Is SATA 3 SSD faster than SATA 2 SSD on a mobo with SATA 2 port?

[Ed Page]

I want to upgrade to an SSD over my standard drive, I've read that the SATA 3 is backwards compatible with my mobo that has SATA 2 ports. Some threads suggest simply using a SATA 2 SSD that matches the port, which lead me to this question, is the SATA 2 going to be faster than the SATA 3 given the limits of the port or would the SATA 3 be faster even with the limits? Thanks for the info

 

[babachicken]

No, it will just be bottlenecked by the speed of the sata 2 ports.

if anything you will lose performance 😛

 

[USAFRet]

A SATA III drive on a SATA II port will be slower than a SATA III drive on a SATA III port.

A SATA III drive on a SATA II port may be marginally 'faster' than a SATA II drive on a SATA II port.
But you probably won't notice the difference.

 

[Ed Page]

A SATA III drive on a SATA II port will be slower than a SATA III drive on a SATA III port.

A SATA III drive on a SATA II port may be marginally 'faster' than a SATA II drive on a SATA II port.
But you probably won't notice the difference.

so if the SATA 2 port is going to make them close enough that I wont be able to tell... I should go with a SATA 2 & save a few bucks.

 

[USAFRet]

A SATA III drive on a SATA II port will be slower than a SATA III drive on a SATA III port.

A SATA III drive on a SATA II port may be marginally 'faster' than a SATA II drive on a SATA II port.
But you probably won't notice the difference.

so if the SATA 2 port is going to make them close enough that I wont be able to tell... I should go with a SATA 2 & save a few bucks.

A SATA III drive will be newer, and better tech. Any SATA II drive you find will be an older drive. Get the SATA III.

 

[Dereck47]

SATA 2 (3Gb/s) SSDs are "old tech".
SATA 3 (6Gb/s) SSDs have newer firmware, are more compatible/reliable, and have longer drive life.

Buy a SATA 3 SSD even though you are connecting it to a SATA 2 port.