Multiple M.2 Gen5 drive supportwithout video lane reduction on Maximus Z890 Hero ATX LGA1851

[BJBBJB]

I am building an AMD ROG build and ran into lane restrictions.  Next I am building a 80% photo/video 20% gaming probably Intel build for me.

I am hopeful after all the Intel 9 285K microcode, bios, amd windows updates it serves my needs. And the memory boot issues are fixed. My question is how many gen 5 m.2 SSD's can I run on this motherboard without reducing the video card speed?  

I am open to other ROG boards if necessary but won't buy outside that.

Thanks!

[Nate152 · Accepted solution]

Hello BJBBJB

The ROG Maximus Z890 Hero has 6 M.2 slots.

Populating the M.2_3 or M.2_4 slot will drop the GPU to x8.

You could use a total 4 M.2 ssd's.

The 285K has 20 pcie 5.0 lanes, you could use 1 pcie 5.0 ssd as your boot drive in the M.2_1 slot, the other three slots (2,5 and 6) support pcie 4.0.

[BJBBJB]

Thanks!  I misinterpreted what the AMD ROG motherboard manual said so wanted to verify the Intel side. Essentially the Intel lanes are the same as it relates to gen 5 SSD vs. PCIe speed.  For some reason I thought there was more available on the Intel side. BTW, I have been 100% Intel for years.  That other build was my first AMD one and I setup up the drives exactly like that.  Boot drive gen 5, other SSD in the chipset slot, left 2 and 3 free.

Not the end of the world...gen 4 plenty fast.

On a side note, do I use the rubber M.2 pads for a regular non-heat sink SSD?! I am strange in that I read the manual..I  still can't figure out whether to add it or not.

Thanks again.

BJBBJB

[Nate152]

You're welcome

For a single sided ssd, the M.2 rubber pad is optional. 

For a double sided ssd, DO NOT use the M.2 rubber pad.

I have the Seagate Firecuda 530 1TB M.2 ssd, it's single sided and I personally didn't use the M.2 rubber pad. Temperature is very good, it has never gone over 50c when gaming.

Currently idling at 31c.

Click the pic to make it bigger.

[BJBBJB]

Nice. Thanks!  Love HWINFO

BJBBJB