questions about using M.2 and SATA express with motherboard

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
P

polyesterpeanut

Reputable
Aug 24, 2015
30
0
4,540
I received a Gigabyte Z170-HD3 motherboard for Christmas and, among other things, it is compatible with M.2 and SATA express. After some research I still have three questions about these technologies and how they interact with my motherboard. First, can all M.2 cards interface with PCIe (and therefore benefit from higher transfer speeds), or can only some do this and others just interface with SATA3? Second, does using a M.2 slot take up my PCIe x4 slot; I ask because the two ports are not located next to one another. Last, is SATA express support for my motherboard even relevant, or did it never catch on as a product. Thanks for the help.
 
Solution
NEmpire95


An m.2 ssd will only plug into and M.2 port. If you get a pcie ssd like intels 750 series pcie cards they will plug directly into a pcie slot. I'm saying it will use up 4pcie lanes of your cpu.

Also you won't be bottle necking anything it (m.2) has a max bandwidth of 32Gb/s instead of the normal 6Gb/s of sata III

Sort by date Sort by votes
S

SBennett13

Reputable
Jul 18, 2015
363
0
4,960
Sata express is what you use to connect your motherboard to your hard drives for transfers. It is relevant. M.2 normally have their own slot on a motherboard and are marked as so. I believe only certain M.2 cards can go in a PCI slot. M.2s that are PCI compatible can use PCI x1 slots.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

polyesterpeanut

Reputable
Aug 24, 2015
30
0
4,540

Are you saying that they can be mounted vertically on a PCIe x4 slot OR be attached to a special M.2 port? If they don't transfer though SATA in their special M.2 port, when do they transfer through SATA. I want to know so I don't bottleneck a SSD.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
NEmpire95

NEmpire95

Reputable
Aug 12, 2015
396
0
4,960


An m.2 ssd will only plug into and M.2 port. If you get a pcie ssd like intels 750 series pcie cards they will plug directly into a pcie slot. I'm saying it will use up 4pcie lanes of your cpu.

Also you won't be bottle necking anything it (m.2) has a max bandwidth of 32Gb/s instead of the normal 6Gb/s of sata III

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom