it by searching the same question (I know you said it does).

Thanks for the reply nevertheless. 😀
 
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Of course. Anytime. Generally the rule of thumb is that even if the thread has been "solved", if there are recent posts by the OP or an open question that hasn't been acceptably answered yet, it's fine to chime in. If it's been quite a while since there were any posts relevant to the OPs questions, and the thread is marked as solved, then it's best to leave as is unless there is a glaring inaccuracy in there somewhere. If that's the case, by all means, we want accurate information. Either way, if it's a NEW question, even if it's related to the thread, post a new one with a link to the old one indicating that it's relevant.

Regardless, we don't ever want members thinking that their opinions or discussions are unwanted, unless of course they're constantly being jerks or posting gross misinformation. Then we just prefer they not do that.
 
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Thanks for the clarification Dark.

Another reason I love it here (although I post not so often, I am an avid reader). Awesome community, even better moderators.
😉
 
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Well, we're not perfect, and we don't always get it right, but considering we have over 1000 posts a day, we do the best we can. Glad we can at least meet SOME of the members expectations. We're glad to have you guys too. Without all our members, there'd be no reason for moderators.
 
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i have 3 way sli and 5930k if i put m2 ssd in it will that decrease my gpus performance ?
 
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