PCI Express SSD options

I maintain the ssd database listed in a sticky at the very top of this forum section. Here is the link:

http://www.johnnylucky.org/data-storage/ssd-database.html

The database is divided by type of ssd. At the very top you will find a PCIe 3.0 / M.2 3.0 section followed by a PCI-e 2.0 / M.2 2.0 section. The drives are listed along with basic information and links to technical reviews in English and other languages.

Your options are quite simple and you already know what they are for your motherboard:

1. Install a appropriate PCI-e based ssd in an appropriate PCI-e slot on the motherboard. It is no different than installing a graphics card in a PCI-e slot on your motherboard. However, unlike a graphics card, there are no cables to connect.

2. Install an appropriate M.2 based ssd in an appropriate M.2 slot on the motherboard.

3. Install an appropriate M.2 based ssd on an appropriate adapter card which then makes it a PCI-e ssd. Install it in an appropriate PCI-e slot on your motherboard.

A few technical reviews suggest using an appropriate M.2 ssd plugged into an appropriate M.2 header / connector on the motherboard. I happen to have an ASROCK Z97 Extreme9 motherboard that is equipped with an M.2 3.0 x 4 and an M.2 2.0 x 2 ssd header/connector on the motherboard. ASRock claimed plugging an M.2 3.0 x 4 ssd into the M.2 3.0 x 4 header will result in best performance. The reason for that is ASRock added a PLX chip which allows an ssd plugged into the M.2 3.0 x 4 header to be connected directly to the cpu. It bypasses the standard PCI-e configuration and potential bottleneck.

If an appropriate M.2 header is not available a user can either purchase a appropriate PCI-e ssd or purchase an appropriate M.2 ssd and an adapter card. Plextor has an ssd that can be purchased as either type. It is available as an M.2 ssd or a PCI-e ssd. The PCI-e ssd is nothing more than the M.2 ssd mounted on a PCI-e adapter card. The adapter card is also available for purchase separately for users who already have the M.2 ssd and want to convert to PCI-e.

Your motherboard is equipped with one M.2 3.0 x 4 header. You can install an M.2 3.0 x 4 ssd if one were available. We won't start seeing them for another two months or so when Samsung releases the SM951 M.2 3.0 x4 model and Mushkin releases the Hyperion M.2 3.0 x4 model. There will be more M.2 3.0 x4 ssd's released later in the year.