Gigabyte Z170x Gaming-7 | M.2 NVME slot question

[Askeptic]

Hello,

Is there any con to using the M2H_32G M.2 connector other than loosing the ability for the third PCIe x16 slot? It looks like if I use the M2D_32G M.2 connector that I will only be left with 2 SATA 3 ports (not counting the 2 ASMedia ports), but if I use the 'H' M.2 slot, I get to keep all my SATA 3 ports, and just loose the ability to have anything in the third PCIe x16 slot.

I want to make sure I understand that correctly before I install my M.2 NVME PCIe x4 SSD in to the 'H' slot rather than the 'D'... Want to be sure I am not loosing any speed or taking a performance hit for using the "second" slot over the "first".

Thanks. Does that make sense?
(I will be using this M.2 as my boot drive to Win10, and all my SSD drives (SATA and M.2) will be in AHCI mode, if that makes any difference at all)

[Askeptic]

So in short... Which method is better when using an M.2 as a boot drive...

1) M.2 installed in the 'H' slot & storage SSD(s) installed in SATA 3 port 0-5 + 6-7
2) M.2 installed in the 'D' slot & storage SSD(s) installed in SATA 3 port 4-5 + 6-7


Unless I am missing something obvious ... If I don't need the PCIe x16 slot 3 I should go with option 1.

[badmojo]

I was in the exact situation as you and went with option 1.   No issues.

So in short... Which method is better when using an M.2 as a boot drive...

1) M.2 installed in the 'H' slot & storage SSD(s) installed in SATA 3 port 0-5 + 6-7
2) M.2 installed in the 'D' slot & storage SSD(s) installed in SATA 3 port 4-5 + 6-7


Unless I am missing something obvious ... If I don't need the PCIe x16 slot 3 I should go with option 1.