I have an ROG Crosshair 8 Dark Hero motherboard, and I want to know if I can use the last two PCIe slots for a M.2 adapter since both of my M.2 slots are already full. Specifically, I'm wondering if the PCIe slots (one being X1 4.0 and the other X16 3.0) can be used to run a boot drive. Also, is it wise to boot Windows off a 256GB drive in those slots? The technical details around this stuff can get pretty overwhelming for me.
3 Answers
I suggest keeping one of those 1TB NVMe drives for Windows and instead, look into getting a larger NVMe drive for your other needs. It’ll keep things neater and simpler for you in the long run.
What do you have on your other two drives? If one has Windows and some games, how are you planning to manage that if you separate Windows? It’s good to know your setup!
One drive is a 1TB with Windows and other programs like AMD Adrenalin, Steam, and some games. The other 1TB is just for the games I finish and uninstall. I want to make space on the Windows drive as much as possible.
Using the CPU PCIe lanes for an M.2 adapter would likely reduce the lanes to your GPU, going from x16 to x8. As for running Windows on a 256GB drive, I'd advise against it unless you plan to keep it barebones. A 500GB drive would give you more room, so maybe think about upgrading if you can!
Would the lane reduction really affect my performance much?
Yeah, I see your point. 4TB drives are a bit pricey, but I'm thinking I could break it down into payments. At least my GPU is mounted vertically, so it wouldn’t clutter the look!