What is an M.2?

[Fixadent]

What is an M.2 storage device and is it faster than SATA SSD's?

 

[WyomingKnott]

M.2 refers to a physical format and connector. Most M.2 SSDs will be faster than SATA SSDs because
1) More PCIe lanes
2) NVMe protocol is much better for SSDs than the SATA protocol, which was designed for spinning magnetic media

 

[USAFRet]

What is an M.2 storage device and is it faster than SATA SSD's?

"m.2" is the connection type.
The socket where it plugs into.

There are both SATA and NVMe "m.2? drives.

SATA m.2 is the same speed as a 2.5" SATA III drive. Just in a different package.
NVMe m.2 is the faster one. Mostly faster, depending on your use case.

Also, you need a motherboard capable of one, the other, or both.

 

[Fixadent]

What is an M.2 storage device and is it faster than SATA SSD's?

"m.2" is the connection type.
The socket where it plugs into.

There are both SATA and NVMe "m.2? drives.

SATA m.2 is the same speed as a 2.5" SATA III drive. Just in a different package.
NVMe m.2 is the faster one. Mostly faster, depending on your use case.

Also, you need a motherboard capable of one, the other, or both.

I have a Z370 motherboard, does that support m.2?

Where does it plug in?

 

[USAFRet]

I have a Z370 motherboard, does that support m.2?

Where does it plug in?

Which specific board?
Make/model, please.

 

[Fixadent]

I have a Z370 motherboard, does that support m.2?

Where does it plug in?

Which specific board?
Make/model, please.

ASUS Maximus X Hero

 

[USAFRet]

I have a Z370 motherboard, does that support m.2?

Where does it plug in?

Which specific board?
Make/model, please.

ASUS Maximus X Hero

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/ROG-MAXIMUS-X-HERO-WI-FI-AC/specifications/
That has 2 x m.2 slots:

1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)*2
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)*3


1 slot takes SATA or PCI-E
The other takes only PCI-E

Use of either will disable one or more regular SATA ports.