I recently found a spare NVMe SSD (SK hynix BC511 HFM512GDJTNI-82A0A) that I want to install on my ROG STRIX Z370-G motherboard for downloading games. I'm curious about the installation since the SSD seems to stick straight out perpendicular to the motherboard, while my main boot drive (a Kingston) is flush to the board. Is this how it's supposed to be?
4 Answers
Definitely confirm with your manual! There should be a vertical holder you can use for the M.2 to keep it secure. It's a bit frustrating especially if you bought a used PC and don’t have the original brackets. You might need to buy some online.
You’re not alone in thinking it’s weird! The motherboard has one standard NVMe slot and one that’s vertical, which is something I've never seen before either. If you’re looking for the mounting kit, try searching on eBay or Amazon with your motherboard’s name to find the right brackets.
For those mounts, I would start by googling your motherboard model along with "bracket". Sometimes you can find those parts directly on the manufacturer's site or through customer support. They can give you the exact part number too, which can help in your search.
Yes, that's actually how it's designed to be. If you check your motherboard manual, particularly page 2-13, it explains that there’s a vertical mounting kit for that slot. It does look a bit strange, but it’s standard for that setup.

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