M.2 Storage advice questions? - ASUS TUF Gaming X670E Plus WIFI.

[01001101]

Hi,

I just wanted to ask for some opinions and advice on the following.

This is the motherboards setup: https://www.asus.com/uk/motherboards-components/motherboards/tuf-gaming/tuf-gaming-x670e-plus/

4 x M.2 Slots
» 1 x M.2 2280 PCIe 5.0 x4 Mode
» 2 x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 Mode
» 1 x M.2 22110 PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA Modes

I have:

1 x Samsung 990 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 (up to 7450 MB/s) NVMe M.2 (2280)
1 x Samsung 990 PRO 1TB PCIe 4.0 (up to 7450 MB/s) NVMe M.2 (2280)
1 x Samsung 980 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0
1 x Crucial P3 PLUS 2TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 NVMe Solid State Drive

I'll be upgrading to Windows 11 hopefully today if my thermal paste arrives, as I am upgrading to a 7800X3D.

My plan is to install Windows 11 on the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB and using that for latest game installs.

Keep the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB installed as a secondary boot drive with a current installed copy of Windows 10.

Use the Samsung 980 PRO 2TB as my Steam library for older games.

Use the Crucial P3 PLUS 2TB as a storage drive. - Install in the 1 x M.2 22110 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot?

Do you think this is a good plan or am I overlooking something here?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

​

 

[alec]

the only conflict on motherboard spec is about SATA drives which you don't use
** M.2_2 slot shares bandwidth with SATA6G_1&2. When M.2_2 runs at PCIe x4 mode, SATA6G_1&2 will be disabled.

pretty much won't make a difference where you put any drives. Makes sense to go with boot drive in first slot.
I would use PCIe 3.0 slot for drive that is accessed the least - secondary boot drive maybe?

 

[01001101]

the only conflict on motherboard spec is about SATA drives which you don't use
** M.2_2 slot shares bandwidth with SATA6G_1&2. When M.2_2 runs at PCIe x4 mode, SATA6G_1&2 will be disabled.

pretty much won't make a difference where you put any drives. Makes sense to go with boot drive in first slot.
I would use PCIe 3.0 slot for drive that is accessed the least - secondary boot drive maybe?

Ok. Cool. What if I plan to do benchmarking between Win 10 and 11?

 

[alec]

Wanted to say that you will be the first to find a meaningful difference between pcie 3 and 4
But then again when benchmarking you want to remove other variables, so sure, keep it pcie 4.

 

[Tetras]

My plan is to install Windows 11 on the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB and using that for latest game installs.

Keep the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB installed as a secondary boot drive with a current installed copy of Windows 10.

Use the Samsung 980 PRO 2TB as my Steam library for older games.

Use the Crucial P3 PLUS 2TB as a storage drive. - Install in the 1 x M.2 22110 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot?

Do you think this is a good plan or am I overlooking something here?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Sounds fine, be careful how you handle the install process.

 

[01001101]

Thanks for the advice. Careful in what way?

 

[Snapshot]

Make sure all other drives are disconnected before starting the install process.