M.2 vs SATA Express

[J0ey]

I'm looking for a new Z97 motherboard, and notice that some motherboards do have SATA Express, while others only have M.2.

 

I've done some research, but can't find out why you would want SATA Express above M.2? They are both 10 Gbps and can deliver the same performance (as far as I could find?), yet SATA Express takes 2 SATA ports instead of a port on the motherboard. Also, M.2 SSD's are available already, SATA Express isn't.

 

Am I missing something, or is SATA Express irrelevant if you have a M.2 slot?

[Menta]

For now i would say irrelevant, m.2 and sata express are in basic the same thing and share similar electrical  specs. both can use the pci lanes, the problem is the majority mobos that dont  max out at x4,x8 when using m.2 or sata express for that only a pci adaptar direct on a slot.

 

also there is not much to choose from...wait and see, as far as i know only asrock has MB that that uses 4x on a m.2 slot. ultra m.2

[Trik'Stari]

Is M.2 faster than sata 3?

 

I ask because I have an m.2 spot and if that would be faster than just another sata 3 ssd I wouldn't mind getting one.

[Menta]

m.2 compliant sata3.2, its faster. just not the right time to jump in. lets see who brings what to the table, Samsung etc....

[N7_Zer0]

Is M.2 faster than sata 3?

 

I ask because I have an m.2 spot and if that would be faster than just another sata 3 ssd I wouldn't mind getting one.

 

Theoretically yes, since the bus has higher bandwidth than SATA 6.0gbps. Here's what I get with a Plextor M.2 128GB in an Asus Z97-Deluxe:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 Shizuku Edition x64 (C) 2007-2013 hiyohiyoCrystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/-----------------------------------------------------------------------* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]Sequential Read : 706.492 MB/sSequential Write : 331.251 MB/sRandom Read 512KB : 530.306 MB/sRandom Write 512KB : 331.806 MB/sRandom Read 4KB (QD=1) : 34.636 MB/s [ 8456.0 IOPS]Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 87.469 MB/s [ 21354.6 IOPS]Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 255.013 MB/s [ 62259.0 IOPS]Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 206.077 MB/s [ 50311.6 IOPS]Test : 1000 MB [C: 14.8% (17.6/119.0 GB)] (x1)Date : 2014/08/13 19:11:38OS : Windows 7 Professional SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64) 

[Trik'Stari]

 

Theoretically yes, since the bus has higher bandwidth than SATA 6.0gbps. Here's what I get with a Plextor M.2 128GB in an Asus Z97-Deluxe:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 Shizuku Edition x64 (C) 2007-2013 hiyohiyoCrystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/-----------------------------------------------------------------------* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]Sequential Read : 706.492 MB/sSequential Write : 331.251 MB/sRandom Read 512KB : 530.306 MB/sRandom Write 512KB : 331.806 MB/sRandom Read 4KB (QD=1) : 34.636 MB/s [ 8456.0 IOPS]Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 87.469 MB/s [ 21354.6 IOPS]Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 255.013 MB/s [ 62259.0 IOPS]Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 206.077 MB/s [ 50311.6 IOPS]Test : 1000 MB [C: 14.8% (17.6/119.0 GB)] (x1)Date : 2014/08/13 19:11:38OS : Windows 7 Professional SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64) 

Have you noticed it being any faster or anything? I asked because It's a desktop build, and I want to know if it's worth it to go with an m.2. or just another sata 3 drive. I like that it means less cables though.

[Menta]

sequential  write seems a bit low,  however sequential read has 150mb bump compared to the 840 evo that i am using at the moment

[N7_Zer0]

Have you noticed it being any faster or anything? I asked because It's a desktop build, and I want to know if it's worth it to go with an m.2. or just another sata 3 drive. I like that it means less cables though.

 

Not really, from loading windows and programs I don't notice a difference between the M.2 and my other SSDs (Samsung 820, Plextor M5P Extreme). I agree, less cables is a plus. Makes testing systems outside of the cases much less cluttered.

 

 

sequential  write seems a bit low,  however sequential read has 150mb bump compared to the 840 evo that i am using at the moment

 

Like I said, that is the 128GB model which is advertrised to have 335MB/s sequential reads. The 256GB model is 550MB/s and also has better 4KB scores.

[Menta]

it all dependes if you willing to hold back until there is plenty or enough brands on the market to make a better choice, performance VS storage capacity 256 or 512 have better resultes they must be internally raided i think. m.2 will shine working with 4k material