What is a common use case for an M.2 slot on a motherboard?

The most common use case for an M.2 slot on a motherboard is to connect SSDs for high-speed data access. M.2 slots allow for the installation of solid-state drives (SSDs) that leverage the NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) protocol, which significantly improves data transfer speeds compared to traditional SATA interfaces. This is particularly beneficial in environments where quick data retrieval and high performance are necessary, such as gaming, video editing, and other data-intensive applications.

The design of M.2 slots facilitates a direct connection to the motherboard, reducing latency and maximizing throughput, which is a crucial advantage in modern computing. Other options do not align with the primary function of M.2 slots; for instance, connecting graphics cards typically utilizes PCIe slots, and external drives usually require USB ports or similar connections, while power supplies are connected through designated power connectors on the motherboard.