Where are the M-key M.2 SATA?

[Guest]

I want to replace my storage with an M.2 SSD. My motherboard supports the faster 1500mb/s PCIe cards, but it also supports SATA cards. However, I can't seem to find any M-key M.2 SATA cards, so why would my motherboard even support it? I can only find B+M-key M.2 SATA cards.

 

[Emerald]

This one has a slot for each one of the Keys.

http://www.amazon.com/Port-NGFF-Express-Adapter-Converter/dp/B00QF01404?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

for the M-Key SSD to work, you will need PCIe 4x or greater slot.

 

[Guest]

This one has a slot for each one of the Keys.

http://www.amazon.com/Port-NGFF-Express-Adapter-Converter/dp/B00QF01404?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

for the M-Key SSD to work, you will need PCIe 4x or greater slot.

This is a PCIe card, not an M.2 card.

 

[TehPenguin]

This one has a slot for each one of the Keys.

http://www.amazon.com/Port-NGFF-Express-Adapter-Converter/dp/B00QF01404?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

for the M-Key SSD to work, you will need PCIe 4x or greater slot.

This is a PCIe card, not an M.2 card.

It's an adapter.

PCIe to M.2

 

[Guest]

This one has a slot for each one of the Keys.

http://www.amazon.com/Port-NGFF-Express-Adapter-Converter/dp/B00QF01404?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

for the M-Key SSD to work, you will need PCIe 4x or greater slot.

This is a PCIe card, not an M.2 card.

It's an adapter.

PCIe to M.2

Indeed, but it has little to do with the thread. It's about M.2 cards for an M-key SATA M.2 port.

 

[TehPenguin]

This one has a slot for each one of the Keys.

http://www.amazon.com/Port-NGFF-Express-Adapter-Converter/dp/B00QF01404?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

for the M-Key SSD to work, you will need PCIe 4x or greater slot.

This is a PCIe card, not an M.2 card.

It's an adapter.

PCIe to M.2

Indeed, but it has little to do with the thread. It's about M.2 cards for an M-key SATA M.2 port.

Huh. Seems he misread just as I did. My first interpretation was, too, that you need a slot for your M-key card, but you clearly describe it's the other way around. Apologies.

 

[TehPenguin]

As for M-Key, the Samsung SSD 950 Pro is an M-Key card. AFAIK M-Key are substantially faster, but don't quote me on that. It's just an assumption I made after comparing a few.

 

[Guest]

As for M-Key, the Samsung SSD 950 Pro is an M-Key card. AFAIK M-Key are substantially faster, but don't quote me on that. It's just an assumption I made after comparing a few.

It's PCIe not SATA

 

[TehPenguin]

Well, naturally. SATA has a maximum throughput of 6Gb/s so it can never deliver the 1500MB/s you are speaking of. Unless you create a Raid 0 with 3 SATA SSDs, but then it's a question whether or not your MoBo supports Raid setups.


EDIT: OK, reading and comprehending. I think I now understand your question.

The difference between M-Key and B+M-Key cards is the number of lanes of bandwidth the card can use. M-Key x4, B+M-Key x2. It would be easier if you mentioned your mobo in the first place, but I'll just assume your mobo will accept an M-Key SSD that is paired with a SATA bus with the downside of the reduced bandwidth. Meaning: it does not restrict you in terms of connectivity.

 

[Guest]

Well, naturally. SATA has a maximum throughput of 6Gb/s so it can never deliver the 1500MB/s you are speaking of. Unless you create a Raid 0 with 3 SATA SSDs, but then it's a question whether or not your MoBo supports Raid setups.


EDIT: OK, reading and comprehending. I think I now understand your question.

The difference between M-Key and B+M-Key cards is the number of lanes of bandwidth the card can use. M-Key x4, B+M-Key x2. It would be easier if you mentioned your mobo in the first place, but I'll just assume your mobo will accept an M-Key SSD that is paired with a SATA bus with the downside of the reduced bandwidth. Meaning: it does not restrict you in terms of connectivity.

Yes, that's correct. It supports PCIe and SATA M.2 cards in the M-key. However, there doesn't seem to be any SATA M-key M.2 cards.

 

[TehPenguin]

An M-Key card can use the SATA protocol(pins 59–66 make PCIe ×4, SATA and SMBus available). There is no need to highlight that. It's like a USB 3.0 can use USB 2.0 but at reduced speed.

PCIe, SATA, USB are all different protocols(or languages)the SSD will use to communicate with the computer.

 

[Guest]

How is there no need to highlight that when I'm asking where I can get an M.2 SATA SSD?

 

[TehPenguin]

There is no need to highlight this on a product. That's why you won't find anything when googling. I mentioned that it can use SATA in the post before that you quoted.

 

[Guest]

Of course there's a need to highlight it on a product.

 

[TehPenguin]

Of course there's a need to highlight it on a product.

That's arguable, naturally. I don't think it is and, as it seems, so do the manufacturers. While I agree that someone w/o much interest in the actual technology might get lost but on the other hand, if they do mention SATA on the package people would start to flood their customer support that the SSD does not perform at the advertised speed.

 

[Guest]

Of course there's a need to highlight it on a product.

That's arguable, naturally. I don't think it is and, as it seems, so do the manufacturers. While I agree that someone w/o much interest in the actual technology might get lost but on the other hand, if they do mention SATA on the package people would start to flood their customer support that the SSD does not perform at the advertised speed.

I don't see how that's an issue. If an M.2 card is marked SATA and it has 500mb/250-500mb read/write, that's not false advertising.

 

[TehPenguin]

But we were talking about M-Key. No M-Key card has a rating of 500MB/s
There are slower SATA M.2 SSDs and these are B-M-Key. Like the MZ-N5E250BW, Samsung 850 Evo that is specified as SATA III.

 

[Guest]

That's the topic of the thread. Where do I find slower (and cheaper) M-key cards, since the motherboard supports them.

 

[TehPenguin]

There's no point, really. Go with a standard 2,5" SATA SSD. They'll always be cheaper and have the same or better speeds than a cheap M.2. Example: Mushkin Triactor 480GB, SATA (MKNSSDTR480GB).

The only reason to go with a cheap M.2 would be if there is literally no other option to hook an SSD up to your system which is very unlikely.

 

[Guest]

B+M key M.2 SSDs are the same price as 2.5" SSDs, that's why I wanted to get an M.2 card over a 2.5" drive.

 

[TehPenguin]

Are they? Not where I live, at least. Even the cheapest ones go for about 20% more than 2.5" and have slower write speeds(350MB/s vs 500MB/s on 2.5").

 

[Guest]

Are they? Not where I live, at least. Even the cheapest ones go for about 20% more than 2.5" and have slower write speeds(350MB/s vs 500MB/s on 2.5").

Yes, they're the same prices. Now this is a very confusing topic, and I found a very confusing thread about it. Apparently M-key M.2 slots will fit B+M cards. Link to thread. I should probably contact the motherboard manufacture and ask them about this.

 

[TehPenguin]

Yup, just check what keying your MB supports to avoid nasty surprises.

 

[stephensfone]

I'm in a similar situation albeit a few years later!
I want to fit an SSD in a M.2 key M slot, but the Mobo says "SUPPORT SATA ONLY".
I've ordered a Key B, M SSD which will physically fit and 'hopefully' work. Are Mobo manufacturers breaking the M.2 standard?