How does an internal SSD work?

[loganporter1218]

lately i have been seeing these Internal SSDs (such as this one: https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX300-525GB-Internal-CT525MX300SSD4/dp/B01L80DH4G/ref=pd_sim_147_30?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01L80DH4G&pd_rd_r=TKX2JN48AD2TASQKDS9A&pd_rd_w=wzrKf&pd_rd_wg=j7AgZ&psc=1&refRID=TKX2JN48AD2TASQKDS9A) and they look like they plug into a PCIe slot. is that what they connect to? and how do they differ from regular SSDs?

 

[alexoiu]

They connect to a M.2 slot on the motherboard, or a PCIe adapter. The speed is higher if you compare it with a SATA SSD.

 

[Illias Illtempered]

They plug into an M.2 slot on a motherboard but you can get adapters to plug them into a PCI slot.

 

[ko888]

They connect to a M.2 slot on the motherboard, or a PCIe adapter. The speed is higher if you compare it with a SATA SSD.

M.2 SATA SSD speed is not any higher than a conventional SATA 6.0Gb/s SSD.

The Crucial MX300 525GB M.2 (2280) has exactly the same I/O speed as the Crucial MX300 525GB SATA 2.5" 7mm Internal SSD. On the M.2 version you'll see a SATA controller chip on the card. ( http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/storage-ssd-mx300?cm_re=top-nav-_-flyout-ssd-_-us-ssd-learn-about-mx300 )

You would need to use an M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD that uses four PCIe 3.0 lanes if you want better performance (e.g. Samsung NVMe SSD 960 PRO/EVO).

 

[alexoiu]

I'm talking about PCIe M.2 SSD:
2,500MB/s Seq. Read 1,500MB/s Seq. Write
vs
540MB/s Seq. Read 520MB/s Seq. Write
http://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/ssd-950-pro-nvme-512gb-mz-v5p512bw/
http://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/ssd-850-evo-2-5-sata-iii-250gb-mz-75e250b-am/

 

[jsmithepa]

I prefer a m.2 slot vs SATA for the simple reason of compactness, no need to mount anything, no separate power cable, plugs in the m.2 slot like a ram stick. Simple, elegant. As long as your Mobo has a m.2 slot.