Motherboard with two PCIe NVMe slots connected directly to

Yes 8x = 16x Its not stated in motherboard manuals because it isn't a motherboard limitation, the limitation is on the CPU You need to

2 slots — supporting both PCIe and — that allow you to expand your system with high-performance SSD storage Designed for the latest generation of NVMe

238 slot You can access NVMe functionality without upgrading your motherboard through third-party PCI cards offering NVMe slots Faster With NVMe At

25 slot 2 SSD module in place Some motherboards, however, let you install it without any tools, but you may still need one to take off slot cover