What SSDs would work optimally with my motherboard (Asus H97 PLUS)

[IDKx9000]

Okay so basically I've been reading around the net and getting my brain overheated to the point of malfunctioning.

Things I think I understand.

-M2 is faster than Sata.
-There's this thing called NVMe which my older motherboard doesn't support so screw it

I think the best question to ask is, what are the best M2 SSDs that are compatible with my motherboard and can work to their best potential on it.

Ask anything that will help me, help you to help me. Please, I have no idea what i'm doing :lol:

 

[DRagor]

M.2 is just an interface. A drive connected there can be either standard SATA SSD or PCIe SSD. PCIe drives are faster (see below) then SATA drives. However, PCIe SSD needs NVMe interface to reach its full speed, and since your motherboard does not support it, it will have to use SATA interface which will make PCIe drive as 'slow' as SATA drive. Therefore, no matter what kind of SSD you use in your PC (M.2 or not M.2, does not matter), it's speed will be pretty much same.

For example, this is datasheet for M.2 drive that is SATA: https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/sm2280s3g2_en.pdf note max speeds around 500 Mbs
And M.2 PCIe drive https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/SHPM2280P2_en.pdf max speeds over 1000 Mbs

 

[IDKx9000]

M.2 is just an interface. A drive connected there can be either standard SATA SSD or PCIe SSD. PCIe drives are faster (see below) then SATA drives. However, PCIe SSD needs NVMe interface to reach its full speed, and since your motherboard does not support it, it will have to use SATA interface which will make PCIe drive as 'slow' as SATA drive. Therefore, no matter what kind of SSD you use in your PC (M.2 or not M.2, does not matter), it's speed will be pretty much same.

For example, this is datasheet for M.2 drive that is SATA: https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/sm2280s3g2_en.pdf note max speeds around 500 Mbs
And M.2 PCIe drive https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/SHPM2280P2_en.pdf max speeds over 1000 Mbs

Do the H270 Prime Pro or H270F Gaming from Asus have NVMe support ? If i got a 960 EVO would it work to it's maximum potential on those boards?

Or a better question, do all h270s at this point have NVMe support?

 

[DRagor]

I would expect every B250, H270 and Z270 boards to support NVMe. Maybe the cheapest ones would not, but I doubt it. It's now a standard like USB 3 ports. If a mobo specification lists M.2 slot supporting PCIe x4 drives then it surely supports NVMe.

 

[IDKx9000]

Oh that makes sense, because I've only heard about NVMe recently (as I don't keep with things at a steady pace) so I constantly look out for it being mentioned in the specs

 

[madmatt30]

You worry too much mate in all honesty.
If you want an ssd for that current board then even one of the slower ones is boundless amounts faster than a standard HDD.

What you buy is really going to depend on your budget & country ??

The difference between a non nvme m2 or sata ssd is fairly minimal performance wise.
M2 is just plain neater because it requires no cabling at all.

I would pay maybe $10 max more for an m2 over a comparable sata but past that its a waate of budget.

 

[IDKx9000]

Thanks, i'll probably just wait it out a little longer with my current system before upgrading almost everything.