Should I get NVME SSD

Gobbling_Monkey

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Jan 13, 2014
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Hello. Here are my specs.

  • CPU:i5-4590
    RAM:16 GB
    GPU- GTX 960 2 GB
    PSU:650 watt EVGA Gold
    Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H rev 1.2
    Case: Corsair Carbide 200R
    SSD:Samsung 840 EVO 256 GB 2.5 inch Sata
    HDD:1 TB WD Blue
I have Windows installed on my SSD and a whole bunch of programs. It has 40 GB storage left. I have the rest of my programs, games, and files on my HDD. It has 100 GB left. As I seem to be running out of storage, I am looking for more storage. I can either buy a 500 GB SSD, or simply just buy another 1 TB HDD. I could also replace my 256 GB SSD to use as a fast portable HDD while replacing with the 500GB HDD, and maybe buy an HDD too if I need it. The SSD is like 5 years old. I could get another normal 2.5 inch SSD, or a m.2 one, which will be slightly more expensive, but I won't have to add any cables, and I think they are faster? My case has 4 HDD slots and I am only using 2. My motherboard has one m.2 port of which I think supports a PCIE SSD? I do not understand much between the difference between NVME and just PCIe SSD. I am reading the specificiation page of my motherboard and am confused. Here is the link. Here are some quotes from it that are confusing me.

  • "6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
    (M.2, SATA Express, and SATA3 4/5 connectors can only be used one at a time. The SATA3 4/5 connectors will become unavailable when an M.2 SSD is installed.)"
    "1 x M.2 PCIe connector
    (Socket 3, M key, type 2242/2260/2280 SATA & PCIe SSD support)"
    "1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4)
    * The PCIEX4 slot shares bandwidth with all PCI Express x1 slots. All PCI Express x1 slots will become unavailable when a PCIe x4 expansion card is installed."

I am confused as to what these mean. I read in a 960 proSSD on Amazon that it uses PCIe x4 m.2. In the expansion slot section, it states that if you put in a x4, it will disable my PCIe x1 slots. I have a PCIex1 wireless network card installed and would not want it to be disabled. Unless I am mistaken, I think there is a expansion slot that says PCIex4 of which I am not using. If I install a m.2 SSD that says it uses PCIe x4, does that mean I can't use my PCIx1 network card, or does that only refer to the other expansion slot?

Also, what does it mean by m.2 and SATA express cannot be used at the same time? I think I have my SSD plugged into SATA express port, though I might be wrong. Do the plugs for a regular Sata 3 and SATA express look any different? It says SATA express around the SATA connector, but I can't tell which one it is referring to. Will installing a m.2 make me have to move my SSD from the SATA express port? Will it make my computer slower? Can my SSD even use all the extra bandwidth of the SATA Express? Will I be fine installing a PCIe m.2 ssd?

Also, would there be a difference in performance from a m.2 SATA and regular 2.5 inch SSD? If they are same speed at similar price, I think it would be easier to just install the m.2 rather than have to buy another 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch bay converter and add another SATA and PSU cable. Would there be a benefit of the 2.5 inch SSD? WIll any of them last longer? Also, is a regular SATA m.2 SSD enough, or should I get a PCIe SSD? I see some say they only use PCIe NVME, while some say they use PCIe x2, or PCIex4. What are the differences and do they are they all compatible with my m.2 port? Which should I choose? Are the higher prices of a PCIe SSD worth it, or will the difference be too hard to tell and I should just save money? My 840 Evo does feel very fast. It was a huge and noticeable difference from when I used to only have HDD. Will spending more on the PCIe SSD or PCIe NVME be a noticeable difference? I mostly just play games, do homework, and go on Youtube. I do some editing, but not very often. Also, I would really appreciate some SSD recommendations. Thank you.
 
Solution
1. Yes, SATA power extension cables exist.

2. m.2 + SATA Express....probably share the same data lane on that specific motherboard. So, if using a SATA based m.2 drive, you get only one or the other.

3. Performance. m.2 SATA and 2.5" SATA...same performance. And even generally the same price or close to it.
It's the same basic drive, just in a different package.

4. Compatibility. The issue comes in where not all m.2 ports on all motherboards will support a SATA drive.
Some boards with 2 m.2 ports will support NVMe on one, and NMVe OR SATA on the other. I expect some future boards to drop SATA compatibility completely.

