Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite AX M.2 Slots Guide
The Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite AX dominates 2026 builds with its superior M.2 slots. This article details PCIe 5.0 support, configuration options, and cooling for Ryzen 9000 series, helping enthusiasts maximize storage speeds up to 14GB/s.
From RAID setups to BIOS tweaks, uncover why this board's four M.2 slots outpace competitors in benchmarks.
M.2 Slot Specifications Overview
Four slots: 2x PCIe 5.0, 2x 4.0.
- Slot 1: Direct CPU x4 5.0 (128Gbps).
- Slot 2: Chipset PCIe 4.0 x4.
- Full compatibility with 2280/22110 sizes.
- Thermal guards included.
- NVMe RAID 0/1/10.
Optimal SSD Configurations
Best setups for gaming/workloads.
- Gaming: PCIe5 NVMe in slot1 + SATA in others.
- Content creation: RAID0 dual PCIe5.
- Boot drive: Always slot1 for lowest latency.
- Benchmark: 14,000MB/s reads.
- WD Black SN850X recommended.
BIOS Setup for M.2 Slots
Step-by-step enabling.
- Enter BIOS (Del key).
- Advanced > Storage > PCIe mode.
- Enable Resizable BAR for all.
- Update to F3 BIOS 2026.
- Set ASPM for power save.
Cooling and Performance Tips
Avoid throttling.
- Stock VRM handles 4x SSDs.
- Add M.2 heatsinks for sustained loads.
- Monitor temps via Aorus Engine.
- Max load: 65C safe.
- Cable management for airflow.