PCIe M.2 SSD with adapter question (first time looking to upgrade)

Steiner117 · November 17, 2019

Hey there, new to the forums (though I've watched LTT for a while now) and after watching numerous videos I want to upgrade some storage to M.2, but I really have no idea where to start. I currently have a standard 128gb SSD as a boot drive with some other essential programs on it and a 500gb HDD for everything else.

After lurking around here a little I have learned some stuff but I want to be absolutely sure what I should get before I throw money at it, my motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ( https://www.gigabyte.com/uk/Motherboard/GA-990FXA-UD3-rev-41#ov ) and reading up the detials seems to be from just before the times when M.2 drive slots where being put onto Motherboards..

So I am looking at this M.2 drive = ( https://www.overclockers.co.uk/corsair-force-mp510-series-960gb-nvme-pcie-m.2-solid-state-drive-cssd-f960gbmp510-hd-065-cs.html ) with an adpater much like this one ( https://www.overclockers.co.uk/aqua-computer-kryom.2-pcie-3.0-x4-adapter-for-m.2-ngff-pcie-ssd-m-key-with-passive-heatsink-cc-000-aq.html ).

So the main questions I have is 1st do people know if my motherboard can run an M.2 drive via an adapter in the first place and 2nd is there a better suggestion for a SSD + Adapter combo for me to buy?

Thanks for the help in advance =).

EDIT: I should note, I am looking to use the M.2 SSD to replace my current SSD as a boot drive, with some essential programs on it as well as some games (like FF14) that I want to have faster load times.