I am in the process of finding an SSD to install in my tower. UKPCPartPicker gives me an error note for the one I want...

[Glorfindel1]

Dear Community,

I wish to purchase and install a Samsung - 960 EVO 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive into my computer. However, I have been receiving an error note when checking compatibility on ukpcpartpicker.com. The note reads 'The motherboard M.2 slot #1 shares bandwidth with a SATA Express port. When the M.2 slot is populated, one SATA Express port is disabled.' What does this mean and is it critical?

This is the part list: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/mqLBnn

Alternatively, I can purchase a Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB, which when run through UKPCPartPicker shows no error. Which SSD do you think I should go for, and is the aforementioned error critical?

I also wish to purchase an additional 8gb of RAM. Suggestions for this are appreciated too. This will be my first time updating the hardware of my computer since it was built by my friend and I in 2015.

Thanks a lot,

Glorfindel1

 

[captaincharisma]

it means the M.2 slot on your motherbord uses the same SATA controller as the ones your SATA ports do. this is the case with every motherboard equipped with a SATA type M.2 slot

the big question is do you know for sure your motherboard has an M.2 slot because if it does not then there is no way to use it

 

[USAFRet]

For Z97 boards and earlier, M.2 drives are problematic.

For yours:
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z97X-Gaming-5-rev-10#sp
(M.2, SATA Express, and SATA3 4/5 connectors can only be used one at a time. The SATA3 4/5 connectors will become unavailable when an M.2 SSD is installed.)

Meaning all 3 of those interfaces share a common controller.
Also, You probably can't use that as a boot drive, if that is what you were planning.
I know my ASRock Z97 can't boot from a NVMe drive in that port.

 

[geofelt]

You are good.
You have a m.2 mounting position.
What the caveat means is that this device will use the bandwidth of two sata ports so you can not plug into ports 4&5.

On the ram, I suggest you buy a 2 x 8gb kit that closely matches the ram you already have. voltage, speed, cas.
You will have a good 16gb.
Then see if you can get your old 2 x 4gb kit to work with it to get 24gb.
You may need to increase ram voltage to get this done.

This may not work, so keep the 8gb as a spare or sell it.

Adding 8gb is not guaranteed to work.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when 4 sticks are involved.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.
It is safer to get what you need in one kit.

 

[Glorfindel1]

Thanks all, gonna just purchase the Samsung 250gb 960 EVO for now and see how my PC performs, then decide whether I need RAM. Cheers.