Question Question on SATA 3 vs SATA 2

[ma_gub]

Hi all,

I recently bought an SSD (Crucial MX500) to give my PC some faster storage instead of using my HDD that's become really slow for loading most games nowadays. I still have to install it.

There's 4 SATA Ports on the motherboard, 2x 2.0 and 2x 3.0. it's an old model, so there's no Nvme slot.

Both 3.0 ports are now used, one for the HDD and another for an SSD for the OS (Windows 10) and some programs.

From what I can see, the storage speed is 300 MB/s for SATA 2 and 600 MB/s for SATA 3.

So I was planning on changing the HDD to a SATA 2 Port, and connect the new SSD in its place so it can have SATA 3.

There's three questions puzzling me:

1. Is there any inconvenience apart from the slower speed, that could bottleneck/harm the HDD when I connect it to SATA 2?

2. Do I have to "tell" my PC (through the BIOS) that I'm connecting a new storage unit and where? Or does it figure it out on its own?

3. Do I have to specify I'm changing the port for the HDD?

I trust in your infinite knowledge, thank you all!

FYI the motherboard is an H81M-E for an Asus M51-AD

 

[USAFRet]

1. The HDD will be fine in the SATA II port.

2. No.

3. No.

 

[mdd1963]

SATA 2 is limited to half of SATA 3's speeds, so, max of about 250-270 MB/sec transfer...(vice about 540-550 MB/sec of the latter)