Don't ignore your desktop PC's empty M.2 slots - they're more useful than you think

2 hours ago 6

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Most desktop users person astatine slightest 1 M.2 slot successful their PC.
These slots aren't conscionable for storage.
Options see upgraded net bandwidth and further USB ports.

I'm not definite who needs to perceive this, but if you person a desktop PC successful 2026, you're astir apt not utilizing its M.2 slots to their fullest potential. If it's from the past 5 to 10 years, chances are you person unused M.2 slots that could beryllium enactment to usage with further accessories.

M.2 slots aren't conscionable for NVMe SSDs; they tin alteration devices for respective antithetic purposes, including a faster Ethernet oregon Wi-Fi connection, a USB larboard expansion, oregon an other GPU. With a small investment, 1 oregon much of these devices tin importantly amended the worth of your PC.

Also: The champion M.2 SSDs of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

M.2 slots link straight to your motherboard's PCIe lanes, which are respective orders of magnitude faster than older interfaces similar SATA. They're besides connected to the chipset, truthful you don't person to interest astir stealing foodstuff from your superior SSD oregon your graphics card.

To find retired however galore M.2 slots your motherboard has, place its marque and model. If you're not sure, I urge CPU-Z - a harmless and reliable app that tin assistance you rapidly find this information. Once you person CPU-Z downloaded, navigate to the Mainboard tab to show the shaper and exemplary of your machine.

I past urge searching the web for your motherboard's sanction to find either its manufacturer's website oregon a retail site, which volition often database its specs. Obviously, you tin besides physically cheque your PC -- unfastened it up and find the carnal slots connected the motherboard, which are often labeled "M.2," "M2_1," oregon "M2_2".

Upgrade your Ethernet card

If you person a desktop, you astir apt don't request the portability that Wi-Fi offers. I urge utilizing a wired Ethernet cablegram to link straight to your modem for the fastest transportation possible.

Also: I utilized an M.2 PCIe enclosure for information storage, and it made record transfers truthful overmuch faster

Your motherboard's banal Ethernet larboard apt supports either 1Gbps (1000 Mbps) oregon 2.5GbE, but with an precocious M.2 Ethernet card, you tin unfastened that up to 5GbE oregon 10GbE, importantly speeding up bandwidth for ample record transfers, downloads, streaming, and sharing contented betwixt devices connected your location network.

To spot however overmuch bandwidth you're moving with successful Windows 11, unfastened Settings, past navigate to Network & Internet, Advanced Network Settings, and grow the "Ethernet" dropdown paper astatine the top. Look for the Link Speed metric.

Add much USB ports

If you person an older PC, chances are you person lone 1 oregon 2 USB-C ports connected your desktop -- and you mightiness beryllium astatine capableness for USB-A ports. You don't request a full caller instrumentality to get the ports you request for your accessories; conscionable popular a USB enlargement paper into your unused M.2 slot, utilizing the PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) connection.

There are quite a fewer variationsof these devices disposable online, and depending connected your motherboard and case, you'll privation to marque definite the 1 you take really fits, truthful notation to your motherboard's marque and exemplary for compatibility.

Add a secondary GPU

If you're utilizing your desktop for AI-powered tasks, a 2nd GPU lets you dedicate it to those workflows, including processing AI models, rendering, and instrumentality learning.

But determination are different reasons arsenic well, namely, driving further monitors. If you are creating a workstation with four, six, oregon 8 monitors, you tin execute that with a secondary GPU designed specifically to powerfulness the monitors portion your main GPU focuses connected performance.

Lastly, if you're streaming, the aforesaid rule applies: fto your main GPU grip the crippled portion the secondary GPU powers your video provender to forestall FPS drops.

Of course, the astir communal instrumentality for your M.2 slots is an NVMe SSD for further storage. Increasing the magnitude of retention connected your instrumentality for media, backups, photos, and videos from your smartphones, and other apps tin prolong your device's longevity without the request to wage for unreality storage.

Read Entire Article