[SOLVED] Storage help? What SSD can I add?

[rebelscum42]

Build:
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
ASRock B450/ac R2.0
Corsair Vengence Pro 32GB DDR4 3200
WD Blue SN550 500GB
XFX Radeon RX580 8GB GTS Video Card

EVGA power supply unsure which
My knowledge of pc building is basic at best. I'm trying to get more storage and add some upgrades to this cyber power prebuild. All I've done so far is swap out the old stick of 8G RAM for the new ones above. I have bought two different types of SSDs and I'm unsure which I should use if I even can use them:

Samsung SSD 980 Nvme M.2 + PCIe adapter Nvme M.2
Samsung SSD 870 EVO SATA

Can I use either of these and how will they affect the overall performance? I use this pc for everything, online school, photoshop, streaming and gaming (with COD downloaded theres not much room for any more large games). My initial goal was to add storage rather than swap anything out (cause it makes me nervous) but if there are more efficient routes I am open to any suggestions/advice. Thanks

 

[egda23]

In fact with your motheboard you can use both SSD in your PC.
You have an M2 connector on the motherboard for Samsung SSD 980 Nvme M.2 . You can put it directly in this connector ( no need of adapter).
The Samsung SSD 870 EVO SATA is a standard SSD that can be connected using sata data and power cables, exactly as your hard disk.
Please refer to the manual for your mothetboard
https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/B450Mac R2.0/index.asp#Manual

 

[SkyNetRising]

Samsung SSD 980 Nvme M.2 + PCIe adapter Nvme M.2
Samsung SSD 870 EVO SATA

Can I use either of these and how will they affect the overall performance?

Yes - you can use both.

Since M.2 slot is already occupied with WD Blue SN550 500GB,
use of Samsung SSD 980 Nvme M.2 requires PCIE M.2 adapter.

Connect Samsung SSD 870 EVO SATA 2.5" to a sata port on motherboard.

 

[rebelscum42]

Yes - you can use both.

Since M.2 slot is already occupied with WD Blue SN550 500GB,
use of Samsung SSD 980 Nvme M.2 requires PCIE M.2 adapter.

Connect Samsung SSD 870 EVO SATA 2.5" to a sata port on motherboard.

Would there be a noticeable difference between the two? I would like to return one so which route would you take? I believe if I were to use the adapter it would go into the other PCIe 2.0 slot and I was confused when reading how that would affect bandwith.

 

[egda23]

What are you using your computer for ? Which software?
In theory NVME is much faster than SATA. But we are talking of units as mili and microseconds.
If you are not reading sequentially very large files, I doubt that in a blind test you would be able to differentiate between the two.
For it’s simplicity, I would go with the SATA

 

[USAFRet]

No adapters needed or wanted.

Your M.2 port is already in use for the SN550.
Just add 1 or more SATA III drives, connected to SATA ports.

For your stated use, you would see no difference.

 

[Karadjgne]

How big is the 980Pro? If it's bigger than the WD already installed, I'd copy the entire drive (use ISO) onto the Sata SSD, plug in the 980Pro and burn the ISO onto it.

If it's the same size or smaller, return it.

Either way, keep the Sata drive, use it for longer term storage, less used files storage etc. Stuff like Photoshop you'd install to the m.2, same with Adobe or any other Windows dependent software, but stick the library or save folder to the Sata ssd. Keeps your system disk relatively un-cluttered by big folders

 

[rcald2000]

rebelscum42 Hello. What I would do in your situation depends:

2TB ($200 USD): If I had a $200 USD budget and planned on upgrading to 2TB, then I would purchase the 970 Evo Plus, temporarily install it with the PCIe adapter into the PCIE2 slot. Then I would use the "Samsung Data Migration" software to clone from the WD Blue SN550 500GB to the 970 Evo Plus 2TB. Once complete, I would swap the Samsung into PCIE1 and move the WD into PCIE2. Why? Because PCIE1 is PCIe 3.0, while PCIE2 is PCIE 2.0. It would make sense to move the higher performance drive into the slot with the full bandwidth, and the lower performing SSD into the slot that has half the bandwidth.

1TB ($115 USD): The Samsung 870 Evo 1TB sells for $110 USD. Therefore it would be logical to upgrade your budget to $115 and purchase the Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1TB, temporarily install it with the PCIe adapter into the PCIE2 slot. Then I would use the "Samsung Data Migration" software to clone from the WD Blue SN550 500GB to the 970 Evo Plus 1TB. Once complete, I would swap the Samsung into PCIE1 and move the WD into PCIE2. Why? Because PCIE1 is PCIe 3.0, while PCIE2 is PCIE 2.0. It would make sense to move the higher performance drive into the slot with the full bandwidth, and the lower performing SSD into the slot that has half the bandwidth.

500GB ($65-$70): Honestly, I don't think that I would bother with upgrading such a small capacity, as the price per GB is too high. I would save up to add at least 1TB in capacity.

FYI: The Samsung 970 Evo Plus is a fundamentally better drive than both the Samsung 980 (non Pro) and Samsung 870 Evo.