Intel 750 on Asus X99-A Mobo

Just built a new computer on the Asus X99-A/USB 3.1 mobo. I installed my GTX 980 GPU on the first 16x slot, and wanted to install the 750 add-in in the 16_4 (8x) slot. It hit the USB 3.0 Connection for my front panel, so this was not possible. Instead installed in the 16_3 (16x) slot. Problem is that the corner of the SSD PCB rests firmly upon the PCH heatsink. Looking for advice on how to manage this prior to starting up. Anyone who has solved this problem?

Submarine said:

Just built a new computer on the Asus X99-A/USB 3.1 mobo. I installed my GTX 980 GPU on the first 16x slot, and wanted to install the 750 add-in in the 16_4 (8x) slot. It hit the USB 3.0 Connection for my front panel, so this was not possible. Instead installed in the 16_3 (16x) slot. Problem is that the corner of the SSD PCB rests firmly upon the PCH heatsink. Looking for advice on how to manage this prior to starting up. Anyone who has solved this problem?

I've seen this problem on an older build and the best solution was a new motherboard. It's all about the layout of devices fastened to the board, a microATX board gives less possibilities than a full ATX board. Then I had to get a taller tower case to hold the full ATX board but it worked out better than I planned as I could add a second HDD without interfering with other things. A possibility with the full ATX board is some have 2 PCIe X16 slots.

The motherboard is ATX. Perhaps I can shift place between the GPU and the SSD. As both slots are 16x directly to the CPU (40 lane processor), it should not matter, should it? I know it is generally recommended to have the GPU in the first slot, but isn´t that because most motherboards only have one 16x slot directly to the CPU and the rest to PLX chips? Or have I perhaps missed something?

Edit: Took Another look. Will not work shifting place. Will still hit the PCH. Problem is that the SSD rests 1 mm lower than the graphics card. I wonder if this is the way it should be, or is it perhaps something wrong with the SSD or the mobo?

Antilope said:

Some people take drastic measures to make a video card fit. Don't try this at home.

Modifying a PCI-E 16x Card to fit into a PCI-E 1x slot - YouTube

Well, that´s drastic, Lol!

badrobot said:

You should probably just sell that 750 and get the Samsung SM951 NvME. You have an M.2 Gen3 slot. That's all you need. I have the AHCI version.

The 750 should be good enough. I am a bit scared by the heat generated by the M.2 SSDs.

essenbe said:

Samsung is coming out with the 950 Pro M.2 X4 SSD on October 29th. It is supposed to be faster and a better buy than the Intel 750.
Amazon.com: Samsung 950 PRO -Series 512GB PCIe NVMe - M.2 Internal SSD 2-Inch MZ-V5P512BW: Computers Accessories

Why don't you put it in the bottom sata express slot. It is an X4 slot and the 750 is an X4 card. Is that the slot you had trouble with?

I found the problem. The retention bracket was slightly bent, lifting up the front a bit. After fixing that, the SSD sits as it should, without touching the PCH. I felt it clicking in, but apparently it bumped back up a bit, and stayed like that, yet I fastened it with the screw . If I install it in the bottom slot (8x with my CPU), which is the place I would prefer, it conflicts with the front panel USB3 connector.

badrobot said:

Yeah, M.2 SSD is hotter than regular SSDs (sometimes goes to mid-50s to low 60s when gaming). That's why I placed a special fan for it that blows air directly to it. To make matters worse, my M.2 Gen3 slot is right under the GPU. With the special, I was able to keep the temps down to below 40 all the time.

Yes that would be necessary. This review guided me away from M.2. I sometimes copy quite a lot of files.