ASUS TUF B650E M.2_1 Slot Squeezing Your GPU? Here's the Fix!

Building a cutting-edge rig with the ASUS TUF B650E motherboard? You might be unknowingly throttling your graphics card! The first M.2 slot (M.2_1) on this board, when populated with a PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD, can sometimes reduce the PCIe x16 slot's bandwidth, impacting your GPU's performance.

Why does this happen? The B650E chipset has a finite number of PCIe lanes. Using a Gen5 SSD in M.2_1 demands a significant chunk of those lanes, potentially forcing the PCIe x16 slot to run at a reduced speed (x8 instead of x16).

**The Solution:** If you're experiencing performance dips, consider these options:

* **Move your NVMe SSD:** Try using the other M.2 slots (M.2_2 or M.2_3). They might not offer Gen5 speeds, but can free up bandwidth for your GPU.
* **Check BIOS Settings:** Your BIOS might have options to manually configure PCIe lane allocation. Consult your motherboard manual for specifics. Update to the latest BIOS version; manufacturers often release updates to improve lane management.
* **Consider the Impact:** For most gamers, the real-world performance difference between PCIe x16 and x8 is minimal. Weigh the benefits of a blazing-fast Gen5 SSD against a potential slight decrease in GPU performance.

By understanding this limitation and exploring these solutions, you can optimize your ASUS TUF B650E build for peak performance!