[SOLVED] How Do I Know What SSD My PC Will Support?

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Schunkster

Commendable
Feb 28, 2020
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Hello!

I am just curious the best way to tell what SSD my PC will support. I have an MSI MPG x570 Gaming Plus motherboard and I'm looking to upgrade my C: Drive from 232GB SSD to a 1TB SSD. My D: Drive is already a 1TB SSD with my E: Drive being a 1TB HDD. I am unsure about how these are already connected to my PC and what product I would have to purchase as far as compatibility goes. Thanks in advance!
 
Solution
USAFRet
OK then!

Should be relatively easy.

Basically this:
-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
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Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
...
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This is when you look in the specs:
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MPG-X570-GAMING-PLUS/Specification

Any SATA III SSD will work.

1 M.2 can take a PCIe 4.0, or either M.2 port can take a PCIe 3.0.

Personally, I would hold off on the (expensive) PCIe 4.0 drives, until at least a couple of the major manufacturers release and prices drop a bit.
Minimal gains over a PCIe 3.0 drive, such as a Samsung 970.
 
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If the drives are connected via a SATA cable then you can simply buy any s.2 inch SATA drive. Crucial MX500 and Samsung EVO are good choices.

Your motherboard also supports M.2 drives. One M.2 which supports PCIe 3.0/4.0 NVme drives and a second M.2 slot which supports both PCIe 3.0 NVMe and SATA speed M.2 drives

Both slots support 2242/ 2260/ 2280/ 22110 sized M.2. 2280 is the most common sized M.2
 
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USAFRet said:
Specifically, what do you have now, what is on each drive, and what is your budget for this storage upgrade?
Click to expand...
I don't know the brand of the drives if that's what you're looking for, but my original post states their size. As for what's on each it's mostly downloaded games except for the C: Drive which is the default folders and Steam's main directory. I'm also not concerned about the budget, just want a quality product. By the way thanks for your service, I'm an active duty boom operator in NY myself.
 
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WildCard999 said:
You could, for example you could put in a M.2 NVMe SSD, clone the C: drive if that also contains the OS and then wipe the old C: drive and use it for additional storage. You just need to make sure if you decide to clone it that the new SSD is the same size or larger then the C: drive.
Click to expand...
It does contain the OS so I would probably clone it then. So does my motherboard support a 4th drive? I could clone it, replace the C: drive with a 2TB SSD and use my current C: drive as...what an F: drive?
 
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Schunkster said:
I don't know the brand of the drives if that's what you're looking for, but my original post states their size. As for what's on each it's mostly downloaded games except for the C: Drive which is the default folders and Steam's main directory. I'm also not concerned about the budget, just want a quality product. By the way thanks for your service, I'm an active duty boom operator in NY myself.
Click to expand...
A boomer...cool. Thank you...😉
I know a couple of former boomers.

What I would suggest:
1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus for your OS and applications. The C drive.
Maybe add a 1TB SATA III SSD - Samsung 860 EVO or Crucial MX500. Games and stuff
Keep the current 256GB drive (whatever it is), and the 1TB HDD.
The HDD can be the default download location, and storage for those things that do not need the speed.
The current 256GB can be for a game or two, or other fast usage.
 
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mdd1963 said:
Intel's 660P NVME drives are often at or even below SATA pricing, so, if you have an unused NVME slot on mainboard, I'd much rather have it than the otherwise perfect (but SATAIII speed) Corsair MX500..
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Very true.
I got my 1TB 660p last July for $88. Lower than a good quality SATA III 1TB.
Today, they are about equal.

And also, we are chasing diminishing returns.

The user facing difference between a PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 NVMe drive is infinitesimal.
Sometimes, even between a SATA III and NVMe drive is unnoticeable.

In my daily use case, Adobe Lightroom, I can see zero difference.
Samsung 860 EVO and Intel 660p, the same operation takes the same amount of time.
 
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Schunkster said:
Hello!

I am just curious the best way to tell what SSD my PC will support. I have an MSI MPG x570 Gaming Plus motherboard and I'm looking to upgrade my C: Drive from 232GB SSD to a 1TB SSD. My D: Drive is already a 1TB SSD with my E: Drive being a 1TB HDD. I am unsure about how these are already connected to my PC and what product I would have to purchase as far as compatibility goes. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I have the same exact motherboard as you. If you're looking into SATA SSD, I run 2x Samsung EVOs, an 850 and an 860. The 250GB 850 EVO is my OS drive, and the 1TB 860 EVO for my games, mainly steam library. Get these SATA SSDs while they're still relatively cheap. I'm looking to get an NvME M.2 1TB 970 EVO soon, and that would go into one of the slots provided on the board. Think it came with a heatsink that you can screw on, but I've heard that it has to be done with the motherboard unscrewed from the case because of the center peg. Have also heard that M.2 Heatsink isn't all that necessary, just keep an eye on the temps via a performance monitoring software.
 
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