I'm looking to buy a 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD (2280) with PCIe Gen4 for my PC, but I have some concerns. My setup is pretty cramped since I have a Radeon RX 5700 XT GPU, and the SSD will be installed in the slot right above it and below the fan. I'm worried about clearance—will this cause any issues with my GPU? I can see the screw holes for the SSD, so it seems like it should fit. Also, the motherboard manual mentioned that some SATA ports will be disabled if I install this SSD, but I'm not clear on what that means. My motherboard is an Asus ROG STRIX B450F Gaming, and PC Part Picker didn't flag any compatibility issues. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially since SSD prices are increasing and I want to avoid wasting money on something that might not work.
3 Answers
I don't think the GPU will be a problem, but just make sure it doesn’t bump into your CPU cooler. You have a stock 3700X, right? Those can be a bit bulky.
You shouldn't have any issues fitting the SSD. If the slot is empty, it should slide right in without a problem.
Okay cool, thank you!
You have a solid choice with the motherboard and the SSD. Just keep in mind that even though you're getting a PCIe Gen4 SSD, your board supports PCIe 3.0, so it's a bit overkill. If you can find the Samsung 970 EVO Plus, it's a fantastic Gen3 option with great performance for your setup.
I can't find the 970 on major sites; they all seem to show the 990 EVO Plus or other brands. Should I go for the 990, or stick with the Crucial SSD I was eyeing before?
If the 990 is sold out, I’d suggest going with the Crucial one for now. Better to have a reliable drive than wait for something else.
Yeah, it's pretty big but I think I can manage the SSD by angling it under the cooler's design. Does that sound okay?