[SOLVED] Does MSI A88XM-E45 V2 have SATA 3.0 ports?

[IntrepidBongos]

Recently experiencing some real system slowdowns, still trying to track the cause. (Other than this being a vintage old time motherboard)
Did a Userbenchmark app check and it suggested that connecting my SSD, (A Samsung 850 PRO) to a SATA 3.0 port might help.
The MSI site says there are 8 SATAIII ports, but I only see six ports on this motherboard in a six-port configuration, just under the RAM slots. They are numbered in a strange way, beginning on the bottom row, bottom left being SATA 1, and so on. My SSD is connected to SATA 6, via a Black Generic looking cable. How can I tell if I am using a SATA 3 Cable?
I'd also like to know the following: If I turn my computer off, and connect my SSD via SATA cable, to different SATA ports, and reboot, is there any danger of creating problems?
Here's a pic of the 6-port SATA config on my board.

https://imgur.com/a/OPJQquU

View: https://imgur.com/a/OPJQquU


Thanks!
IB

 

[popatim]

Yes it has 8 sata3 ports; the other two are above the port labelled 6 and face the front of your case.

I wonder if you need to install your Chipset driver.
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/A88XM-E45-V2#down-driver