Confusion Between SSD Interface Types

levi_athan1701 · September 19, 2018

Good day,

I am looking to upgrade my PC and I am looking to purchase a faster NVM-E SSD, but unfortunately the terminology is majorly confusing me.

In terms of interface types, you can get: 2.5" SATA, SATA M.2, M.2 PCI-E and PCI-E (I could stand corrected).

Herewith attached are examples of two types of NVM-E SSDs which I am considering.

Please make reference to the images when providing an explanation.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

hconverse02 · September 19, 2018

The price difference between the two (the top is more expensive) if not reasonable for a normal use case, so if you are in the 99%, then get a m.2 ssd.

Crunchy Dragon · September 19, 2018

2 minutes ago, leviathan1701 said:

Good day,

I am looking to upgrade my PC and I am looking to purchase a faster NVM-E SSD, but unfortunately the terminology is majorly confusing me.

In terms of interface types, you can get: 2.5" SATA, SATA M.2, M.2 PCI-E and PCI-E (I could stand corrected).

Herewith attached are examples of two types of NVM-E SSDs which I am considering.

Please make reference to the images when providing an explanation.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

The first image you linked is a PCIe NVMe SSD. This uses the PCIe form factor, and the PCIe x4 bus for NVMe.

Second image is an M.2 NVMe SSD. This uses the M.2 form factor, but still the PCIe x4 bus that NVMe requires.

The only real difference is price and form factor.

homeap5 · September 19, 2018

Take whatever you like. NVMe SSD uses the same lanes as PCI-E interface SSD, so depends on your motherboard - you may want to buy PCI-E version (if you have lot of empty PCI-e slots and none M.2 slots) or M.2 (if you don't want to block your PCI-E slot and have empty M.2 slot).

About SATA M.2 - they uses the same interface as normal SATA drives, with the same limitations - so if you want faster drive that normal SATA drive - avoid them. But if you want cheap drive for system, with no wires etc. - take SATA M.2.

If you want to load programs and system faster - SATA or M.2 SATA will be the same fast as M.2 NVME or PCI-E. If you want to have fast drive for video processing etc. or just have lot of money and want to have "the best possible drive" - buy NVME.