Will my old MOBO support M.2?

sdhaku · May 15, 2016

I have a GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard from a build I did in late 2009. The system still performs very well after all these years but I never got around to installing a SSD. I'm very interested in M.2 but not sure if I would need a new MOBO to support this technology. I ask because M.2 is supposed to utilize the PCI bus right?

My Expansion Slots

PCI Express 2.0 x16
2 x PCI Express x16

PCI Express x8
1 x PCI Express x8

PCI Express x4
1 x PCI Express x4

PCI Express x1
1 x PCI Express x1

PCI Slots
2 x PCI Slots

If interested I was considering the Sandisk SD8SN8U-1T00-1122 X400 1TB M.2 2280 Solid State Drive.

dudmont · May 15, 2016

You'll need a pcie x4 m.2 card. This search is what you're after. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=m.2+pcie+adapter&N=-1&isNodeId=1

dudmont · May 15, 2016

Btw, if you've got sli video setup, it may not be possible to use one of these cards.

rgd1101 · May 15, 2016

you want it to boot from it or just a data drive?

dudmont · May 15, 2016

rgd1101 :

Good question. Does that old mobo have UEFI support?

USAFRet · May 15, 2016

I'd recommend just a regular SATA III SSD.

rgd1101 · May 15, 2016

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-X400-SSD-SATA-SD8SB8U-1T00-1122/dp/B0195B30KG
that ssd use sata interface, no need to get it in m.2, just get it in sata

sdhaku · May 15, 2016

I wouldn't object to using an adapter if M.2 would work with my current setup because sooner or later when I upgrade my system I could move the M.2 over to the new rig. SSD would replace my C drive so my plan was to make an image of C and have programs as well as Windows moved over.

This is my MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128362

USAFRet · May 15, 2016

sdhaku :

Your current system may not be able to boot from that.

dudmont · May 15, 2016

I won't guarantee it, but I bet(after looking up the mobo and the northbridge), that you would have no problems getting that system to boot off the m.2 pcie x4 drive on an adapter card. Of course, it would require a complete new install, but I bet it would work.

dudmont · May 15, 2016

USAFRet :

It's got a UEFI bios for what it's worth. But I've never played with that chipset, so I'm merely educated guessing.

sdhaku · May 16, 2016

dudmont :

USAFRet :

It's got a UEFI bios for what it's worth. But I've never played with that chipset, so I'm merely educated guessing.

Sounds good to me! But I would not be able to make an image of my current drive and move it over? It would have to be a clean install?

dudmont · May 17, 2016

Back everything up(don't need to worry about your steam library, as long the drive it's on is not formatted, then steam, when re-installed, will see all your stuff). Multi-tiered storage is the best.

sdhaku · May 18, 2016

Okay I placed my order for both of these and think it should work:

1) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA65C3RM4403&ignorebbr=1
2) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2RP3S20037&cm_re=m.2_pcie_adapter-_-9SIA2RP3S20037-_-Product

rgd1101 · May 18, 2016

It will be much simpler to buy it in 2.5" form

Guest · Jan 25, 2017

sdhaku - and did this get to work? Is your motherboard able to boot system from this PCIe add-in card with M.2 disk?

I own ASUS P8B WS and I'm thinking about getting Samsung 950 Pro 512GB PCIe 3.0 with Asus Hyper M.2 x4 Mini Card.

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