Gigabyte Z790 Gaming X AX M.2 Slots: Complete Guide

The Gigabyte Z790 Gaming X AX motherboard boasts four M.2 slots for lightning-fast NVMe SSDs, PCIe 5.0 support, and robust thermal design. This list details each slot's specs, compatibility, and optimization tips for gamers and builders.

Ideal for Intel 13th/14th gen CPUs, it maximizes storage speed up to 14GB/s.

M2A_CPU Slot

Primary PCIe 5.0 x4 from CPU. Ultimate speed.

  • Up to 128Gbps
  • Direct CPU lanes
  • Heatsink included

M2B_CPU Slot

Secondary CPU lane slot.

  • PCIe 4.0 x4
  • Shared with GPU
  • Thermal guard

M2C_SB Slot

Chipset-driven for extra storage.

  • PCIe 4.0 x4
  • Bootable
  • Side heatsink

M2D_SB Slot

Additional high-speed bay.

  • PCIe 3.0 x4
  • RAID capable
  • Compact design

Compatibility Notes

Check lane sharing.

  • GPU in PCIe x16 uses M2B
  • Max 4 SSDs populated
  • BIOS update recommended

Thermal Solutions

Advanced cooling prevents throttling.

  • M.2 Thermal Guard III
  • 8W/mK pads
  • Ventilated backplate

Installation Tips

Easy access for upgrades.

  • Screwless design
  • Q-Flash BIOS
  • Cable routing optimized

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