[SOLVED] Is Gen 4 SSD worth on MSI B550 Tomahawk?

[Star2222]

Hi,
I am thinking to install 2 x M.2 SSDs on a MAG B550 Tomahawk.

1) On the second (slower) M.2 I am installing a gen 3 SSD. Can I install a Gen 4 on the "main/primary" M.2 and get the full 7000MB/s or at least close to it? i.e. is it worth it?
More specifically this is the one I am looking at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08KFS6THF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

2) in the MAG B550 Tomahawk the Gen 3 currently installed which I want to move to the second (slower) M.2, contrary to the "main" M.2 is as long as the heatsink so the screw holding down the SSD has to also hold down the heatsink. How do you do in these cases? Do you buy a separate heatsink (maybe with a double sided adhesive)?
Or do you buy a longer screw and use the heatsink that comes with the MAG B550 Tomahawk?

3) once I install 2 x SSDs on that specific motherboard, reading the table in the user manual I am not clear which PCI or Sata ports are NOT going to be available. Can somebody help?

Thank you

 

[USAFRet]

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B550-TOMAHAWK/Specification

1. The M2_1 supports a 4.0 drive, IF a compatible processor is installed.
2. The user facing difference between 3.0 and 4.0 is imperceptible. On paper, 4.0 is faster. In actual use...I doubt if you could tell the difference.

 

[USAFRet]

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B550-TOMAHAWK/Specification

1. The M2_1 supports a 4.0 drive, IF a compatible processor is installed.
2. The user facing difference between 3.0 and 4.0 is imperceptible. On paper, 4.0 is faster. In actual use...I doubt if you could tell the difference.

 

[GoofyOne]

I don't think a human user would notice the difference. In 5 or 10 years time though, we will all be saying ... geesh those old PCIE3 x 4 SSDs are slow, what a piece of junk!!!


{GoofyOne's 2 c worth .. which may or may not be actually worth 2c}

 

[Star2222]

Thank you both

Does anybody know the answer to the third question, i.e. which SATA is not going to be available after installing 2 SDDs on both M.2 slots?

Thank you as always!

 

[kanewolf]

Thank you both

Does anybody know the answer to the third question, i.e. which SATA is not going to be available after installing 2 SDDs on both M.2 slots?

Thank you as always!

Based on the specs, all SATA ports will be available, since the only M.2 that supports SATA gets the interface from the CPU rather than the chipset.

 

[Star2222]

Thank you kanewolf!