I want to maximize my m.2 drive's performance

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OneDerscore

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Nov 7, 2016
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Right now my build looks like THIS after replacing my broken SATA SSD with an m.2 one.

I immediately realized my m.2 speeds were not very fast (800MB/s, 1/4th advertised), as my brand new 960 evo was only running at PCIe Gen.2 x2 in its slot (there is a single m.2 slot on this motherboard). I find it hard to believe Asus would release a motherboard with an m.2 slot that only has 1Gb/s maximum speeds, so I'm hoping I'm wrong about this, but from what I've seen it looks like this is the case.

Anyway, aside from saying I should just return it... what should I do? What are the maximum speeds I will get on a PCIe to m.2 converter in my 3rd PCIe slot? What are the maximum speeds I will get on my second slot? Is 800Mb/s really the most I will ever be able to get with this board?

If there is no good solution I will still keep the drive as I'll definitely upgrade to a new chipset in the coming year or two.
 
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mdd1963

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Jan 14, 2006
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As Z97 can boot thru PCI-e slots with an PCI-e/dual M.2 adapter, it's possible to see better speeds so connected. (But pre-Z170/Z270 indeed did not have 32 GB/sec connection to M.2 slots, and I believe 800 MB/sec is the best you will see so connected.)
 
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schaft

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Jan 24, 2012
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I am more concerned with your lane availability. Your cpu only has 16 lanes, and you are using 2 piece of GTX 1070. I know Z97 has some PLX chips that helps, but now you adding an adapter which need more lanes. I am inexperienced with this thus am very interested with the result. Lets hope it will not disrupt your gpu's performance. Even if the lane is taken, the gpu should still has at least 8x8x working.

Please inform the result.
 
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OneDerscore

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Nov 7, 2016
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I haven't tested to see if it works fully with my second GPU installed, but right now it's plugged in with the adapter. I got 3100MB/s read speeds and 2000MB/s writes, so it worked. I'm victorious haha
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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Correct answer to..."what should I do?"
That is entirely up to you.

The Z97 boards were released just on the cusp of NVMe drives appearing.
Full speed performance was NOT built in. Subsequent BIOS updates may have allowed booting from that (not all Z97 boards got this), but still not 100% of a NVme drive.
And some Z97 boards never got that. All up to the manufacturer as to how they wanted to update that. Oh well.

" I find it hard to believe Asus would release a motherboard with an m.2 slot that only has 1Gb/s maximum speeds"
...m.2 is just the physical interface. You can also get a SATA III "m.2" drive. Which WILL run at the full speed of a SATA III drive in that slot.

Bottom line...an older motherboard with a newer drive.
Even further....an m.2 slot also accepts an Optane drive. We would not expect that several year old Z97 to support full Optane speed in that m.2 slot.
 
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mdd1963

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Jan 14, 2006
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You said you are getting 3100 MB/sec reads? It's working, and quite well.

Good lord, what are you even asking now?

THe motherboard will work 8+8 lanes when two GPUs are installed, so assuming you still have an available slot to plug in the PCI-e/M.2 adapter, I don't even see what the question is. INstall the 2nd GPU and get on with life.

No one is competing for your precious 'best award', folks are trying to help, and yet you are acting as if you;ve asked a question, and are darn well entitled to some all-knowing perfect answer for your MB and selection of components.....and fast.

Good luck with that.
 
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