Question regarding M.2 SSD with PCIe 3.0 x4 interface

[puleva4ever]

So I've been trying to figure this M.2 SSD thing out. I really want to install one in my system but there are a couple of questions that need answer first.

My MB: ASUS P9X79
WTB SSD: 970 EVO V-Nand NVME PCIE M.2 1TB

The first thing I saw is that my MB does not have a M.2 port. But I read that it can be installed with the help of an adapter for the PCIe 3.0 x4 as this it is the SSD's interface.

But here's where I get lost because my MB slots are the following:
2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (dual x16)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x8 mode)

What's with the x16 or x8 mode? Does this mean it is not supported?

Thank you!

 

[jeremyj_83]

The numbers that you see x16, x8, x4, or x1 all mean the number of lanes that are going to that slot. You can put a x4 card into a x8 or x16 slot, but not an x16 into an x8 (in you motherboards case the x8 slot is x16 length so it works).

 

[SkyNetRising]

Since your motherboard doesn't have M.2 support, you most likely will not be able to boot from M.2 device.
Why do you want M.2 on your system?

 

[puleva4ever]

Since your motherboard doesn't have M.2 support, you most likely will not be able to boot from M.2 device.
Why do you want M.2 on your system?

I want a M.2 because of the huge speed difference between the SATA SSD. From what I've read the M.2 uses the PCIe bus so why wouldn't it work as intended (booting)?

 

[puleva4ever]

The numbers that you see x16, x8, x4, or x1 all mean the number of lanes that are going to that slot. You can put a x4 card into a x8 or x16 slot, but not an x16 into an x8 (in you motherboards case the x8 slot is x16 length so it works).

Thank you for clarifying this!

Do you know if there's any problem or speed loss if an adapter is used? Would I be able to boot from the SSD if it's in the PCIe port?

 

[SkyNetRising]

I want a M.2 because of the huge speed difference between the SATA SSD.

The difference is "huge" in benchmarks only.
In real life situations you can't tell the difference.

I've had my system on 850 evo. Now it's on 970 evo (850 was too small, had to upgrade). There is no perceivable difference in everyday usage.

 

[puleva4ever]

The difference is "huge" in benchmarks only.
In real life situations you can't tell the difference.

I've had my system on 850 evo. Now it's on 970 evo (850 was too small, had to upgrade). There is no perceivable difference in everyday usage.

I play singleplayer games everyday, and I can confirm the difference between loading Fallout 4 with a HDD and a SSD is huge. I can't imagine the difference with more than 3 times the speed.

May I ask what was your everyday usage to think in prespective?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Yes - difference between mechanical HDD and SSD is huge. But difference between sata SSD and nvme SSD - not so much.

By everyday usage I mean booting up system and launching software from the drive.

 

[TJ Hooker]

Since your motherboard doesn't have M.2 support, you most likely will not be able to boot from M.2 device.
Why do you want M.2 on your system?

I want a M.2 because of the huge speed difference between the SATA SSD. From what I've read the M.2 uses the PCIe bus so why wouldn't it work as intended (booting)?

IIRC the BIOS needs to contain NVMe drivers in able to boot from a PCIe SSD. If your motherboard came out before PCIe SSDs were really a thing (i.e. before M.2 started becoming popular), it's doubtful the manufacturer would have included those drivers and probably never bothered to release a new BIOS to support it later on.