Manufacturers on current motherboards dedicate multiple M.2 ports on newer models to better support NVMe SSDs . But of all the options there are usually two, or at most three, that have to be considered: install the SSD in the uppermost slot, in the middle one or in the lower one under the GPU. What is more beneficial?
As we all know, SSDs are devices based on NAND Flash, where M.2s are quite peculiar due to their smaller size, higher performance and higher temperature. But that implies that they need to be cooled, either passively, actively, or both, which suggests that the position of the M.2 connector is actually very important.
Above, below, or vertically, where is better to install an M.2 SSD relative to the GPU?
The most obvious question in this case is the whys of the GPU, what does it have to do with this? Very easy: the SSD can benefit from the airflow of the graphics card fans. This is of course influenced by the GPU model we have, but the installation of the M.2 SSD will be crucial to determine its temperature due to the following factors:
- The board has a passive or active heatsink for the SSD.
- The GPU injects direct air into the lower M.2.
- The motherboard allows the M.2 to be installed vertically using adapters.
We have to take into account that the M.2 are quite hot as a rule without a heatsink, even if they include a series one as is the case with several models. If this is our case, like the WD SN750 with EK heatsink, the ideal is to install the SSD in an M.2 slot without a heatsink, since the one you have will normally be the same or more effective than the one on the motherboard.
If the SSD does not have a heatsink, a M.2 slot that includes it should be preferred. The priority here is that passive dissipation is always going to be more effective than active dissipation through the GPU fans, because the flow of these is indirect or very indirect, so the surface of the motherboard’s heatsink will be more effective, especially under stress conditions.
Vertical adapters, a really interesting option
There are motherboard models that come with a vertical connector as a kind of RAM slot for installation with a one or two M.2 extender. Why do some models include them if an SSD is something that is practically unchanged?
The reason is complex and varied. First of all, it is much easier to cool a device that is vertical and at 90º with the plate than one that is horizontal like it. The indirect air flow from the chassis fans allows to improve the temperatures , but also, there is another compelling reason that is quite curious: the distance to the CPU.
The real problem with M.2s is the distance from the CPU to all the slots for these devices. Processor I / O have a limited wavelength and a very short time to process data, so distance is a very important factor if you want to guarantee the best performance and signal for your data.
Moving the slots away only means more control of the signals, better PCB, more layers and a series of components that regulate it of higher quality. This raises the price of motherboards, something that neither the manufacturer nor the users want, but it is the price to pay if the signal remains stable.
So where is it better to install an NVMe M.2 SSD relative to the GPU? It depends on the type of slot that the motherboard has in terms of its cooling and depends on the specific SSD. There is not a solution for all the models of these two components, because although it seems obvious to have the SSD under the GPU, injecting heat in many moments at 80º C or similar is counterproductive for what we are looking for, which is not to lose performance and maintain the unit at the correct temperature.
