Best M.2 SSD for ASUS Z97-AR mobo

[mikemerg]

I am trying to figure out the best way to add an M.2 PCIe x4 SSD to my system. My current mobo is an ASUS Z97-AR. I see that the integrated M.2 slot only supports x2 PCIe, so I was then thinking about purchasing an adapter card, such as the 'Addonics M2 PCIe SSD - PCIe 3.0 4-Lane Adapter'. The problem is that I don't even think my current PCIe slots on the mobo will accommodate this adapter card well. The PCI slots on the board are as follows:

2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x2 mode)
2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 *1
2 x PCI

I am already using the two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots for SLI, so it looks like I'd be just as well to use the integrated x2 M.2 slot, since the PCIe 2.0 slot is only x2 also. The other option would be to get a new GPU and not run SLI (which I'd like to do eventually anyway), but then I'm thinking I'd sacrifice some bandwidth by putting the M.2 adapter card in the second PCIe 3.0 slot.

From what I'm seeing, it looks like I have to settle for the x2 M.2 slot, given my current setup, but I was wondering if anyone else can shed some light as to my best option here, in case I'm missing something.

Basically, I am just looking to get the insanely quick cold boot times that a x4 M.2 SSD can offer. I currently have a regular SATA III SSD, so I don't think a x2 M.2 SSD would really give me that much of a noticeable performance increase.

Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[Whiplash450]

If you already have an ssd as your boot drive you won't see that much of an increase. Additionally if you really want an M.2 it would be cheaper and more straightforward to just buy a mobo with x4 m.2 pcie. The pcie adaptor cards for the m.2 drives aren't cheap if I remember rightly which is a bit of false economy really.

So yea, either go the whole hog, I would say, or don't bother!

 

[Samer1970]

sadly , you dont have any choices ... the cpu has only 16 lanes which you are using for SLI .

and the other slots including the m2 are connected to the chipset using pcie 2.0 lanes ..

more over , the DMI 2.0 has max 2GB/s bandwidth only.

you are out of options ...

you will not be able to see the difference , stay on sata SSD until you upgrade to a better machine ...

you can use 2 or 3 SSD in raid 0 to increse performance

when you upgrade next time get x99 or the next one and 28/40 lanes cpu .. will save you such trouble in the future ...

 

[Machwulf]

sadly , you dont have any choices ... the cpu has only 16 lanes which you are using for SLI .

and the other slots including the m2 are connected to the chipset using pcie 2.0 lanes ..

more over , the DMI 2.0 has max 2GB/s bandwidth only.

you are out of options ...

you will not be able to see the difference , stay on sata SSD until you upgrade to a better machine ...

you can use 2 or 3 SSD in raid 0 to increse performance

when you upgrade next time get x99 or the next one and 28/40 lanes cpu .. will save you such trouble in the future ...

/\ THIS. I tried the same M.2 upgrade on my Asus Z97-AR & ended up w/ constant issues (When it booted properly). Enjoy the SLI, Sata3 performance for now; Save your $ while reading up / preparing for the next build w/ better equipped mobo. Not the answer I wanted either, but will hopefully save you (& others) from personal frustration, wasted time and expense. Onward & upward yeah?