Question M.2 SSD vs regular SATA SSD ?

[Oasis Curator]

As I'm well on the way to investigating how I can upgrade my 10 year old system, I wonder whether an M2 stick would be better than the SSD I have?
The M2 stick will have nothing but Windows, less than 4 other pieces of software on it and a bit for temporarily storing stuff as everything else will be on the hard drives.

I just wonder whether it's worth changing or just keep the SSD - but that may also mean I have to get a SATA controller board as the new motherboard may not have as many SATA slots as my current (but old) board (which is 6!).

Amazon have a 250GB one for about £40, which isn't bad. I think my SSD is the same size so I'd likely recoup at least half the money by selling that. But I haven't investigated prices or brands as yet - this is very much dipping a toe in the water.

 

[USAFRet]

What are the actual specs of this system?
Particularly, the motherboard.

A system that old, "M.2" is unlikely to be a valid option.

 

[Oasis Curator]

What are the actual specs of this system?
Particularly, the motherboard.

A system that old, "M.2" is unlikely to be a valid option.

Sorry, I should have been more explicit - the system in my signature is my current "Home" PC.
Looking at a m.2 stick for a new build HTPC, so it's more the basics rather than thinking what system it will fit in to.

 

[Bob.B]

Sorry, I should have been more explicit - the system in my signature is my current "Home" PC.
Looking at a m.2 stick for a new build HTPC, so it's more the basics rather than thinking what system it will fit in to.

A m.2 will give you less cable clutter.
Perf wise about zip.

 

[Oasis Curator]

And will it be an improved speed over SSD?

 

[CountMike]

And will it be an improved speed over SSD?

Yes, M.2 NVMe SSDs are up to 4 times faster than SATA SSDs but how much faster it wold feel depends on usage.

 

[SkyNetRising]

And will it be an improved speed over SSD?

Not a valid comparison. M.2 is just a form factor for SSD.

There are SATA M.2 SSDs and SATA 2.5" SSDs. They perform about the same.
There are also NVME M.2 SSDs, those are significantly faster.

 

[mundial]

Not a valid comparison. M.2 is just a form factor for SSD.

There are SATA M.2 SSDs and SATA 2.5" SSDs. They perform about the same.
There are also NVME M.2 SSDs, those are significantly faster.

Most m.2 SSDs now are NVMe anyway!

 

[USAFRet]

Most m.2 SSDs now are NVMe anyway!

"M.2" is a physical format, not a drive protocol.

860 EVO or 870 EVO or MX500...all available in M.2 format.

Device selection needs to be specific.

 

[mundial]

"M.2" is a physical format, not a drive protocol.

I know!

 

[Zerk2012]

And will it be an improved speed over SSD?

For your average user no real life difference really.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ9LyNXpsOo

 

[CountMike]

I'm in a position to judge speed difference because of Windows 11 installed on same PC but one running of Samsung 879 evo plus NVME and other running of a SATA SSD. Difference in responsiveness is there but not great. Maybe some 5 seconds at start time and 1-3 seconds in opening programs depending on their size.

 

[kerberos_20]

i jave dual boot m2 nvme and m2 sata, no visible diff, os boot time about 3 seconds on both

 

[Oasis Curator]

Thanks everyone - just learning the new tech.

i jave dual boot m2 nvme and m2 sata, no visible diff, os boot time about 3 seconds on both

Although I always query this.
So from Shut Down state, then pushing the power button to desktop is 3 seconds?

I see a lot of marketing around SSD still being speedy and yet as I've had them for quite a few years now, I no longer see the speed increase but get disappointed my desktop takes 20 seconds or so when pushing the power button from a shut down state.

But then I guess people use Sleep these days and so yes, from sleep under 5 seconds.

 

[kerberos_20]

Although I always query this.
So from Shut Down state, then pushing the power button to desktop is 3 seconds?

not really...bios takes 20seconds, but from bios to login screen spinnin circle doesnt even takes full circle animation

 

[Zerk2012]

^^^^ right your PC still has to go through the post process but after that only a few seconds to ready to use, using any decent type of SSD.

Edit the time can vary a bit depending on how many programs you have enabled at startup.

 

[Bob.B]

Thanks everyone - just learning the new tech.


Although I always query this.
So from Shut Down state, then pushing the power button to desktop is 3 seconds?

I see a lot of marketing around SSD still being speedy and yet as I've had them for quite a few years now, I no longer see the speed increase but get disappointed my desktop takes 20 seconds or so when pushing the power button from a shut down state.

But then I guess people use Sleep these days and so yes, from sleep under 5 seconds.

Power button to desktop is divided into 2 pieces.
Bios time.
Windows load time.

On this machine....non-sleep.
Boot from nvme to desktop about 10 secs.
Boot from 2.5 sata to desktop about 10 secs.
Both disk have exactly the same data.