[SOLVED] M.2 SSD upgrade not sure which can be installed in a Key M(PCIe Gen3 x4/SATA) slot

[Daniel Phantomhive]

Motherboard: Z170A PC MATE
Hard Drive: TOSHIBA DT01ACA100 1TB 7200 RPM

Im looking to add more Storage to my PC, i thought about adding an SSD as my System drive, and maybe adding some games to it that take ages to load.
And turn my current Hard Drive into a game library

I heard some say that as long as i have a M key on my M.2 slot, i can install an NVMe SSD and it be fine.
I was recommended a "Crucial P1 1TB SSD" Its Capacity and Price seem legit to me (120 Euro)
(Id only use it as a Boot Drive, for Game Launchers(Like Battle.Net-Steam) Have some games on it and some Screen Recordings, like from ShadowPlay)

However i am not sure of that, after looking at some M.2 SSDs i found that some say that they have a "PCIe Gen3 x4" Connector, and others "PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4"
And my Motherboard has a "PCIe Gen3 x4"
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-PC-MATE/Specification
Can a SSD with a "PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4" connector, be connected into a "PCIe Gen3 x4" one?

And if not, what M.2 Drive should/could i to get
Or should i just get a 2.5 SATA SSD

 

[Koekieezz]

as long as it is the m.2 slot, it would work. NVMe is the latest technology on SSD, replacing SATA 3, way lot more faster and better.

 

[Daniel Phantomhive]

as long as it is the m.2 slot, it would work. NVMe is the latest technology on SSD, replacing SATA 3, way lot more faster and better.

Okay, so the Crucial P1 would work fine? It would just be not as fast because the M.2 slot doesnt have NVMe?

 

[Koekieezz]

NVMe is the technology, PCIe gen 3 x4 is the interface, you would be fast as sure.

 

[Daniel Phantomhive]

NVMe is the technology, PCIe gen 3 x4 is the interface, you would be fast as sure.

But why does the Crucial P1 NVMe drive say its Interface is "PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4"
While the M.2 slot on my MB is PCIe gen 3 x4

The names are similar, but idk if they mean that they are compatible.. or sumtin else..

 

[Koekieezz]

They are compatible, NVMe is the mode, yet the technology. so if you're slot in the MB is PCIe 3.0 x4 Sata 3, it will run on SATA mode instead of NVMe, and vice versa.

 

[Daniel Phantomhive]

They are compatible, NVMe is the mode, yet the technology. so if you're slot in the MB is PCIe 3.0 x4 Sata 3, it will run on SATA mode instead of NVMe, and vice versa.

" yet the technology" Imma guess u ment to say "Not the technology"


And so, the NVMe means that its the method of Communication so to say.
So, i can connect it, and it will work just fine. It will run as well as it says in its Spec Sheet.
And it wont be like, slower that usual.

 

[Koekieezz]

Yes NVMe is the Technology, yet the interface use the NVMe speed if its compatible, if it isnt then it will work just fine

 

[Daniel Phantomhive]

Yes NVMe is the Technology, yet the interface use the NVMe speed if its compatible, if it isnt then it will work just fine

Also am i getting this right?


the NVMe part on the Drive
Means that it can use that Protocol, same with how HDDs use the AHCI one
And the PCIe gen 3 x4 is just the physical connector
The connector itself, has noting with an SSD being able to use the NVMe thingy

 

[Koekieezz]

yep it's right, NVMe is the improvement over SATA interface.

 

[Daniel Phantomhive]

yep it's right, NVMe is the improvement over SATA interface.

GOTCHA
Thank you for your time.
Appreciate it!