Hey everyone! I'm looking to upgrade my storage because I currently have two SATA SSDs installed. I found that my motherboard, a Gigabyte B450M DS3H V2, has an M.2 slot (M2A_SOCKET), and I really want to add an M.2 SSD to enhance my setup. However, I've read that installing an M.2 drive can deactivate some SATA ports on the motherboard. The issue for me is that my graphics card is blocking two of the four SATA ports available. If I install the M.2, what happens if it disables one of the SATA ports I'm currently using? How can I find this out? Also, I'm considering getting the HP EX900, but I saw that it's not listed in the M.2 support list. What should I expect with this setup?
1 Answer
For your Gigabyte B450M DS3H V2, installing an M.2 SSD will likely disable at least one of your SATA ports. It’s best to check your motherboard manual to confirm which ports are affected when using the M.2. Usually, the M.2 slot shares bandwidth with some of those SATA ports, so it’s worth a look! Also, as for the HP EX900, since it's not on the support list, you might run into some issues, but many users have had luck using M.2 drives that aren’t officially listed. Just ensure it's a compatible form factor (like NVMe or SATA-based) and check for any BIOS updates that may improve compatibility.
Yeah, definitely check your manual! Some motherboards have very specific configurations. As for the HP EX900, I’ve heard mixed things—some people swear it works fine, while others hit snags. Just be prepared for potential troubleshooting!