Question M.2 SSD for Z97-A Best Option?

[SenorClarky]

I know the SSD m.2 slot in my Z97-A will only offer 2x but I'm wondering if the 970 Pro is overkill compared to the 860?

I understand PCI can give me greater speeds but what is the max option for the m.2 slot.

I want to use a 1TB boot. A standard 1tb ssd as a work disk.

 

[PC Tailor]

I understand PCI can give me greater speeds

Take this with a pinch of salt - what faster speeds would you hope for?
If it's pure data transfer then maybe, if it's boot up / load up times for example, then in real world application, it's negiligible difference.

 

[USAFRet]

I know the SSD m.2 slot in my Z97-A will only offer 2x but I'm wondering if the 970 Pro is overkill compared to the 860?

I understand PCI can give me greater speeds but what is the max option for the m.2 slot.

I want to use a 1TB boot. A standard 1tb ssd as a work disk.

The only performance difference you'd see would be in artificial benchmarks.
The M.2 ports on Z97 boards (I have one) can't utilize an NVMe drive to its fullest, much less the 970 Pro.

What do you use this system and this drive for?
Except in large data transfers between 2x NVMe drive, you'll see little if any real change over a SATA III SSD.

I recently installed a 1TB Intel 660p in a PCIe x4 slot (so giving its full performance).
Secondary drive, not the boot drive.

In my normal operations, generally a lot of photo imaging...I literally cannot tell the difference between that and a 1TB Samsung 860 EVO.
Tested and timed, writing out the same images and data out to each drive. Zero difference.

 

[SenorClarky]

That is great info. I am a photographer and artwork scanner/printer. So much the same kind of usage. Often working with large 1tb Tiff files etc.

I guess the 970 future proofs me but is overkill for the time being unless I get a PCI to m.2 converter?

 

[USAFRet]

That is great info. I am a photographer and artwork scanner/printer. So much the same kind of usage. Often working with large 1tb Tiff files etc.

I guess the 970 future proofs me but is overkill for the time being unless I get a PCI to m.2 converter?

In this use, the CPU and RAM are doing most of the work. Not the raw drive speed.

'future proof'? Well, the prices on drives like this are falling all the time.
By the time you have a system that can actually utilize it, that drive will likely be cheaper.

The primary reason I got that 660p a few weeks ago because it was a 1TB NVMe drive, on sale for $88...😱
And I'm not lacking in SSD drive space, as evidenced my by parts list below.

$300+ for a 970 Pro would be completely wasted on this level motherboard.

 

[SenorClarky]

Many thanks. To the shops!