5. PCIe/NVMe vs SATA III.
For your use, on that board...not a lot.
In theory, the NVMe drive is faster. But not...


Thank you for your reply. I think I won't get a NVME one, but I can get a m.2 SATA of same size as the 2.5 inch for only $10 more. However, it would come out to the same price since I would have to buy a 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch bay adapter and a Sata cable for the 2.5 inch ssd. They have the same speed are both the 860 evo. Would there be any benefits of a m.2 SATA over a 2.5 inch SATA? What I can think of is the m.2 does not require to use a drive bay, cable, PSU cable, or bay adapter. It has a disadvantage of disabling 2 of my SATA ports and SATA express port because my motherboard says so (Though I probably won't ever use them), and I will also have trouble moving it to another system maybe. A 2.5 inch SATA would better be able to move it into another system if I am forced to, but I would have to add cables and adapter. My current SSD used to be in my laptop, but I moved it into my PC because I don't use the laptop anymore. I would not be able to move the m.2 into the laptop, though I am not sure I would ever need to. Which form factor would you say is better?
 
The only benefit of the m.2 version of the 860 vs the 2.5" version is lack of cable.
Performance is the same.

The 2.5" SATA III drive, you know you can move it to new hardware.
A m.2 SATA drive...maybe not. Not all future motherboards will continue to have an m.2 port that supports SATA drives.
 


Thank you for your answer. I just realized my PSU only has 2 SATA power ports, but each cable it comes with has 2 connectors. I have one connected to my SSD and HDD, and the other one just to my DVD drive. The other connector is not going to reach the SSD from the 5.25" bays. Is there such thing as an extension cable for psu SATA connectors? If there were, it would make the 2.5 inch more expensive though as I have to buy 3 different things. :/. How likely do you think it will be that I will have trouble putting m.2 into a new system? Isn't m.2 becoming more common? Is there such thing as an adapter to convert it into 2.5 inch? I know there is one to put it into a PCIe port, but if I ever need to put it into a laptop, is there one for a 2.5 inch drive? I think there is a very small chance I ever would, though maybe just buy 2.5 inch for peace of mind? Or save money now and hope I don't need to transfer it to a system that doesn't support m.2? Also, do a SATA m.2 and NVME SATA use different ports? One seems to have 2 keys while one only has one. Are m.2 ports able to use both? Thank you again.

Also, I just want to say I like your profile picture and the other picture. They are very nice. lol
 
1. Yes, SATA power extension cables exist.

2. m.2 + SATA Express....probably share the same data lane on that specific motherboard. So, if using a SATA based m.2 drive, you get only one or the other.

3. Performance. m.2 SATA and 2.5" SATA...same performance. And even generally the same price or close to it.
It's the same basic drive, just in a different package.

4. Compatibility. The issue comes in where not all m.2 ports on all motherboards will support a SATA drive.
Some boards with 2 m.2 ports will support NVMe on one, and NMVe OR SATA on the other. I expect some future boards to drop SATA compatibility completely.

5. PCIe/NVMe vs SATA III.
For your use, on that board...not a lot.
In theory, the NVMe drive is faster. But not really for the tasks you'd be doing. Either type has the same access time...basically zero. Which is why they are 'fast'. Where NVMe shines is transfer of large sequential data.

6. Drives: (all 250GB, to make comparison easier)
2.5" SATA III
850 EVO - $85. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-75E250B-AM/dp/B00OAJ412U
860 EVO - $95. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-250GB-Internal-MZ-76E250B-AM/dp/B07864WMK8
Crucial MX500 - $80. https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX500-250GB-NAND-Internal/dp/B0764WCXCV
WD Blue - $75. https://www.amazon.com/Blue-NAND-250GB-SSD-WDS250G2B0A/dp/B073SB2MXW

m.2 SATA
850 EVO - $120. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-850-EVO-Internal-MZ-N5E250BW/dp/B00TGIVZTW
860 EVO - $95. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-250GB-SATA-Internal-MZ-N6E250BW/dp/B07864V6CK
WD Blue - $74. https://www.amazon.com/Blue-NAND-250GB-SSD-WDS250G2B0A/dp/B073SBV3XX
WD Blue - $92. https://www.amazon.com/WD-Blue-250GB-SSD-WDS250G1B0B/dp/B01LY154MY

m.2 NVMe
960 EVO - $120. https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-960-EVO-Internal-MZ-V6E250BW/dp/B01LYFKX41
WD Black - $97. https://www.amazon.com/Black-512GB-Performance-SSD-WDS512G1X0C/dp/B01MS6BYJD
 
Solution