I'm looking to upgrade my setup and want to make sure I can use all 16 PCIe 5.0 lanes for my graphics card without having to drop the lanes down to x8. I'm planning to buy an RTX 5090 and a B850E motherboard. Is there a way to install my M.2 SSD while ensuring the GPU retains all its lanes? Should I use a PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD instead?
3 Answers
You actually can use PCIe 5.0 for both your GPU and M.2 SSD without any issues, especially with newer motherboards like the B850. The lanes are designed to handle this setup. Plus, the performance boost from PCIe 5.0 on GPUs is minimal for most users, so you likely won’t notice any difference in gaming unless you're doing something extreme. But if you want to save some cash, a B650 motherboard could bring you similar performance at a lower price. If you're already getting the RTX 5090, then getting the B850E is a reasonable choice and you'll be good to go!
You shouldn’t face issues using those 8 lanes for additional components. Many CPUs, even older ones like the 9600X, offer a solid lane count that supports expansions without compromising your GPU's performance. Just keep an eye on your motherboard's specifications to avoid lane-sharing surprises!
Yeah, but I thought some lanes are reserved for the chipset? Are they all usable?
It's great that you're checking motherboard specs. Many B850 motherboards have enough PCIe 5.0 lanes for 16 lanes dedicated to the GPU and 4 lanes for M.2 without any lane sharing. That should solve your concerns. Just make sure to check the specific board model, as some may reserve lanes for chipset use, but overall, it should work out fine.
I actually looked up the ASUS Strix B850E, and it seems like some of those lanes are indeed reserved for internal use. So if you plug in both the GPU and M.2, there could be sharing involved. Just double-check the specs to make sure you’re getting the lanes you want!
Totally agree about the price of gen 5 M.2 SSDs. They’re way overpriced for the minimal benefits they bring!