[SOLVED] Gigabyte x470 Gaming 7 m.2 slots PCIe 3.0x4 and 2.0x4 explanation

[tertmagert]

Hello,

I am looking for some help explaining m.2 slots on my motherboard and or suggestions on how to approach my second m.2 slot.

My gigabyte x470 gaming 7 has a primary PCIe 3.0x4 m.2 slot and a PCIe 2.0x4 m.2 slot.
I have a samsung 970 evo 1tb in my PCIe 3.0x4 slot and would like to get a second m.2 ssd for the PCIe 2.0x4 slot. From what I've researched this slot is half the bandwidth of 3.0x4.
That means I should probably save any extra money on high end ssd speeds and get a lower end m.2?
Could anyone explain the difference in those m.2 slots and recommend an ssd for that second m.2 slot? Originally I was thinking the sx8200 pro 1tb (120.00) for that slot.
But if that PCIe2.0x4 lane wont take advantage of that nvme I thought I might look at something cheaper like the intel 660p 1tb or the Team Group ms30 1tb?

Thank you in advance for your help!

https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Motherboard/X470-AORUS-GAMING-7-WIFI-rev-10#kf

 

[Aeacus]

Yes, you are correct. M.2 PCI-E 2.0 x4/x2 slot does have half the bandwidth speed of the M.2 PCI-E 3.0 x4/x2 slot.

As far as it's definition goes:
SATA - type of connector
M.2 - type of connector
PCI-E - interface type
PCI-E 2.0 - PCI-E version 2
PCI-E 3.0 - PCI-E version 3
x4 - runs in 4 lanes of PCI-E
x2 - runs in 2 lanes of PCI-E
NVMe - PCI-E interface
ACHI - SATA interface

And here is bandwidth speed chart:
SATA 1 = 1.5 Gbps raw = 150 MB/sec
SATA 2 = 3.0 Gbps raw = 300 MB/sec
SATA 3 = 6 Gbps raw = 600 MB/sec
PCI-E 1.0 x1 = 2.5 Gbps raw = ~250 MB/sec
PCI-E 2.0 x1 = 5.0 Gbps raw = ~500 MB/sec
PCI-E 3.0 x1 = 8.0 Gbps raw = ~1000 MB/sec

So, PCI-E 2.0 x4 has bandwidth of up to 2 GB/sec (since it's 4 lane PCI-E) while PCI-E 3.0 x4 has bandwidth of up to 4 GB/sec (again, 4 lane PCI-E).
Despite the PCI-E 2.0 x4 being half the speed of PCI-E 3.0 x4, it's still a lot faster than SATA 3 (2 GB/sec vs 600 MB/sec) and there is huge benefit in using NVMe drive in there and not the ACHI drive.

While i may not put a fast M.2 NVMe SSD into the 2nd slot (e.g 970 Evo), i'd still put NVMe drive in there to get more than 3 times faster transfer speeds over regular SATA/ACHI drive.

 

[tertmagert]

Yes, you are correct. M.2 PCI-E 2.0 x4/x2 slot does have half the bandwidth speed of the M.2 PCI-E 3.0 x4/x2 slot.

As far as it's definition goes:
SATA - type of connector
M.2 - type of connector
PCI-E - interface type
PCI-E 2.0 - PCI-E version 2
PCI-E 3.0 - PCI-E version 3
x4 - runs in 4 lanes of PCI-E
x2 - runs in 2 lanes of PCI-E
NVMe - PCI-E interface
ACHI - SATA interface

And here is bandwidth speed chart:
SATA 1 = 1.5 Gbps raw = 150 MB/sec
SATA 2 = 3.0 Gbps raw = 300 MB/sec
SATA 3 = 6 Gbps raw = 600 MB/sec
PCI-E 1.0 x1 = 2.5 Gbps raw = ~250 MB/sec
PCI-E 2.0 x1 = 5.0 Gbps raw = ~500 MB/sec
PCI-E 3.0 x1 = 8.0 Gbps raw = ~1000 MB/sec

So, PCI-E 2.0 x4 has bandwidth of up to 2 GB/sec (since it's 4 lane PCI-E) while PCI-E 3.0 x4 has bandwidth of up to 4 GB/sec (again, 4 lane PCI-E).
Despite the PCI-E 2.0 x4 being half the speed of PCI-E 3.0 x4, it's still a lot faster than SATA 3 (2 GB/sec vs 600 MB/sec) and there is huge benefit in using NVMe drive in there and not the ACHI drive.

While i may not put a fast M.2 NVMe SSD into the 2nd slot (e.g 970 Evo), i'd still put NVMe drive in there to get more than 3 times faster transfer speeds over regular SATA/ACHI drive.

THANK YOU!!!