Question Do I Need an SSD/HDD if I Have M.2 NVMe Slots?

[curiousnewcomer]

Hello,

I am looking to order the MSI PRO Z690-A WiFi DDR4 motherboard. It has room for 4 M.2 NVMe slots. I am looking at this 2TB Samsung NVMe SSD, and this 1TB Samsung NVMe SSD.
I've learned that NVMe is faster than a SATA SSD, and since HDDs are slower, I would probably only store photos and things I hardly use on it.
I really only use computers for browsing the internet and gaming (League of Legends, Call of Duty, GTA V, etc.). I will probably keep most things (OS and other programs/games not on steam) on the 1TB NVMe, and my steam games on the 2TB NVMe.

Can I just build and run my PC with those two NVMes I linked, or do I still need a SATA SSD or HDD?

If I do need a SATA SSD, which one do you guys recommend?

Finally, if I decide to swap out or add more storage later, is it an easy process, or do I need to tear quite a bit down to get to the storage?

Thank you for your time and help.

 

[Why_Me]

If you don't need WiFi then here's a board to consider. It comes with two M.2 heatsinks for your M.2 SSD's.

https://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Z690-Gaming-Intel-Mainboard/dp/B09KC8L37D
GIGABYTE Z690 GAMING X DDR4 $209.99

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z690-GAMING-X-DDR4-rev-10#kf

O/S (Windows) SSD

https://www.amazon.com/CS3030-500GB-Internal-Solid-State/dp/B07MW3NQKW/
PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal SSD $49.99

Storage SSD

https://www.amazon.com/PNY-CS3030-Internal-Solid-State/dp/B07QM2HD7B/
PNY XLR8 CS3030 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal SSD $168.95

 

[curiousnewcomer]

If you don't need WiFi then here's a board to consider. It comes with two M.2 heatsinks for your M.2 SSD's.

https://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Z690-Gaming-Intel-Mainboard/dp/B09KC8L37D
GIGABYTE Z690 GAMING X DDR4 $209.99

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z690-GAMING-X-DDR4-rev-10#kf

O/S (Windows) SSD

https://www.amazon.com/CS3030-500GB-Internal-Solid-State/dp/B07MW3NQKW/
PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal SSD $49.99

Storage SSD

https://www.amazon.com/PNY-CS3030-Internal-Solid-State/dp/B07QM2HD7B/
PNY XLR8 CS3030 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal SSD $168.95

Thank you ^^. I figured I'd go for the WiFi board in case something goes wrong and I have to connect to my hotspot for wireless WiFi.

I have been looking around at other forums here and there, and do you think it's okay to have an SSD for just Windows OS? And another SSD for other programs like I don't know, NVDIA GeForce Experience, a web browser and other everyday apps? If so, that 500GB just for Windows is looking pretty sweet.

 

[Lafong]

I've learned that NVMe is faster than a SATA SSD,

Can I just build and run my PC with those two NVMes I linked, or do I still need a SATA SSD or HDD?

Finally, if I decide to swap out or add more storage later, is it an easy process, or do I need to tear quite a bit down to get to the storage?

Yes, NVMe is faster than SATA, but you may not notice the difference.

SATA comes in the form of 2.5 inch SSDs and in M.2 2280 form.

NVMe is typically M.2 2280.

Yes, you can run your PC on NVMe only, on SATA only, or a combination of the two.

To add more storage, you'll have to open the case to add more. 2.5 inch drives will use cables. M.2 SATA or M.2 NVMe don't use cable...they attach directly to the motherboard. Installation difficulty is about the same....10 minutes?

 

[Lafong]

Thank you ^^. I figured I'd go for the WiFi board in case something goes wrong and I have to connect to my hotspot for wireless WiFi.

I have been looking around at other forums here and there, and do you think it's okay to have an SSD for just Windows OS? And another SSD for other programs like I don't know, NVDIA GeForce Experience, a web browser and other everyday apps? If so, that 500GB just for Windows is looking pretty sweet.

There's no over-riding reason to put Window on one drive and other programs on another.

Some people like to use 2 drives...a smallish one for Windows and applications; the other larger and for personal data only.

 

[Why_Me]

Thank you ^^. I figured I'd go for the WiFi board in case something goes wrong and I have to connect to my hotspot for wireless WiFi.

I have been looking around at other forums here and there, and do you think it's okay to have an SSD for just Windows OS? And another SSD for other programs like I don't know, NVDIA GeForce Experience, a web browser and other everyday apps? If so, that 500GB just for Windows is looking pretty sweet.

The seperate SSD for Windows makes it easy if you have to do a reinstall. If you find you need more storage on top of a 2TB SSD, then just add a cheap SATA SSD later on.

https://www.newegg.com/team-group-1tb-cx2/p/N82E16820331561
Team Group CX2 2.5" 1TB SATA III 3D NAND Internal SSD $66.99

 

[curiousnewcomer]

The seperate SSD for Windows makes it easy if you have to do a reinstall. If you find you need more storage on top of a 2TB SSD, then just add a cheap SATA SSD later on.

https://www.newegg.com/team-group-1tb-cx2/p/N82E16820331561
Team Group CX2 2.5" 1TB SATA III 3D NAND Internal SSD $66.99

Oh, why would it be difficult to reinstall if Windows were on an SSD that has other things on it? I've never had to do anything like that or heard of that, so I'm unfamiliar. Would reinstalling Windows wipe everything that's on the drive or something?

 

[Lafong]

Would reinstalling Windows wipe everything that's on the drive or something?

A "clean install" of Windows would.

If you wanted to do a clean install, you would have to move all personal data to some other drive or it will be lost. Some people move stuff off the drive when they want to do a clean install and others just never put their stuff on the Windows drive to begin with.

 

[curiousnewcomer]

A "clean install" of Windows would.

If you wanted to do a clean install, you would have to move all personal data to some other drive or it will be lost. Some people move stuff off the drive when they want to do a clean install and others just never put their stuff on the Windows drive to begin with.

I see, thank you!

 

[lvt]

I'm an old school guy so I'd say treat yourself a high-quality HDD (eg. 8TB - 7200rpm - 128MB cache) for important / non-important stuffs. 20 years from now the data will still be with you. You shouldn't expect the SSD to last that long.

I say that because all my old IDE HDD from 20 years ago are still in good working condition, some of them have passed the cap of 50K hours.