ROG z390 Gene XI DIMM.2 question.

[MorePower]

I have the XI Extreme and was looking for a solution. But I guess the only way is to use the onboard M.2 connections to retain x16. I don't like removing those heatsinks because I already seen someone strip the screws on them.

[XYchromosone]

I have the XI Extreme and was looking for a solution. But I guess the only way is to use the onboard M.2 connections to retain x16. I don't like removing those heatsinks because I already seen someone strip the screws on them.

I understand your concern regarding stripping the thread of the M.2 screws, they do not need a lot of tension to screw them down securely, afterall, they're not securing a GE90 BOEING 777 Jet Engine LOL. Just a gentle firm tightening is sufficient.

[HRCMrPink]

You’re welcome.

I own a XI Gene too. I was thinking about mounting 2 x samsung 970 pro drives in raid 0 on the separate DIMM.2 and install windows on them (do you think I can boot from the RAID 0?) + a 16GB Optane module boosting a 2TB HDD using one of the onboard slots. I also own a RTX 2060, do you think the halving of the lanes due to the use of the DIMM.2 will affect graphics performance of the 2060? Will it work with a 2080 or 2080ti?

Thank you if you can help, unfortunately there are not many owner of this board to ask to

Have a good day

[Telstar]

Probably only a 2080ti goes beyond a pci-e 3 8x bandwith.

An alternative to those 970pro would be an optane 900p or 905p. 480GB are plenty for OS drive and unlike normal SSD, Optane does not get degraded when full.
Another alternative for Optane memory + a HD would be a 2TB ssd (adata xpg 8200 pro and hp ex950, or if you want to cheap out, intel 660p QLC).

I went this route and I like not having too many drives nor HDD anymore in my system.

[Telstar]

Thank you if you can help, unfortunately there are not many owner of this board to ask to

The xi extreme has the same m2 setup, so there are not so few users that can answer and the pcie lanes limitation applies to many z370 and 390 boards out there

[HRCMrPink]

Telstar thanks for the quick reply, I'd really like to go for the optane 900p but here in Italy a Samsung 970 pro 512GB costs €158 while a 900p 480GB costs €608 (€420 for the 280GB), four times the price! And I'd rather go for the SSD instead of the "other" Optane but I already have a 16GB module and a 2TB HDD, it's just full of games. Happy to hear the xi extreme has the same setup that will be helpful. I think I'll face some more issues before completing this build, I will write to you again Telstar

[MrAgapiGC]

There are only 16 CPU PCIe lanes. Multiplexing those lanes would eat into the available bandwidth for all associated devices. The reason to use primary lanes for storage is to get around the limitations of DMI. And it makes sense to put those slots on the DIMM.2 module because there is potential for higher throughput which will generate more heat than drives tethered to the DMI bus. The Extreme and Gene also have two onboard M.2 slots that are wired via the PCH. Use those if you want to devote all CPU PCIe lanes to graphics and/or other expansion cards.

Hi Raja. so if a user use the riser card on the M2 port the gpu will drop to 8x correct? thanks