Gen 3 or Gen 4 M.2 for a windows boot drive>

[Max T]

So I am building a new computer that will have a 500gb M.2 SSD for the boot drive. I am getting a X570 board for the build but I am wondering if I really need a Gen 4 SSD for the drive. It is about 50 dollars cheaper to get a Samsung 980 Gen 3 compared to a 980 Pro Gen 4 SSD. Is there any major speed difference with PCI Gen 4 that would make me want to get the 980 Pro?

[GodOfROG]

What abord? Does that board even fully support the Gen 4? Will you notice a large difference - No I would use Gen 4 for my Game drive.

[RONOTHAN##]

Go for a Gen3 drive. Coming from someone with a Gen4 drive (980 Pro 500GB), I can barely tell the difference between it and a high end SATA drive. Gen3 drives are the same price as most good SATA drives, so you might as well go for the Gen3 drive. 

 

That said, avoid the 980 non-Pro. It's a DRAMless drive, which means running it as a Windows drive will be slower than most good SATA drives. The WD SN750 is about the same price, and a much better performance. 

[Max T]

@GodOfROGThe 500gb is just a boot drive, I have a 4tb 3.5" for everything else. The board is a Asus Prime X570 Pro.

[Ralfi]

A good quality Gen3’s enough for normal PC use & gaming. 
 

I have a Kingston A2000 & am very happy with it. Fast & cool (less then 45° during benching).

 

Windows boot times range from 10-14 seconds, but I put the PC to sleep most of the time anyway. 

[Dedayog]

51 minutes ago, Max T said:

@GodOfROGThe 500gb is just a boot drive, I have a 4tb 3.5" for everything else. The board is a Asus Prime X570 Pro.

You won't notice a Gen 4, Gen 3, or SATA drive as your boot drive.