Question Installing PCIe 4.0 NVMe on PCIe 3.0 x4 motherboard?!

[Pessut]

Hello everyone! My motherboard uses PCIe 3.0 x4. I'm thinking of getting an NVMe with a maximum read speed of 3500MB/s. Is there any difference between choosing a PCIE 4.0 NVMe that has 3500MB/s or PCIE 3.0 NVMe that ALSO has 3500MB/s. What would perform better?

 

[USAFRet]

Hello everyone! My motherboard uses PCIe 3.0 x4. I'm thinking of getting an NVMe with a maximum read speed of 3500MB/s. Is there any difference between choosing a PCIE 4.0 NVMe that has 3500MB/s or PCIE 3.0 NVMe that ALSO has 3500MB/s. What would perform better?

Which specific drives?
What motherboard?

Performance depends on the slowest device in the chain.
The best quality PCIe 4.0 drive, in a 3.0 port, can only run at 3.0 speed.

 

[Lutfij]

Make and model of the motherboard you're working with? What processor have you paired with that motherboard? As for your drive, you're still going to be relegated to PCIe 3.0 speeds.

 

[Lafong]

I wouldn't put a lot of faith in published specs.

Factor in:

Will you eventually upgrade to a motherboard with gen 4 ports?

Is this a boot drive?

 

[Pessut]

Which specific drives?
What motherboard?

Performance depends on the slowest device in the chain.
The best quality PCIe 4.0 drive, in a 3.0 port, can only run at 3.0 speed.

KINGSTON NV2 500GB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 NVMe SNV2S/500G - SSD
Motherboard - MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600

 

[USAFRet]

And in reality, you'd be hardpressed to tell the difference in a blind test.

 

[Pessut]

Make and model of the motherboard you're working with? What processor have you paired with that motherboard? As for your drive, you're still going to be relegated to PCIe 3.0 speeds.

KINGSTON NV2 500GB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 NVMe SNV2S/500G - SSD
Motherboard - MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600

 

[Pessut]

I wouldn't put a lot of faith in published specs.

Factor in:

Will you eventually upgrade to a motherboard with gen 4 ports?

Is this a boot drive?

I won't be upgrading to Gen 4 motherboard, but yes it IS a boot drive. And also a drive for games.

 

[Lafong]

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/kingston-nv2-ssd

This might help. Do you have other choices than the Kingston?

 

[USAFRet]

KINGSTON NV2 500GB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 NVMe SNV2S/500G - SSD
Motherboard - MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX
CPU: Ryzen 5 3600

Even though Kingston calls that a "4.0", the published Sequential speed is no different than a 3.0.

Even if it were the uberest 4.0 drive (it isn't) you couldn't tell the difference.

 

[Pessut]

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/kingston-nv2-ssd

This might help. Do you have other choices than the Kingston?

A-DATA

 

[USAFRet]

A-DATA

Personally, I would choose neither.

 

[rhys117]

I have a similar question. I'm currently using a 500gb CT1000MX5000SD1 as my main boot drive + a few chosen games. I want to upgrade this to a 2tb m2 drive as I want more space/speed as I've been using this drive from my old pc.

I was looking at the top end Samsung 980 PRO, PCIe 4.0 m.2 SSD with Heatsink for PS5 & PC, 2TB

However I think my mother board only supports up to 3.0

System
= I9-10900k
ROG STRIX z490-F
x M.2 Socket 1 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (SATA mode & PCIE mode)
1 x M.2 Socket 2 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)

Presume my mobo will limit this drive? Any recommendations for a 3.0 drive?

 

[USAFRet]

Any recommendations for a 3.0 drive?

Samsung 970 EVO or EVO Plus.

 

[scout_03]

check this for drive as nmve https://www.newegg.ca/samsung-1tb-980-pro/p/N82E16820147790

 

[hotaru.hino]

Presume my mobo will limit this drive? Any recommendations for a 3.0 drive?

Get whatever drive you can afford and ignore the PCIe version. It doesn't matter in practice.

I have a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD in a PCIe 3.0 x2 M.2 slot. Do I notice a difference? Absolutely not. Is it going to harm the drive or cause other issues? Absolutely not.