M.2 SSD vs PCIE SSD?

[chris3488]

What is the difference between this ssd: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-internal-hard-drive-shpm2280p2h240g
AND this ssd: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/kingston-internal-hard-drive-shpm2280p2240g

Is one faster than the other? Which ssd will get me the lowest boot time and faster game loads? Thanks!

 

[geofelt]

They are essentially the same.
The pcie version includes a M.2 to pcie adapter to mount in a pcie slot.
The M.2 version needs a M.2 slot to mount.

Performance will be the same if you have a x4 pcie slot or a 4x M.2 slot available.
If not, X2 will do.
But realistically, the fine benchmarks you see are not what you will get.
The drives will not be noticeably faster than a normal modern ssd in a 6gb sata slot.

FWIW, fastest boot time is to rarely boot at all.
Use sleep to ram(S3) .

 

[rcald2000]

I'll quote Allyn Malventano, Storage editor at PC Perspective, in reference to the Samsung 950 Pro:

"Best performing SSD Tested (period)"

With that said, I personally don't notice a difference between the two. I'm definitely need a benchmark to quantify the difference. I own both the 950 Pro and Intel 750. If there is anything that I can answer, let me know. At this moment, I appreciate that the Intel 750 is available in sizes of 800 GB and 1.2 TB, whereas the Samsung 950 Pro's largest size is 512 GB. But there will be a 1 TB size of the 950 early this year. I have a feeling that the 950 will be the NVMe SSD of choice for most people, largely do to the extra cost of the Intel 750 and the convenience of the M.2 form factor.

 

[rcald2000]

I agree with Geofelt that the drives won't feel greatly faster in day to day computing. For example with booting, and launching games, it's not greatly faster than a normal run-of-the-mill SATA SSD. But for my VMware lab, it's worth having NVMe SSD's. By the way, when I talk about M.2 SSD's, I was thinking on NVMe drives such as the Samsung 950 Pro. I'm sure the Samsung 850 EVO M.2 is great as well, but I've ready that it has identical performance to the 2.5" form factor version.

 

[rcald2000]

These articles are informative:

Samsung 950 PRO 256GB and 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD Review
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storage/Samsung-950-PRO-256GB-and-512GB-M2-NVMe-PCIe-SSD-Review/Thermal-Throttling-Conclusio

Intel SSD 750 Series 1.2TB PCIe and 2.5" SFF Review - NVMe for the Consumer
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storage/Intel-SSD-750-Series-12TB-PCIe-and-25-SFF-Review-NVMe-Consumer

Intel Skylake / Z170 Rapid Storage Technology Tested - PCIe and SATA RAID *updated*
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storage/Intel-Skylake-Z170-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Tested-PCIe-and-SATA-RAID