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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Most desktop users have at least one M.2 slot in their PC.
- These slots aren’t just for storage.
- Options include upgraded internet bandwidth and additional USB ports.
I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but if you have a desktop PC in 2026, you’re probably not using its M.2 slots to their fullest potential. If it’s from the last five to ten years, chances are you have unused M.2 slots that could be put to use with additional accessories.
M.2 slots aren’t just for NVMe SSDs; they can enable devices for several different purposes, including a faster Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection, a USB port expansion, or an extra GPU. With a little investment, one or more of these devices can significantly improve the value of your PC.
Also: The best M.2 SSDs of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
M.2 slots connect directly to your motherboard’s PCIe lanes, which are several orders of magnitude faster than older interfaces like SATA. They’re also connected to the chipset, so you don’t have to worry about stealing juice from your primary SSD or your graphics card.
To find out how many M.2 slots your motherboard has, identify its make and model. If you’re not sure, I recommend CPU-Z – a safe and reliable app that can help you quickly locate this information. Once you have CPU-Z downloaded, navigate to the Mainboard tab to display the manufacturer and model of your machine.
I then recommend searching the web for your motherboard’s name to find either its manufacturer’s website or a retail site, which will often list its specs. Obviously, you can also physically check your PC — open it up and locate the physical slots on the motherboard, which are often labeled “M.2,” “M2_1,” or “M2_2”.
Upgrade your Ethernet card
If you have a desktop, you probably don’t need the portability that Wi-Fi offers. I recommend using a wired Ethernet cable to connect directly to your modem for the fastest connection possible.
Also: I used an M.2 PCIe enclosure for data storage, and it made file transfers so much faster
Your motherboard’s stock Ethernet port likely supports either 1Gbps (1000 Mbps) or 2.5GbE, but with an advanced M.2 Ethernet card, you can open that up to 5GbE or 10GbE, significantly speeding up bandwidth for large file transfers, downloads, streaming, and sharing content between devices on your home network.
To see how much bandwidth you’re working with in Windows 11, open Settings, then navigate to Network & Internet, Advanced Network Settings, and expand the “Ethernet” dropdown menu at the top. Look for the Link Speed metric.
Add more USB ports
If you have an older PC, chances are you have only one or two USB-C ports on your desktop — and you might be at capacity for USB-A ports. You don’t need a whole new machine to get the ports you need for your accessories; just pop a USB expansion card into your unused M.2 slot, using the PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) connection.
There are quite a few variationsof these devices available online, and depending on your motherboard and case, you’ll want to make sure the one you choose actually fits, so refer to your motherboard’s make and model for compatibility.
Add a secondary GPU
If you’re using your desktop for AI-powered tasks, a second GPU lets you dedicate it to those workflows, including developing AI models, rendering, and machine learning.
But there are other reasons as well, namely, driving additional monitors. If you are creating a workstation with four, six, or eight monitors, you can achieve that with a secondary GPU designed specifically to power the monitors while your main GPU focuses on performance.
Lastly, if you’re streaming, the same principle applies: let your main GPU handle the game while the secondary GPU powers your video feed to prevent FPS drops.
Of course, the most common device for your M.2 slots is an NVMe SSD for additional storage. Increasing the amount of storage on your machine for media, backups, photos, and videos from your smartphones, and extra apps can prolong your device’s longevity without the need to pay for cloud storage.