Question Need Help Choosing M.2 SSD for i3-8100 Desktop

[shuvogamer]

I've got an i3-8100 desktop with a Gigabyte H310-S2P motherboard, and I just found out it has an M.2 SSD slot. I've never used one before and need advice on which type of SSD to get. Can anyone suggest a compatible M.2 SSD type or generation? Also, any tips on what to tell the seller when buying would be super helpful. Thanks a bunch!

https://imgur.com/a/uUE6ssh

 

[punkncat]

M.2 2280 most commonly found in PC tower type applications. Your mobo is PCI 3.0 so either a 3.0 or 4.0 would work fine. I would consider name brand, capacity, and price as the main choosing points. NVMe over SSD as well.

Open the PC and look at that slot just to make sure it uses that length. You may see multiple length options. Also, make sure the mentioned slot isn't for a wireless card. Might have to source the hold down screw typically found with the mobo goodies or even with the drive, if it happens to be the right one.

 

[Eximo]

Appears to be a PCIe 2.0 x 2 2280 slot, so I would not waste money on a 4.0 drive.

I wouldn't bother with a used drive either. New SSDs are as cheap as they have ever been.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3D...gb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-wds500g3xhc

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/XKt9TW/crucial-p3-500-gb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-ct500p3ssd8

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bm...2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-ssdpeknu512gzx1

If you want to go bigger:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/ng...gb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-wds960g2g0c

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/zR...tb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-wds100t3g0c

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/sw4Ycf/crucial-p3-1-tb-m2-2280-nvme-solid-state-drive-ct1000p3ssd8

 

[punkncat]

Appears to be a PCIe 2.0 x 2 2280 slot, so I would not waste money on a 4.0 drive.

The screen shot shows PCIe 3 bus and graphics.

 

[Eximo]

The screen shot shows PCIe 3 bus and graphics.

Yes, it does. But that isn't the M.2 slot. This was not a high end board, they cheaped out and only ran two PCIe 2.0 lanes to the M.2 slot.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/H310M-S2P-20-rev-10#kf

 

[punkncat]

Yes, it does. But that isn't the M.2 slot. This was not a high end board, they cheaped out and only ran two PCIe 2.0 lanes to the M.2 slot.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/H310M-S2P-20-rev-10#kf

Wow, did you happen to own one of these at one point?

That is a rather "sneaky" measure on the mobo man. part.

 

[CountMike]

Wow, did you happen to own one of these at one point?

That is a rather "sneaky" measure on the mobo man. part.

It's connected to chipset instead of CPU and lower end chipsets is what makes them lower end.

 

[Eximo]

Just a feature of the low end chipsets in general to be a generation behind. Quite common on the Hx10 boards and other OEM boards to do the 2x PCIe M.2 slots. Actually a few LGA1700 motherboards with no M.2 slots at all.

The CPUs also tended to have x16 lanes only, back then so splitting off 4x for an M.2 slot would mean only an 8x enabled x16 slot. While possible, meant a more complex board design.

 

[punkncat]

It's connected to chipset instead of CPU and lower end chipsets is what makes them lower end.

This is to say that all H310 chipsets are set up this way, or just this specific one?

I was not aware of such a thing so it turns out that I learned something. Thx

 

[CountMike]

This is to say that all H310 chipsets are set up this way, or just this specific one?

I was not aware of such a thing so it turns out that I learned something. Thx

Like Eximo explained, same thing with AMD platform.

 

[punkncat]

Well, thank you both.

 

[kanewolf]

I've got an i3-8100 desktop with a Gigabyte H310-S2P motherboard, and I just found out it has an M.2 SSD slot. I've never used one before and need advice on which type of SSD to get. Can anyone suggest a compatible M.2 SSD type or generation? Also, any tips on what to tell the seller when buying would be super helpful. Thanks a bunch!

https://imgur.com/a/uUE6ssh

Do you already have a SATA SSD? If so, your performance improvement will be minimal, compared to a SSD replacement of an HDD.

 

[shuvogamer]

I have an old SATA SSD that keeps disconnecting, and the shop suggested replacing it. I'm thinking of getting a new M.2 SSD instead. What do you think? Stick with SATA or go for M.2?

Do you already have a SATA SSD? If so, your performance improvement will be minimal, compared to a SSD replacement of an HDD.