I've encountered a problem with my build and need advice.

[bannedy]

I decided to run my build through pc part picker and when I bought the parts I chose to get an m.2 storage aswell as a 2tb sata storage.
Pc part picker displayed this compatibilty message:

The motherboard M.2 slot #1 shares bandwidth with SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports. When the M.2 slot is populated, two SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports are disabled.
The motherboard M.2 slot #2 shares bandwidth with a SATA 6.0 Gb/s port. When the M.2 slot is populated, one SATA 6.0 Gb/s port is disabled.

Given this message, it says only one sata port is disabled when you use the #2 slot for the M.2 storage. and that both of them slots are disabled when you use the #1 slot.

does this mean to get this to work all I need to do is put the m.2 slot in the #2 slot to leave a slot open for the sata? or will having this storage configuration just not work at all?

[r.linder]

It means 3 of your SATA ports are being disabled while either or both of those M.2 slots are in use because the manufacturer cheaped out and made the M.2 slots share bandwidth with SATA ports. Most motherboards have 4~6 SATA ports anyway, so it won't be an issue unless you install more than 2~3 SATA drives, depending on how many open ports are available on the board.

M.2 NVMe SSDs are vastly superior to standard SATA drives anyway, so you shouldn't worry about it.

[bannedy]

So I'm using the gigabyte z390 auros ultra motherboard, with this m.2 storage and sata. are you familiar with those parts and if I can actually do that?

okay i think i see what your saying, with the 1 sata drive added it shouldnt be a problem because there's usually at least 4 slots and if 2 of them are being disabled then i can use one of the other two? sorry this is my first time building a pc so im confused a bit but i'm not sure if i'm going to need to return the sata or not.

[r.linder]

Compound Applicator님이 먼저 게시:

So I'm using the gigabyte z390 auros ultra motherboard, with this m.2 storage and sata. are you familiar with those parts and if I can actually do that?

It has 6 SATA ports, so you should be okay, but one of the 3 M.2 slots on the board (check the manual for which one that is) doesn't take away SATA bandwidth because it only runs in PCI-e mode and as a result doesn't disable a SATA slot like the other 2 do. Of course, if you still fill one or both of the others, slots will still be disabled. Also sorry, 3 slots will be disabled total, not 2, that was my mistake, but you will still have 3 slots available for your 2TB storage and 2 other HDDs. Any others will not function at all when M.2 slots 1 and 2 are filled.

The difference between Slot 3 and the others is that Slot 3 runs in PCI-e mode, so it doesn't take bandwidth away from a SATA slot. The difference is those two interfaces; SATA has a much lower bandwidth than PCI-e, so if you haven't bought your SSDs, I highly recommend you buy ones that use the PCI-e Gen3x4 interface as they are the fastest. Any SSD that doesn't function in SATA mode will not function in Slot 3 as that slot will only run in PCI-e mode.

[bannedy]

this is advice is great thanks alot for this. the m.2 storage i chose was the samsung 970 evo. are you familiar with wether or not it uses this interface you mentioned and if it will work fine in the 3rd m.2 slot?

[r.linder]

Compound Applicator님이 먼저 게시:

okay i think i see what your saying, with the 1 sata drive added it shouldnt be a problem because there's usually at least 4 slots and if 2 of them are being disabled then i can use one of the other two? sorry this is my first time building a pc so im confused a bit but i'm not sure if i'm going to need to return the sata or not.

You could also prevent the issue altogether by choosing a different board that doesn't give you that warning; I use a Gigabyte X470 AORUS Gaming 7 WIFI which doesn't have bandwidth shared with SATA slots even though 1 of 2 M.2 slots is capable of running in SATA mode.

Compound Applicator님이 먼저 게시:

this is advice is great thanks alot for this. the m.2 storage i chose was the samsung 970 evo. are you familiar with wether or not it uses this interface you mentioned and if it will work fine in the 3rd m.2 slot?

All M.2 SSDs can run in SATA and PCI-e, just not both at the same time. The deciding factor on what interface is used is the slot, and the mode the slot is running in which is determined by your BIOS.

Yes, the 970 EVO will support Slot 3 just fine. But remember, for Slots 1 and 2, you want to set to PCI-e mode in BIOS.

[bannedy]

okay so wether or not i can use the 3rd slot for the m.2 on this particular motherboard depends on wether the m.2 supports that interface PCI-e Gen3x4. ill have to check if the samsung 970 evo supports this, if it does. just plug the m.2 into the #3 slot and the sata harddrive into the other slot

[r.linder]

Compound Applicator님이 먼저 게시:

okay so wether or not i can use the 3rd slot for the m.2 on this particular motherboard depends on wether the m.2 supports that interface PCI-e Gen3x4. ill have to check if the samsung 970 evo supports this, if it does. just plug the m.2 into the #3 slot and the sata harddrive into the other slot

It does, usually the cheaper brands are the ones using SATA. Even ADATA has mostly PCI-e mode, as I'm using an ADATA SX8200 NVMe, PCI-e Gen3x4 mode

[bannedy]

alright well thanks alot for the help dude I thought i might have to return the sata and just use the 1tb that i'll get from the m.2 but it looks like i'll be good. What are your opinions on the aorus z390 ultra motherboard? I wasn't sure if I needed to get the master version or the e-gaming one or which one to get so I just stuck with ultra.

[r.linder]

Compound Applicator님이 먼저 게시:

alright well thanks alot for the help dude I thought i might have to return the sata and just use the 1tb that i'll get from the m.2 but it looks like i'll be good. What are your opinions on the aorus z390 ultra motherboard? I wasn't sure if I needed to get the master version or the e-gaming one or which one to get so I just stuck with ultra.

I don't know much about the new Z390 boards, but Gigabyte makes decent boards.