M.2 SSD and Sata 6.0 Question

[KhaosKitsune]

So, I'm going to build a PC, and I'm using PCpartspicker to choose the components, and for some reason, it is telling me that the SATA 6.0 ports won't work if I use an M.2 SSD, is that really true? And if it is, can i still use a regular WD Black hard drive with this system? if so, how would I do that?

List: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/KhaosKyuubi/saved/MmqMnQ

 

[jbseven]

EDIT: My bad. Must have looked at a different board.

 

[rgd1101]

that is wrong. that m.2 use pciex4 interface, it would use x4 lane of the pcie
http://www.anandtech.com/show/8006/samsung-ssd-xp941-review-the-pcie-era-is-here

although you might want to wait for the consumer and better spec version
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/samsung-950-pro-ssd-nvme-3d-vnand,30135.html

what I read was that xp941 and xp951 was really for OEM, and it might work or might not work on your motherboard.

 

[The Original Ralph]

yep, it will kill two sata ports - the manual will euphimistically say "shares bandwidth with" but when you read further in the installation it will indicate when there's a M.2 device in the M.2 socket, it dis-ables two sata ports

the xp941 and sm951 are both OEM devices but that won't keep it from working - the only possible issue, no warranty direct from samsung - the 950 Pro coming out in October is a retail unit with full warranty and support from samsung

you can mount the m.2 SSD in an expansion card, in the last slot, the PCI x4 and still get full transfer speeds and save the use of the two sata ports. That xp941 runs the hottest of the SSDs (highest power draw) - google for the reviews, one even noted 114C temp on the controller - i measured 98C on mine when rendering videos (i7-4790 cpu showing 100% usage, using a non-contact thermometer so i installed a small fan directly - that fan brought my max temp down to 78C, which isn't but 4C below the limit temp on the sm951, so most reviews recommend "active cooling".

The SM951 series came with thermal limiters that appear to have been set to throttle speed at 82C

here's a shot of what i did - fairly simple, took a 2" x 2" pc of thin walled aluminum angle and cut a 2" long pc to use as a mounting bracket - bored a hole to match the fan's opening - i wish i had had a 2.5" x 2.5" pc of aluminum to move the fan further out - the controller is under the label where it sez "IC20

 

[rgd1101]

most of the z170 board have a m.2 slot on the motherboard, no need for add-on card anymore

 

[The Original Ralph]

most of the z170 board have a m.2 slot on the motherboard, no need for add-on card anymore

apparently he's concerned about loosing two sata ports - using the expansion card works around that, keeps those two ports active while still giving the full speed of the xp941

 

[rgd1101]

most of the z170 board have a m.2 slot on the motherboard, no need for add-on card anymore

apparently he's concerned about loosing two sata ports - using the expansion card works around that, keeps those two ports active while still giving the full speed of the xp941

xp941 does NOT use sata ports. it use x4 pcie lane

 

[The Original Ralph]

most of the z170 board have a m.2 slot on the motherboard, no need for add-on card anymore

apparently he's concerned about loosing two sata ports - using the expansion card works around that, keeps those two ports active while still giving the full speed of the xp941

xp941 does NOT use sata ports. it use x4 pcie lane

you're speed reading - i, nor anyone else, has said the xp941 uses sata ports - but use of the M.2 socket DOES dis-able 2 sata ports - read the manual

 

[rgd1101]

most of the z170 board have a m.2 slot on the motherboard, no need for add-on card anymore

apparently he's concerned about loosing two sata ports - using the expansion card works around that, keeps those two ports active while still giving the full speed of the xp941

xp941 does NOT use sata ports. it use x4 pcie lane

you're speed reading - i, nor anyone else, has said the xp941 uses sata ports - but use of the M.2 socket DOES dis-able 2 sata ports - read the manual

Here from the manual

Only if use 2 m.2 device, or using the bottom m.2 slot, or using a sata device on the top slot. the OP only have 1 m.2 device, so unless for some reason he/she using the bottom m.2 slot then, yes. if not NO.

 

[jbseven]

From MSI's Product Page:

Storage
...
• 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports* (4 ports reserved for SATAe)
• 2 x M.2 slot*
- Supports PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA 6Gb/s standards,4.2cm/ 6cm/ 8cm length M.2 SSD cards
- Supports PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe Mini-SAS SSD with Turbo U.2 Host Card**
• 2 x SATAe port (PCIe 3.0 x2) ***
...
* M.2, SATA and SATAe ports maximum support 1x M.2_PCIe + 6x SATAs or 1x M.2_SATA + 1x M.2_PCIe + 4x SATAs.
...

Ergo it will not use 2x sata ports unless 2 x M.2's are being used.

 

[The Original Ralph]

most of the z170 board have a m.2 slot on the motherboard, no need for add-on card anymore

apparently he's concerned about loosing two sata ports - using the expansion card works around that, keeps those two ports active while still giving the full speed of the xp941

xp941 does NOT use sata ports. it use x4 pcie lane

you're speed reading - i, nor anyone else, has said the xp941 uses sata ports - but use of the M.2 socket DOES dis-able 2 sata ports - read the manual

Here from the manual

Only if use 2 m.2 device, or using the bottom m.2 slot, or using a sata device on the top slot. the OP only have 1 m.2 device, so unless for some reason he/she using the bottom m.2 slot then, yes. if not NO.

Okay - i'll accept that correction - but 'splain to me how your earlier response "xp941 does NOT use sata ports. it use x4 pcie lane" is relevant??

 

[jbseven]

Dont know much about m.2's but according to this, the xp941 is an m2 ssd that uses a pcie x4 interface.

Since it would connect dirrectly to pcie slot, it would use pcie lane and not m.2 socket.

This on the otherhand is an m.2 that uses a sata interface and as you can see the pins are different. I guess this one is meant for an m.2 socket.

 

[rgd1101]

because it not a SATA m.2 device. by itself it does NOT disable sata port.
And the OP question was that pcpartpicker.com said that m.2 SSD would disable 2 SATA port, which is wrong.

 

[rgd1101]

Dont know much about m.2's but according to this, the xp941 is an m2 ssd that uses a pcie x4 interface.

Since it would connect dirrectly to pcie slot, it would use pcie lane and not m.2 socket.

This on the otherhand is an m.2 that uses a sata interface and as you can see the pins are different. I guess this one is meant for an m.2 socket.

Yup, a bit cheaper for a little over 1/4 the performance of the PCIe, but then again, it still much faster then HDD.